Manager of Consulting

Ascend Indiana (Ascend) is a fast-growing nonprofit on a mission to address Indiana’s workforce misalignment. Ascend’s vision is for Indiana to be a place of economic opportunity for all. An initiative of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), Ascend collaborates with corporate, education, philanthropic, and community partners, and is well-positioned to play a leadership role in addressing Indiana’s workforce challenges.

The Manager of Consulting is a critical member of the Ascend Services (Services) team. Services seeks to solve Indiana’s most pressing workforce challenges in partnership with employers, community-based organizations, and workforce development stakeholders through talent pipelines.

The Manager of Consulting will support the identification of client needs, implement project plans, convene stakeholders, and produce actionable recommendations. They will also own the development and delivery of high-quality presentations, support multiple client engagements, and mobilize a team across a changing workforce development landscape. The Manager of Consulting identifies and advances Ascend’s thought leadership through research and documentation of best practices and processes. Finally, the Manager of Consulting will support additional projects as assigned by the Director of Consulting and the Vice President of Consulting.

To be successful in this role you must be...

Excellent in operating and owning project workflows and deliverables for multiple talent and strategic planning projects.

  • You develop and execute project plans, manage deadlines, and ensure alignment of tasks across the team.
  • You lead the team in analyzing complex issues, identifying trends and implications, and developing recommendations and guidance for clients.
  • You are comfortable with a constantly changing workflow, creating clarity of ideas and the path forward for the team and our clients.
  • You provide timely and excellent client service that leads to continued relationships and client success.

A relationship-builder committed to generating and refining high quality deliverables alongside our team and partners.

  • You lead the collection and analysis of data, identify gaps, determine additional information needed, and develop recommendations.
  • You present findings and project deliverables to clients, facilitate deliverable review discussions, and document feedback for future iterations.
  • You partner with the Director, Analysts, and other team members to create, update, and finalize high-quality deliverables.

Excited by the opportunity to tackle ambiguous and difficult challenges and deliver solutions through creative problem-solving.

  • You are intrigued by the opportunity to work amidst ambiguity.
  • You participate in business development activities by identifying potential partners, developing an outreach strategy, and participating in initial discussions to diagnose an organization’s talent needs.
  • You further the business development process by securing new projects and providing excellent and timely services to potential partners.
  • You draft client project proposals aligned to Ascend’s core capabilities with the aim of addressing client needs.

Motivated by aggressive goals and driven to make a state-wide impact.

  • You are organized and outcomes focused. You track progress daily and react quickly if you are not on track to accomplish your goals.
  • You break down goals and develop weekly, quarterly, and yearly plans to achieve organizational objectives.
  • You support team execution of project plans and provide feedback as necessary, as well as actively manage and revise plans as projects progress and evolve.
  • You provide coaching and support to project team members as needed.

Requirements

  • Degree from either an undergraduate or graduate institution.
  • 4 - 6 years of applicable professional experience in a corporate or consulting environment, preferably focused in the fields of nonprofit management, education, workforce development, and policy.
  • Experience managing a team and client relationships preferred.
  • Demonstrated track record of success in leading projects and achieving ambitious, quantifiable outcomes.
  • A detail-oriented self-starter who can be given a need or objective, break it down into executable activities, identify questions that need to be asked, gather priorities and requirements, set and manage to milestones, and then execute effectively.
  • Ability to learn new technology tools and processes quickly. Proficiency in Microsoft Suite preferred.
  • Track record of successfully working collaboratively within a team.
  • Demonstrate ethical handling of confidential information.

Details

  • Manager: Director of Consulting, Ascend Indiana
  • Office location: 16 Tech, downtown Indianapolis, with hybrid work (in office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week)
  • Work week: 40+ hours/week
  • Travel: Statewide (10-15%)

Benefits

  • 100% paid healthcare and dental premiums for both individuals and families.
  • Pre-tax and Roth 401(k) Retirement Plan with generous match. 5% contribution by the employer regardless of employee contribution and up to an additional 5% employee voluntary contribution eligible to be matched by the employer.
  • Paid Group Life, Short-Term, and Long-Term disability insurance benefits.
  • New office location and facilities at 16 Tech Innovation District.
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), including 17 holidays.

How to Apply

Interested applicants are asked to apply here.

CICP grants equal opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, disability, age, national origin, military service obligations, veteran status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law. CICP provides equal opportunity in wages, promotions, benefits, and all other privileges, terms, and conditions of employment.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to careers@ascendindiana.com or 317.464.5412.

Responsibilities for this role include interacting with student personally identifiable information (PII). As a condition of access, you are responsible for taking steps to protect the confidentiality of student PII in both electronic and physical form. All responsibilities relating to student PII must be conducted within the parameters of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).