Senior Consultant, Investigations and Research

This role may be based in Washington DC, Chicago, or New York City.

A Senior Consultant project manages US and Canada public record and open-source research, online monitoring and human intelligence projects for pre-deal due diligence, litigation support matters, asset traces, complex frauds, internal investigations and anti-bribery/anti-corruption and other compliance-driven inquiries.

The successful candidate will be a critical thinker with solid writing, communication and team management skills. This position requires a demonstrated ability to: conduct and project manage sophisticated investigative projects in a rapid-paced environment within time and budget constraints, oversee teams of researchers and subcontractors, write and edit client reports in an investigative reporting style, foster relationships with counterparts globally and across business lines in a complex organization, and lead in the professional development of junior members of the team. When required, the Senior Consultant will be expected to conduct investigative research themselves, especially for complex cases that require the mentorship of junior team members. As such, the Senior Consultant plays a significant role in setting and modeling best research practices for the team. Additionally, the Senior Consultant will join the project management group in taking client scoping calls, conducting scoping research and preparing proposals.

The Senior Consultant will be interested in learning more about the investigations industry and will have client-facing duties, such as participating in client status updates, attending client meetings or conferences as appropriate, getting involved in business development activities and/or writing thought leadership pieces once or twice a year. The Senior Consultant will have line management responsibilities for the research team in conjunction with the Consultant and lead the benchmark for research excellence and be a resource for junior team members. There are opportunities to develop specialties and to take ownership of areas of the practice.

While this team covers US and Canada research, it works closely with teams across the world, and this role requires global-mindedness. All team roles have growth potential and are part of a larger career trajectory. The successful candidate will be expected to be based in one of our US offices, namely New York, Chicago, or Washington D.C. and be in the office three times a week.

Tasks and responsibilities

Investigative case management:

• Manage and execute a range of investigative projects utilizing proprietary and specialist databases, online public records and open sources in a variety of investigative contexts for internal and external clients
• Manage the entire project cycle, from initial client request to scoping, proposal drafting, acceptance, delivery and invoicing
• “Manage up” and communicate with clients and account managers to understand their goals and ensure that our proposals deliver solutions tailored to those needs
• Understand project budgeting, resource management and profitability of projects
• Review and edit client deliverables in the Control Risks style and for quality control
• Brief and present findings, in writing, verbally and through charts and diagrams, to internal and external clients
• Resolve client problems and complaints, with the support of more senior colleagues.
• Learn how to conduct human source intelligence and manage our networks across the US & Canada
• Manage investigators and subcontractors. Oversee the effective performance of investigators and other junior colleagues, providing meaningful and constructive feedback.
• Seek opportunities to improve our current methodologies, including through the application of new tools, innovation, approaches, and sources.

Team leadership and line management:

• Manage the research team with the Consultant by helping them to develop, execute and complete projects, liaising with colleagues in other jurisdictions and service lines, as well as create objectives and conduct consistent evaluations for their career development
• Mentor, train and guide junior team members as the lead in research excellence
• Support/lead professional development of the research team

Business, practice, and solution development

• Learn about the full range of Control Risks’ BI services and understand our other practices and how they fit into our work.
• Support on business development initiatives such as attending conferences, client meetings and briefings
• Actively participate in profile-raising and brand awareness activities, including marketing, thought leadership networking initiatives and events
• Seek opportunities to improve our current methodologies, including through the application of new tools, innovation, approaches, and sources

Requirements

Knowledge and experience

• Previous professional experience, ideally within the corporate intelligence industry, with at least 4 to 6 years working as an investigator with client-facing experience
• Experience managing multiple complex projects and presenting findings to clients
• Extensive experience with US and Canadian public records, including online and proprietary databases covering corporate, media, litigation, regulatory and other information
• Understanding of the US legal system and regulatory environment and knowledge of US business and politics. Canada a plus.
• Demonstrated experience with corporate intelligence and compliance, with strong knowledge of research techniques, databases, networks, online registers and archives, and research in the general internet
• Ability to work in a team and independently

Qualifications and specialist skills

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in an analytical field such as political science, law or journalism
• Ability to understand, distill and synthesize complex information from a variety of sources and organize into concise narratives
• Ability to identify risk-relevant information and contextualize those risks

Competencies

• Takes responsibility to analyze a situation and provide the solution or escalate as appropriate
• Responds to clients positively and is flexible; provides the best possible service and puts the client first
• Works with colleagues in a cooperative and supportive manner to achieve shared goals
• All employees are expected to display behaviors reflective of our company values: Integrity and Ethics, Collaboration and Teamwork, Commitment to People and Professionalism and Excellence

The base salary range for this position is $115,000-$125,000 per year. Exact compensation offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Control Risks is committed to a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made in order to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know and we will be happy to accommodate your needs.

Control Risks participates in the E-Verify program to confirm employment authorization of all newly hired employees. The E-Verify process is completed during new hire onboarding and completion of the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, at the start of employment. E-Verify is not used as a tool to pre-screen candidates. For more information on E-Verify, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Benefits

• Control Risks offers a competitively positioned compensation and benefits package that is transparent and summarized in the full job offer.
• Control Risks supports hybrid working arrangements, wherever possible, that emphasize the value of in-person time together - in the office and with our clients - while continuing to support flexible and remote working.
• Medical Benefits, Prescription Benefits, FSA, Dental Benefits, Vision Benefits, Life and AD&D, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Disability Benefits, Voluntary Benefits, 401 (K) Retirement, Nationwide Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program.
• As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us and are fully committed to equal treatment, free from discrimination, of all candidates throughout our recruitment process.