Associate Partner

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Erfahrene Manager haben die Chance, sich zum Associate Partner weiterzuentwickeln, der letzten Karrierestufe vor der Wahl zum Partner. Als Associate Partner wechseln Sie aus der Rolle des Projektleiters in die eines Projektcoachs.

Sie sind zentraler Ansprechpartner des Klienten auch auf Geschäftsführungs- und Vorstandsebene und bauen eine eigene Beratungsbeziehung – oftmals auch über die Grenzen des aktuellen Projektes hinaus – zu Ihren Kunden auf. Auch wenn Ihre speziellen funktionalen und Branchenerfahrungen sich weiter vertiefen und Sie umfangreiches Expertenwissen aufgebaut haben, bleiben Sie nach wie vor ein erstklassiger „Allround“-Strategieberater – aber einer mit einem klaren persönlichen Profil und einer Reihe von Kernkompetenzen.

Während der ca. zwei bis dreijährigen Phase als Associate Partner engagieren Sie sich zudem bei der Weiterentwicklung unserer Konzepte und Methoden, fungieren als Mentor für Projektteams und Projektleiter und unterstützen bei der Vermarktung unserer Kompetenzen durch Publikationen oder Vorträge.

Basierend auf Ihrer Erfahrung und Expertise unterstützen Sie die Partner zunehmend beim Aufbau von langfristigen Klientenbeziehungen und der Akquisition neuer Projekte. Zudem tragen Sie auch international zur Profilierung unseres Unternehmens bei – durch Mitarbeit in internationalen Practice Groups oder funktionalen Arbeitsgruppen (z.B. für Training oder Marketing). Zudem unterstützen Sie andere Büros bei internationalen Akquisitionen und dem Aufbau unseres Netzwerks. So werden Sie stetig an die Position des Partners herangeführt.

Mélanie
Associate partner

After my studies, I worked for four years in a consultancy that specialised in retail, managing such various assignments as corporate strategy to the implementation of IT systems for leading retailers in Europe.

A friend of mine told me that strategy consulting is like bringing clarity to a dark environment. I think this is very true: We do help clients get out of their “cave” and see outside of their current world of business, helping them enter into or try new markets, reshape their business model or build partnerships.

At OC&C, I think what really makes us different is our team spirit, built around core values like respect, merit, and excellence in work. There are a lot of collective work partners involved in issue analysis, sharing their experience with the most junior consultants.

Chris
Associate partner

I started my career in consulting after completing my bachelors degree at the University of Pennsylvania. I took a slight detour and left consulting to pursue a product and business development role at a then-startup called Harmonix Music Systems, the creators of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games.

I was drawn to OC&C because the U.S. group had a startup feel, a strong team, and a compelling vision. I have stayed with OC&C for more than five years as we have successfully grown the firm because the talent and character of the people and the overall firm culture are second to none.

The associate partner role can be extremely diverse in its responsibilities. Success means learning how to delegate, motivate, and evaluate the efforts of the talented associates and consultants that OC&C hires - The upside is that you spend more time focused on your clients, understanding their concerns, interpreting their feedback, and growing into the role of trusted advisor.

In my view, consulting is most rewarding when I achieve that level of interaction with my clients and share in their professional success.

Rolf
Associate partner

I love challenges and for me strategy consulting represents exciting projects, interesting and demanding clients as well as constantly new and complex questions. Your learning curve is extremely high, from the beginning you can discuss with important decision makers and present your results to them - A quality which only strategy consulting offers to job entrants.

I choose OC&C because of the environment and the people. From the first interview on I had the impression that people in OC&C are different, and after 2.5 years I definitely can say that this impression was right. Meanwhile, a huge part of people are not only colleagues but also now friends.

I think that you only can perform the best when you feel good and comfortable in a company. Feeling good and comfortable should be an important decision criterion while choosing a company.

Leonie
Associate partner

After studying History at university, I joined a retail graduate scheme and four and a half years later joined OC&C as a Consultant.

Strategy consulting has delivered against everything I was hoping for when I moved from retail. The work is fast-paced, intellectually challenging and enables you to gain a level of insight into business strategy that would otherwise be impossible to achieve within the industry at the start of your career. Also, the people are incredibly bright and committed to performing to the best of their abilities.

OC&C offers a client list and a standard of work that is equivalent to the other top strategy consulting firms, yet is of a size that means the associate consultants and consultants are far from anonymous. Work life at OC&C can be tough, but is always rewarding. The work consistently stretches you, ensuring that your learning is maximised, and the team-based approach to project work means you can make a big contribution at all levels within the organisation.

Anthony
Associate partner

I've found work-life at OC&C alternately interesting, amusing, stretching and tough - but above all enjoyable. During the tough times the people around you help to get you through. Plus I feel I've developed both professionally and in terms of the perspective I have on what's important in life - and what is less so!

I recently spent six months on secondment at a large supermarket chain, primarily looking at the effectiveness of their marketing activity. This provided both a chance to apply the consulting 'toolkit' to a non-standard problem, but more importantly an opportunity to get exposed to, and involved with, day to day activity across the business - an invaluable series of learnings to apply to consulting as I return to OC&C, and indeed for my career more generally.

What is the best thing about working at OC&C? The people, hands down. I made a lot of good friends when I joined OC&C, many of whom are still with OC&C and some who have since moved on to other things, but all still remain genuine friends.

Advice for prospective applicants? Read slightly behind what the brochures tell you. Get talking to the staff and find out what they are working on. If you like them and what they're doing, you've probably found the right fit. Remember, there's no 'one size fits all' company; different companies suit different people.

Dan
Associate partner

Associate Partner

After two and a half years at OC&C, I decided that I wanted to get a taste for what life would be like in a ‘real’ job. When the opportunity arose to join Manchester United, the club I have supported all my life, it was too good to miss. I was seconded to work at Old Trafford for four months, working closely with the commercial director to help determine United’s business strategy, and to implement various projects to drive forward the club’s off-field performance. The whole experience was absolutely fantastic, teaching me a lot about life on ‘the other side of the table’ – and helping me to fulfil my boyhood dream of playing a game on the hallowed turf!

The job is constantly changing, and it evolves as quickly as your skills do, so you are always learning. In general, you go from answering a specific problem to answering the broader question, and I am now responsible for presenting and delivering the project answer, rather than an individual piece of analysis. As a Manager, I typically have a team of other consultants working for me, and it’s my responsibility to guide them on the analysis and problem solving they do.

What is the best thing about working at OC&C? There are so many good people here; people who you’d always want on your team and, at the same time, who you’d want to have a beer with after work. That’s what defines an OC&C consultant.