Benchmark Consulting Manager - Toronto, Canada

Description

Benchmark Consulting Manager - Toronto, Canada

Wanted: dynamic and creative individuals ready to connect with a like-minded team. You’ll enjoy all the autonomy you need to help our clients make their digital infrastructure faster and more effective. Free reign for free spirits doesn’t mean you’ve got to go it alone. Over 1400 teammates from around the globe are eager to help you out when things get down to wire. Their expertise will put you on the winning path and keep you there.

Position Description

The Benchmark Consulting Manager is a data-driven leader responsible for managing and delivering enterprise benchmarking engagements, performing detailed analysis and providing strategic recommendations to clients. This role requires strong autonomy, consulting expertise, and technical depth across modern IT domains including cloud, AI/automation, data analytics, DevOps, and modern operating models.

Day-to-day responsibilities include leading client engagements, overseeing the quality of deliverables, guiding and mentoring internal teams, and performing data analysis leveraging ISG’s global benchmark database. Over time, the Benchmark Consulting Manager is expected to develop specialized expertise across both technical domains (AI, cloud, DevOps) and ISG benchmark offerings (enterprise performance benchmarks, contract assessments, labor rate benchmarks).

Responsibilities

• Lead benchmarking engagements end-to‑end, including scoping, project management, data collection, analysis, and executive readouts.
• Serve as the primary client‑facing leader, managing expectations, timelines, risks, and communication across multiple workstreams.
• Facilitate workshops, interviews, and service mapping sessions to ensure accurate alignment of client environments to ISG’s standard service taxonomy.
• Oversee project quality and ensure internal and external deadlines are met.

• Develop financial and operational models utilizing ISG templates to compare client performance against market cost, price, quality, productivity, staffing, and service‑level standards.
• Lead interpretation of benchmark results using ISG’s global benchmark database to compare against client performance measures.
• Apply normalization techniques, scenario modeling, cost allocation, and insight synthesis to produce fact‑based, actionable recommendations.
• Identify and quantify cost optimization, sourcing, productivity, and service improvement opportunities.

• Evaluate client operating models and technical landscapes across cloud services, data environments, AI adoption, automation maturity, DevOps/engineering practices, and Technology Business Management (TBM) standards.
• Apply understanding of cloud economics, usage patterns, and governance to benchmark cloud spend and identify opportunities for efficiency and modernization.
• Incorporate emerging AI and automation trends into benchmarking insights, including productivity levers, delivery model impacts, and cost structures.
• Interpret how shifts in software models, SaaS consumption, cloud‑native architectures, and automation affect client competitiveness.

• Translate complex benchmarking outputs into concise, compelling narratives that guide executive decision‑making.
• Advise clients on operational improvements, sourcing strategies, cloud modernization, and cost optimization pathways.
• Support development of target‑state capabilities, performance improvement roadmaps, and investment recommendations.

• Provide coaching, mentorship, and quality oversight to junior consultants and analysts.
• Promote cross‑collaboration with ISG’s Data & Analytics, Cloud, Sourcing, and Strategy practices.
• Contribute to continuous enhancement of ISG methodologies, tools, templates, and intellectual capital.
• Support proposal creation, solutioning, and pricing for benchmarking opportunities.
• Identify on‑sell opportunities following completion of a benchmark engagement.
• Participate in pre‑sales conversations, client workshops, and product demonstrations.

Required Skillsets

• This is a remote role based in the US or Toronto, Canada. Travel of up to 25% may be required for client meetings and internal off‑site events.
• 5+ years of consulting, benchmarking, IT analytics, sourcing advisory, or related technical experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading client engagements and managing multi‑workstream project delivery.
• Strong understanding of enterprise IT organizations and modern market trends, including cloud, automation, DevOps, and AI‑enabled delivery.
• Background in benchmarking, financial modeling, machine learning or predictive analytics, or data analytics tools.
• An understanding of global corporate financial practices and goals, including financial reporting, cost drivers, and cost optimization actions.
• Advanced Excel modeling skills and proficiency in analyzing large datasets.
• Ability to assess cost, performance, quality, staffing models, service levels, and provider pricing across IT services.
• Working knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), cloud cost modeling, and FinOps principles.
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts, automation tools, data engineering fundamentals, and TBM taxonomy standards.
• Understanding of IT contracts, rate cards, service level agreements, and sourcing models.
• Consulting & Communication Skills.
• Ability to independently manage client relationships and present to senior executives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical findings into accessible business insights.
• Experience coaching team members and supporting capability development.

• Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and proactive; able to thrive in complex and ambiguous environments.
• Comfortable working in a matrix operating model and collaborating with global teams.
• Demonstrates ability to influence, negotiate, and drive stakeholder alignment.

Education

• Bachelor of Science degree in a business, technical, analytical, or scientific field.
• MBA/MS or related advanced degree preferred.
• ITIL Foundation, cloud certification (AWS/Azure/GCP), TBM certification, or other AI/data/analytics certification preferred.

At ISG, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our clients, and our communities. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. ISG is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. The more diverse and inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

The duties and responsibilities described in this job description may not be a comprehensive list. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time and/or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.