Senior Associate Bardi

Senior Associate
Bardi
Emilia Romagna, Bardi

Company Description ALEF Consulting is a consultancy firm based in Milan, specializing in organizational learning, human capital development, and individual change. The firm serves as an awareness agent, a sensemaking advisor, and an unorthodox change activator, offering innovative approaches in organizational development, change management, human capital enhancement, corporate coaching, and managerial training. ALEF Consulting focuses on building and restoring trust within organizational social systems, by helping companies enhancing relationships with employees and stakeholders through a stack of architectural approaches encompassing strategic organizational co-design for effectiveness, culture integration and community building through adaptive collaboration, impactful dialogic interventions, agile HR practices, smart policies and incisive actions, to drive successful business achievements. Role Description This is an "ideally full-time" hybrid Senior Associate role at ALEF Consulting. The Senior Associate will be responsible for various consulting tasks, participating in organizational development projects, conducting human capital assessments, providing change management support, delivering corporate coaching, and facilitating managerial training. With flexibility for some work to be done remotely, the role is primarily based in Milan. We are flexible in spirit. Our practices and policies are open and based on a fair-use principle. Overall we foster agency and we deeply value freedom along with responsibility. If you are considering applying for this role, we kindly invite you to spend some time in getting to know more about us. There is a lot about us that you can find here on LinkedIn and in other place. We'd like you to consider us as people you might be willing to spend time and collaborate with, and to share together space, exploration, experimentation and learning. If you feel like you'd prefer to work as hard as you can remotely so that you can end up reducing to a minimum time, space and impact we share together, you certainly want to think twice at the choices you might be about to make about us and working with Alef. Profile and Qualifications: Am I the right fit for this role? Experience in Organizational Development, Human Capital Enhancement, Organizational Learning, System, Team and Individual Interventions Change Management skills Experience in conducting assessments and providing corporate coaching Managerial Training and Leadership Development skills Knowledge of organizational behavior and psychology Client and Project Management Skills Knowledge of HR practices, policies and strategies Experience in consultancy or related field Strong communication and interpersonal skills Ability to work both independently and collaboratively Proven ability to operate autonomously and collaborate deeply in a self-driven, multi-project, non-structured and non-hierarchical environment Willing to take detailed handwritten notes whilst keeping on paying attention and attending conversations, and to be able to read back what was written in notes Valuing service as a way for self-affirmation Capable to self-differentiate and compete, yet valuing belonging over self-differentiation and collaboration over competition Community focussed and non-territorial Passionate about sharing competence and making knowledge available, growing younger talents into the profession Curious about technology and its current developments Equally action-oriented and reflective in nature Proficiency in analytical thinking and problem-solving Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced environment Passionate for learning and self development, with a relentlessly hungry mind Self-aware and willing to challenge own assumptions Confident in own competence Survived anxiety, learning patience and resilience Willing to face setbacks by losing, without losing the learning Embracing own imposter's syndrome as a manifestation of own self awareness along with own attitude for learning through the experience and making oneself vulnerable Available to learn in public, stand in front of a camera, stand in front of an audience Not crushing under pressure, providing instead a relatable and reliable paced and calming haven, and a safe space for keeping on thinking both through and irrespective of. With a distinct presence that has range and impact, and makes a difference for the good Appreciative in spirit and constructive in dialogue Deep listener, humble inquirer and elegant conversationalist, yet able to respectfully interrupt others when needed Aware of own privileges and envy, and willing to do personal work and let them go Equally fascinated by the big picture and the small details Connecting, compassionate, alive With a preference in being interested rather than interesting Open to feedback and determined in taking back own projections, whilst working through transference and counter transference With clear yet permeable interpersonal boundaries, aware of own needs, and able to state them and to make clear requests Able to be vulnerable, aware of own mortality and of the fragility of our human condition Willing to be a challenger and a contrarian, if needed, to question everything that is worth and meaningful questioning, and to speak the truth to power with courage, clarity and compassion Full fluency in written and spoken Italian is a must Fluency in English is a much valuable plus, though in Alef we invest in improving it, and any knowledge of other languages is certainly appreciated Master's degree in Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, or relevant related field What Your Journey With Us Might Look Like First 3 Months - Deep immersion in ALEF's methodology and philosophy through hands-on project participation - Working with/shadowing colleagues/consultants in client engagements - Learning our approach to engaging with clients, writing and presenting proposals, collecting data, interviewing, observing, note-taking, analyzing, sharing data and collecting feedback, planning activities, co-designing and delivering interventions, evaluating and presenting outcomes, closing projects and joining us in our review and reflection practices - Beginning to build relationships with team members and clients - Participating in internal learning sessions and methodology workshops By 6 Months - Leading components of client projects under mentorship if appreciated - Contributing to project design and intervention planning - Developing facility with our core methodologies - Building your own style within our framework - Contributing to internal knowledge development By 12 Months - Taking increasing ownership of client relationships - Leading specific project workstreams independently - Contributing to methodology development - Participating in business development activities - Mentoring newer team members What Success Looks Like in This Role Technical Excellence - Ability to synthesize multiple methodological