Managing Director, Strategic Consulting

Harbor is seeking a Managing Director of Strategic Consulting to join our growing team. The Managing Director of Strategic Consulting will build, lead, and scale a high-impact management consulting practice focused on strategic initiatives within law firms. This role will be responsible for shaping and delivering advisory services that help law firms navigate complex transformation efforts—particularly mergers and acquisitions, data and AI strategy, and enterprise-wide operating and technology model evolution. 

The Managing Director will assemble and lead a multidisciplinary team of management consultants and work closely with technology, data, and managed services leaders to ensure strategic recommendations translate into executable, value-driven outcomes for clients. This is a hybrid role working from Harbor's Chicago office headquarters. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Practice Leadership & Growth 

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of management consultants focused on law firm strategy and transformation. 
• Define the vision, service offerings, and go-to-market strategy for Strategic Consulting, with a strong emphasis on measurable client outcomes. 
• Drive growth in strategic advisory services through new client acquisition, expansion of existing accounts, and development of differentiated offerings. 
• Establish best practices, methodologies, and reusable frameworks across all advisory engagements. 

Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory 

• Lead and oversee M&A consulting engagements for law firms, from pre-deal strategy through post-merger integration. 
• Advise firm leadership on organizational readiness, operating model design, and change management related to mergers and acquisitions. 
• Design and establish Integration Management Offices (IMOs) to govern and execute post-merger initiatives. 
• Partner with technical and delivery leaders to design and execute enterprise application mergers, ensuring alignment with the client’s strategic objectives. 

Data Strategy & AI Enablement 

• Build and lead a data strategy discipline focused on helping law firms develop modern operating and technology models for data. 
• Guide clients in defining master data management strategies and enterprise data governance models. 
• Develop data engineering and integration roadmaps to enable data interoperability, advanced analytics, and AI use cases. 
• Collaborate with AI and technology leaders to ensure data foundations support innovation and responsible AI adoption. 

Cross-Functional Advisory Excellence 

• Establish and promote best practices across advisory services spanning key law firm business domains, including: 
• Finance 
• Risk & Compliance 
• Knowledge Management 
• Business Development & Marketing 
• Human Capital Management 
• AI and Innovation 
• Ensure advisory services are integrated, cohesive, and aligned with clients’ long-term strategic goals. 

Client Leadership & Impact 

• Serve as a trusted advisor to law firm executive leadership, including managing partners, executive directors, and C-suite leaders. 
• Ensure exceptional client satisfaction through high-quality delivery, clear communication, and tangible business impact. 
• Translate strategic recommendations into follow-on technology and managed service initiatives that support and extend client transformation. 

Success Measures 

• Full P&L responsibility with focus on growth in strategic advisory revenue and pipeline and achievement of gross margin goals 
• Client satisfaction and long-term client relationships 
• Successful extension of technology and managed services aligned to strategic outcomes 
• Development and retention of a highly effective, transformative consulting team 

Qualifications & Experience: 

• Deep expertise in the law firm industry, with a strong understanding of legal operations, technology, and business models. 
• Experience holding senior leadership roles in strategy, innovation, or transformation within law firms or professional services organizations. 
• Proven track record of leading complex M&A initiatives, including organizational and technology integration. 
• Demonstrated experience building and scaling high-performing consulting or advisory teams. 
• Strong background in data strategy, operating model design, and technology-enabled transformation. 
• Exceptional executive presence, communication skills, and ability to influence senior stakeholders. 

Leadership Attributes 

• Strategic thinker with a bias toward execution and measurable outcomes 
• Collaborative leader who thrives in cross-functional environments 
• Builder mindset—comfortable creating new capabilities, services, and teams from the ground up 
• Trusted advisor with credibility at the executive level