The Company
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSII) serves the executive talent and leadership needs of companies worldwide as the premier provider of leadership consulting, culture shaping, and executive search services. Pioneering the industry since 1953 Heidrick has provided quality service and built strong leadership teams through its relationships with organizations around the world. We help our clients change the world, one leadership team at a time™.
The Consulting Practice
We work in partnership with our clients to accelerate performance at the organization, culture, team and individual leader levels. We enable our clients to mobilise, execute and transform with agility in a fast moving, uncertain and volatile business landscape. Our ambition is to shape the world’s thinking on the leadership of organisations. We bring hard facts to the ‘soft stuff’ through empirical discipline. Whether a company is undergoing a significant transformation or needs to align its leadership strategies to its business aspirations, our Heidrick Consulting (HC) Practice offers integrated, world class solutions proven to transform and accelerate performance.
We do this in four main arenas. We accelerate strategy by making responses to the environment better informed and more agile. We accelerate organisations by ensuring they are able to mobilise, execute and transform with agility. We accelerate teams by ensuring that they are able to execute at pace and across boundaries. And we accelerate leaders by assessing and developing the leadership capacity of individuals.
The global practice operates in three regions (Americas, Europe & Africa and APAC/ME) and is headed by Claire Skinner. We are building an extraordinary place to work for talented professionals, creating a true meritocracy in which expertise speaks louder than hierarchy, investing in building world-class skills, relationships and insights and practicing what we preach. It’s a great time to join and grow with us. Additional information on the firm can be found at www.heidrick.com.
Our Values
Win as One Firm – We work as one firm and succeed through collaboration, inclusion and valuing diverse points of view.
Grow with Our Clients – Our clients inspire us to create innovative solutions and exceed expectations.
Own the Results – We work to make things happen and own the outcome.
Always Act with Integrity – We operate at the highest levels of ethics and integrity in all we do.
The Position
As a Solution Designer, you will play a critical role in designing and delivering innovative, scalable, efficient and profitable solutions tailored to client needs. Working closely with business stakeholders, internal teams, and clients, to translate business challenges into human capital solutions whilst ensuring alignment with global best practices and the client’s strategic objectives. In addition to technical solutioning and overseeing project profitability, you will also be responsible for managing key strategic accounts, ensuring long-term client success and driving business value.
Accountabilities:
Solution Design & Architecture:
* Analyse client requirements and business challenges to design end-to-end solutions.
* Develop solution architectures that balance performance, scalability, innovation and cost.
* Ensure solutions align with industry standards, client requirements, and are H&S best practices.
* Create prospect briefings as required to prepare Partners & Principals for sales meetings & pitches.
* Provide support with scheduling and creating, editing/polishing of proposals & RFPs as needed to accelerate sales opportunities. Share knowledge and collaborate with all relevant stakeholders on content and innovative approaches to support bringing the best solution to the client.
* Function as the subject matter expert on the scoping, pricing and profitability; maintain compliance to our pricelist and audit requirements, stand in as a client procurement interface as needed.
* Provide the business with insights (themes & trends), data and best practice to help focus on the right qualified opportunities to win.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement:
* Ensuring we are working with the right clients aligned with our strategy i.e. size, brand, impact we want to have.
* Collaborate with clients to gather requirements and provide expertise.
* Pitch solution designs to stakeholders, obtaining buy-in and approvals.
* Connecting the dots between all service lines, ensuring clear communication and alignment within H&S to multiply the opportunity (Digital, On Demand Talent and Search Industry Practices).
Strategic Account Management:
* Act as a trusted advisor for between 3-5 key strategic HC clients, understanding their long-term business objectives.
* Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders in client organizations.
* Identify opportunities for additional value creation, including upselling and cross-selling professional services.
* Proactively manage account risks, addressing challenges before they escalate.
* Facilitate regular business reviews to assess solution effectiveness and client satisfaction.
Continuous Improvement & Innovation:
* Stay updated on emerging solutions, offerings, tools, and industry trends.
* Recommend process improvements and innovative approaches to enhance service offerings.
* Contribute to knowledge sharing and best practices within the firm.
Key Metrics
* Support P&Ps in identifying and converting net new business and deepening their existing client relationships.
* Provide P&Ps with newest content and knowledge of our offerings to support bringing the best solution to the client.
* Deliver stakeholders requests on time and to high quality standards, providing satisfaction.
* Ensure projects are profitable and stay commercially viable.
* Demonstrates ongoing personal growth and developments
The Person
Qualifications & Experience
* The Solution designer must be comfortable working in a matrix organisation, with multiple stakeholders, liaising with Digital, On Demand Talent and Search Industry Practices.
* A high level of English writing skills; can prepare concise and compelling deliverables. Fluency in English is a mandatory requirement.
* BA/BSc degree or equivalent.
* Overall, 5-7 years of experience. Business development experience ideally in a professional services firm.
* Demonstrated ability selling premium services/solutions to help convert prospects, close deals and achieve business growth. Success in qualifying opportunities involving multiple key decision makers.
* Have an agile mindset, quick to learn and deploy value proposition.
* Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively.
* Able to build and maintain lasting relationships with customers.
* Resilient and determined to succeed.
* Exceptional verbal communication and presentation skills.
* Excellent listening skills.
* Self-motivated, with high energy and an engaging level of enthusiasm. Persistent and resilient. Trained at objections management.
* Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
* High level of integrity and work ethic.
* Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite.