Director

Job Title: Director

Location: San Francisco, CA

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Base Salary Range: $190,000 - $250,000 base + 10 - 20% bonus target

Propeller is a people-focused management consulting firm that helps organizations accelerate transformation and move forward faster. We work with clients to solve complex problems, clear hurdles, and bring transformation to life—building the momentum needed to make change stick with solutions that are right-sized, scalable, and built to last.
Our teams bring a mix of strategic thinking and practical know-how across strategy, enterprise technology, and organizational effectiveness. We collaborate closely with clients, adapt quickly to their needs, and show up ready to do the work together.
Our clients are typically large and mid-sized organizations in the retail, technology, public sector, and energy and utility industries. These are the spaces where we drive the most impact, but our experience spans many others. We have offices in Portland, San Francisco, and Denver, and work with clients across the country.
Propeller may be the place for you if you're energized by solving hard problems, guiding leaders and teams through change, and making progress that sticks. You're curious, collaborative, and resilient—with the grit to keep moving forward, even when the path is ambiguous, and the answers aren’t clear.

In this role, you'll drive new business to meet growth targets by building and nurturing client relationships while also spearheading the delivery of outstanding client work and fostering the development of consultants. You will also play a central role in discovering new opportunities and ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty at every stage of the sales and delivery process. You will be instrumental in driving our firm's success, steering the identification of new accounts and expansion of our existing accounts, and positioning Propeller as an industry leader. As a core figure in our firm’s success, you’ll engage with both the internal team and the broader community, spending meaningful time in our office, at client sites, and at industry and community events. Your leadership will help cultivate a collaborative, connected, and vibrant company culture while driving forward business growth.

Manage Established Accounts

• Develop and implement strategic sales plans to achieve revenue targets and maximize profitability at one large account or a portfolio of small/medium sized accounts.
• Identify emerging client needs and develop tailored solutions at established accounts. Expand accounts through upselling and cross-selling.
• Develop proposals, presentations, and statements of work (SOW) that align with client objectives and Propeller’s capabilities. Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms with clients to secure profitable deals.
• Oversee administrative aspects of client account management, ensuring seamless coordination and execution of tasks.

Drive New Business

• Drive strategic business development initiatives by identifying and pursuing new business leads, qualifying high-potential opportunities, and crafting compelling proposals. Leverage market insights and client needs to secure business that aligns with Propeller’s long-term growth strategy.
• Build and nurture executive-level relationships with clients, partners, and key stakeholders. Cultivate opportunities through participation in relevant events, and representing Propeller at conferences, forums, and other public-facing platforms.
• Act as a thought leader in the industry, using your influence and expertise to position Propeller as an innovator. Leverage speaking engagements, thought leadership content, and industry panels to enhance the firm’s reputation as a leader in driving impactful change and solutions.

Lead Client Engagements & Deliver on Strategic Work

• Utilize creativity, business acumen, and strategic problem-solving in client solution creation and delivery.
• Lead engagement teams, ensuring quality and client satisfaction through regular check-ins and deliverable reviews.
• Oversee the scope and quality of client projects, ensuring alignment with client expectations, project goals, and resource allocation.
• Meet with clients on a regular cadence to check-in on progress, request feedback for the team, and assess overall client satisfaction.
• Build strong client relationships through executive-level communication, proactive problem-solving, and a deep understanding of client needs.

Develop People

• Lead and mentor a cohort of consultants, fostering a collaborative community focused on professional growth and excellence in service delivery.
• Provide development opportunities through regular 1:1 meetings, coaching, and tailored feedback, actively identifying areas for skill enhancement.
• Conduct mid-year and annual performance reviews, making informed recommendations for competency and compensation decisions, and documenting development conversations and feedback for smooth transitions.
• Collaborate closely with the talent team to identify and nurture emerging talent for future growth and development, as well as support in recruitment efforts.
• Support firm growth by sponsoring initiative teams and cultivating talent within these teams.

A wide variety of backgrounds and experiences may be aligned to the work we do. If you believe you have the qualifications, even if your role titles did not necessarily use the same words, we encourage you to apply. A real person reads all our applications, and your background and experience will be assessed holistically.

Must-have:

• 10+ years of consulting experience, including at least 5 years of selling work and leading teams
• Proven track record in developing relationships, driving new business, and crafting innovative solutions for complex client challenges
• Skilled in scoping projects, writing proposals, and delivering compelling presentations to senior stakeholders throughout the client engagement process
• Bachelor’s degree
• Ability to travel based on client need (up to 25%)
• Ability to demonstrate a legal right to work in the U.S. 

Nice-to-have:

• Familiarity with the local market and a strong local professional network, ideally built through 5+ years of living and working in the region
• Master’s degree or relevant certifications
• Experience selling into the retail and/or technology industries

Compensation: We are committed to compensating employees fairly and equitably for their time, skills, and experience. The base salary for this role ranges from $190,000 to $250,000. This position is also eligible for a performance-based annual bonus targeted at 10–20% of base salary, based on individual and company performance. Based on these components, the expected total annual cash compensation (base + target bonus) ranges from approximately $210,000 to $300,000. 

In addition, employees may be eligible for long-term incentives, which are designed to reward sustained impact and contribution over time. Our compensation plan also includes a generous benefits package, which you can learn more about here.

Location: We believe being physically present with each other and our clients strengthens our relationships, promotes creativity and innovation, and ultimately produces a stronger, more durable result for our clients and ourselves. Propeller directors work in a hybrid model, spending at least 3 days per week working from their local Propeller office or client office.