Engagement Operations Manager

​Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII) is the world's foremost advisor on executive leadership, driving superior client performance through premier human capital leadership advisory services. For more than 70 years, we've delivered value for our clients by leveraging unrivaled expertise to help organizations discover and enable outstanding leaders and teams. Learn more at 

Job Description:

Role Summary:

The Engagement Operations Manager plays a critical role in supporting the business with efficient and effective financial engagement management. This role acts as the subject matter expert (SME) for key business processes and systems that enable financial success across the engagement lifecycle. With a strong focus on commercial management, collaboration, and continuous improvement, the Engagement Operations Manager ensures operational excellence and compliance with audit and financial controls.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the regional SME for financial engagement processes and systems, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and compliance
• Provide expert support to client delivery teams on engagement set-up, ongoing commercial management, and project close activities
• Ensure engagements are managed in line with audit and financial controls, with a focus on proactive commercial oversight (revenue, cost, and margin)
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to understand and address the broader business process impacts on engagement operations
• Identify, manage, and resolve issues proactively, ensuring risks are mitigated and solutions implemented efficiently
• Drive continual business improvement by identifying process inefficiencies and contributing to the design and implementation of enhanced ways of working
• May provide line management to junior team members, including coaching, performance support, and talent development
• Take ownership of or contribute to specialist areas such as systems management, reporting, audit readiness, or process optimization

Key Skills & Experience

• Strong background in commercial and financial management, ideally within a professional services or consultancy environment
• Deep understanding of engagement lifecycle processes and related systems (e.g., project set-up, budgeting, forecasting, revenue recognition)
• Proven experience collaborating across cross-functional teams and supporting business-critical decision-making
• Ability to lead and influence without authority, building trusted relationships with stakeholders at all levels
• Experience managing or mentoring junior team members
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills

Impact:

Engagement Operations Managers are pivotal to ensuring that regional engagement portfolios are commercially sound, systemically accurate, and audit-ready. Their work directly influences the financial success of the business and the quality of client delivery, while also playing a key role in developing talent and improving business operations.

Heidrick & Struggles is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, or citizenship status.

Heidrick & Struggles is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and/or adjustments during our recruitment process. If you are selected for an interview and require an accommodation and/or adjustment, please inform your Talent Acquisition professional.