Advisory Associate Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

B&D is seeking a strategic, client-facing Senior Associate who is energized by complex dining operations, broad institutional partnerships, and the opportunity to guide colleges and universities through high-impact dining advisory decisions. B&Ds dining clients are responsible for multi-million-dollar enterprises that must be well managed in an increasingly risky and more complicated higher education environment.

The Opportunity

B&Ds Dining Advisory Practice Group partners with higher education institutions nationwide to advise them on program planning, management solutions, and long-term performance of their campus dining programs.

This role is uniquely positioned within the firm and plays a critical part in advancing B&Ds broader management advisory work. Our dining engagements often integrate with larger institutional planning efforts, including student life, housing, athletics, and campus development, which requires close collaboration across the firm to deliver coordinated strategies that support each institutions mission.

This position is not just focused on contract administration. It goes beyond merely processing agreements, monitoring compliance, and ensuring that contract terms are documented correctly. This role requires an individual who can help institutions understand the complexities of contemporary dining services and develop strong operational and management structures that support their long-term success either through self-operated or contracted models.

The person in this position can work remotely in the continental United States if located outside a reasonable commuting distance from one of B&Ds office locations in Washington, DC; New York City; Atlanta; Chicago; Austin; Costa Mesa; or San Jose. This position requires regular domestic business travel so the candidate must live near an airport that provides good nationwide connections.

How You'll Contribute

As a Senior Associate, you will lead dining advisory engagements while serving as a trusted advisor to institutional clients. Responsibilities include:

• Lead and manage dining advisory projects from planning through implementation.
• Oversee the full client contract management lifecycle, including:
  • Solicitation process development and management
  • Process schedule development
  • RFP drafting
  • Proposal evaluation process management
  • Operating contract development and administration (authoring, editing, and evaluating)
  • Business term negotiation and decision support
• Develop and oversee deliverables, including:
  • Needs assessments
  • Operational reviews
  • Program/service audits
  • Operating model assessments
  • Contractor solicitation process management
  • Financial reviews and modeling
  • Business planning
  • Market analyses
• Advise clients throughout 3rd party contract negotiations and the implementation of new operating agreements.
• Serve as the primary client relationship manager on assigned engagements.
• Translate procurement and contract complexity into clear strategic recommendations for clients.
• Coordinate dining advisory work with broader firmwide planning efforts across multiple practice areas.
• Develop high-quality presentations, reports, and project documentation.
• Manage multiple concurrent engagements while maintaining quality, schedule, and budget expectations.
• Supervise and mentor junior staff across project teams.
• Contribute to business development through:
  • Proposal development
  • Conference participation
  • Thought leadership
  • Relationship cultivation
• Strengthen internal tools, methodologies, and advisory best practices.

What We're Looking For

7+ years of professional experience in:

• Dining services management
• Foodservice operations
• Procurement
• Contract administration
• Advisory or related fields

At least 4 years of direct experience in:

• Dining solicitations
• Procurement processes
• Contract negotiations
• Agreement management

• Bachelors degree in Hospitality Management, Business, Higher Education Administration, or related field required.
• An advanced degree is strongly preferred, including an MBA, J.D., LLM, or paralegal or other professional legal training.
• Higher education dining experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of solicitation and contracting structures, business terms, operational performance metrics, and procurement strategies.
• Excellent technical writing skills, verbal communication, facilitation skills, and presentation abilities.
• Accuracy, discipline, and attention to detail when developing and reviewing long documents.
• Strong analytical and organizational capabilities.
• Ability to work independently while leading multiple projects.
• Willingness to travel two or more times per month.
• Alignment with B&Ds mission, values, and collaborative culture

What Sets You Apart

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Experience leading solicitation processes from strategy development through implementation for service-related operations, particularly collegiate dining or other institutional foodservice.
• Experience in directly developing solicitation and contractual documents for service-related operations, particularly collegiate dining or other institutional foodservice.
• Experience with dining service models, performance metrics, operating practices, program design, and financial structures.
• Strong stakeholder and executive-level client communication.
• The ability to author technical solicitation and contractual language and translate into clear client deliverables.
• Strategic thinking that extends beyond contract administration into long-term dining program success and institution-wide partnership planning.
• This role is an ideal opportunity for someone in a senior position in foodservice operations, hospitality management, procurement, legal affairs, or consulting / advising who wants broader influence, more meaningful client engagement, an opportunity to shape institutional strategy, and professional growth.

Apply Today

Our application process includes a resume, a cover letter (optional, but highly encouraged), and a few important questions. Were excited to learn more about you!

This role's target base annual salary range is currently $125,000-140,000. Pay scales are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay is determined through interviews and an assessment of several factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, relevant education, experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate, and pay relative to other team members.

The company benefits listed above are a summary of the benefits. Specific details, availability, and eligibility requirements apply in accordance with company policies.

Brailsford & Dunlavey is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive work 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.