Director / Managing Director – Geopolitical & Strategic Advisory - New York

New York, NY

Octavius Finance is exclusively recruiting on behalf of a leading international geopolitical and strategic advisory firm seeking to appoint a Director or Managing Director to join its New York office.

This is a rare opportunity to join one of the industry's most respected advisory businesses, working directly with senior executives, investors and boards to help them navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical and macroeconomic landscape.

The successful individual will lead a portfolio of strategic client engagements while acting as the senior leader within the New York office, helping shape team culture, mentor colleagues and represent the office within the firm's wider leadership group.

This role is ideally suited to someone who combines strong commercial consulting experience with exceptional people leadership and a genuine interest in global affairs, international policy and geopolitical risk.

The Opportunity

You will advise multinational corporations, financial institutions and investors on strategic issues including:

  • Geopolitical risk and macroeconomic developments

  • Corporate and investment strategy

  • Market entry and expansion

  • Supply chain resilience and diversification

  • Political and regulatory developments

  • Stakeholder engagement

  • Scenario planning and strategic decision-making

Alongside client work, you will become the most senior individual within the New York office, helping to foster collaboration, mentor colleagues, oversee office culture and contribute to the continued growth of the business.

Approximately 85% of the role will remain client-facing, with leadership responsibilities forming an important part of the position.

Responsibilities

  • Lead complex client engagements from proposal through delivery

  • Act as a trusted adviser to senior executives, boards and investment clients

  • Produce and present high-quality strategic analysis on geopolitical and macroeconomic developments

  • Develop long-term client relationships and identify new business opportunities

  • Lead multidisciplinary project teams and ensure exceptional client delivery

  • Mentor and develop consultants across the New York office

  • Provide day-to-day leadership for a team of approximately 5–25 professionals

  • Support recruitment, hiring and team development

  • Represent the New York office within firm-wide leadership initiatives

  • Help develop new products, services and intellectual capital

  • Contribute to the firm's long-term strategic direction and continued growth

About You

We're interested in individuals with approximately 10–15 years' experience gained within strategy consulting, geopolitical advisory or another high-level professional services environment.

You will likely possess:

  • Significant experience advising senior corporate clients on strategic business issues

  • Strong consulting, project management and client leadership experience

  • Demonstrated success managing complex client engagements

  • Experience leading, mentoring and developing teams

  • Outstanding communication and presentation skills

  • Excellent commercial judgement and relationship management abilities

  • A genuine interest in global politics, economics and international affairs

  • Experience using AI tools to improve research, analysis or client delivery would be advantageous

Backgrounds of Interest

We would particularly welcome candidates from:

  • Strategy consulting firms

  • Management consulting

  • Corporate strategy

  • Professional services advisory

  • Geopolitical or political risk advisory

  • International affairs advisory

Private sector experience is essential.

Experience across sectors such as technology, financial services, consumer goods, industrials, manufacturing, logistics, defence, life sciences or AI would be beneficial but is not essential.

What's Most Important

While geopolitical advisory experience is highly desirable, our client considers leadership capability to be the single most important attribute for this hire.

Candidates who have demonstrated an ability to build high-performing teams, develop people and lead from the front will be considered, even if their experience has been gained outside a traditional geopolitical advisory environment.

Please apply to policy@octaviusfinance.com‍ ‍

Next
Next

Project Manager – Private Equity Fundraising, London