approaches appropriately for each situation - Skilled facilitation of group processes and individual coaching conversations - Capacity to design and deliver effective interventions - Strong diagnostic abilities and pattern recognition - Excellent documentation and sense-making capabilities Relational Mastery - Building trust-based relationships across all organizational levels - Reading and working effectively with group dynamics - Managing complexity in stakeholder relationships - Maintaining professional boundaries while building authentic connections - Contributing to team learning and development Personal Leadership - Modeling continuous learning and self-reflection - Managing personal energy and presence - Balancing autonomy and interdependence - Contributing to the evolution of our practice - Embodying our values and principles What We Offer Professional Development - Regular supervision and mentoring - Access to advanced training and certification opportunities - Exposure to diverse client contexts and challenges - Participation in method development and research - Support for conference attendance and professional membership Learning Environment - Regular case consultations and learning sessions - Access to our extensive methodology library - Participation in action learning sets - Opportunities for co-authoring and publishing - Regular feedback and development conversations Work-Life Integration - Flexible working arrangements based on trust - Support for personal development initiatives - Time for reflection and learning - Respect for personal boundaries and recovery needs - Integration of professional and personal growth A Typical Week Might Include - Facilitating client workshops and interventions - Conducting individual coaching sessions - Participating in team learning and development activities - Writing proposals and project documentation - Contributing to methodology development - Engaging in supervision and peer consultation - Personal reflection and learning time - Client relationship management - Internal team collaboration What Makes You Thrive Here - You value depth over speed (though you can move fast when needed) - You're comfortable with ambiguity and emergence - You enjoy thinking together with others - You're willing to challenge and be challenged - You see learning as a way of being - You balance intellectual rigor with emotional intelligence - You're drawn to both practical action and theoretical understanding - You value authenticity over perfection - You're willing to stay with difficulty rather than rush to solutions - You see organizational life as a rich territory for human development Application Process 1. Initial Application - Submit your CV - Share a reflection piece on why this role calls to you - Include a case study of your most significant learning experience 2. Exploration Conversations - Initial conversation about mutual fit - Deep dive into your experience and approach - Team interaction and case discussion 3. Practical Experience - Participation in a group process - Design exercise - Client simulation We believe the application process should be a learning experience for all involved, regardless of outcome. "We're not just looking for a colleague – we're looking for a co-creator in our ongoing evolution as a practice and as practitioners. " Read This Note Now You don't have to be a Senior to apply to a Senior role You don't have to have it all to apply to this role You don't have to be perfect to work with us We just strive to be the best version of ourselves And, much probably, that's what you are trying as well We have our own biases. Collectively and individually. You might as well. Evidence-based research consistently show that certain categories of individuals have a consistent tendency to over-estimate their individual abilities, skills, competencies, capacity and overall accumulated experience. Some other categories consistently show the opposite tendency, showing an attitude in under-estimating their fit for a role, based on a careful, yet too careful, self evaluation. Please consider carefully if you might belong to any of those categories, and act accordingly. If in doubt, consider applying and openly sharing with us your doubts. We will consider your perspective with interest and appreciate your courage, vulnerability, openness and trust with us Let hope rather than fear guide your decisions, if you will We are a small boutique consultancy. We will put our best effort and care to review attentively any application to this tole. Maybe you will be the only applicant. Maybe there will be others. If that is the case, you certainly don't need us to tell you that that choice of us doesn't say anything about the value and competence of anyone else who has applied and is not the professional that is eventually selected. We make mistakes. We made mistakes in the past. Not choosing you might just be another mistake we have made. We have less information about you than you have. And, if you think and feel that we have made a mistake, and a big mistake, let us know it, if you want to. We can't assure you that we will certainly be able to listen to, accept and agree with your perspective, yet, as most things in life, it might worth a try More About Us Our Role: Catalyzing Organizational Evolution Through Human-Centered Change As Organization Development professionals and systems thinking practitioners, we partner with organizations to navigate complexity and facilitate meaningful transformation. Our approach integrates behavioral science, appreciative inquiry, and gestalt principles to create sustainable change that honors both human dynamics and organizational objectives. Professional Philosophy We believe that organizations are living systems where every interaction matters. By taking an unorthodox yet deeply grounded approach to change, we help surface hidden patterns, unlock collective wisdom, and activate the natural capacity for growth present in every human system. At Our Core: Collaboration Collaboration is not just a working method for us—it is the essential fabric of transformation, the fundamental pattern that weaves together all dimensions of our practice. We believe that meaningful change emerges through the artful orchestration of collective wisdom and shared purpose. Our deep appreciation for collaboration stems from understanding that organizations are inherently collaborative systems, where every breakthrough, every innovation, and every sustainable solution arises from the skillful integration of diverse perspectives, experiences, and capabilities. Drawing from our Gestalt foundation, we see collaboration as a powerful field of interaction where the whole truly becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Through our Tavistock lens, we recognize collaboration as the vehicle through which group dynamics transform into organizational power. Our Design Thinking heritage teaches us that collaboration is the crucible where innovation is forged, while our training in complexity reminds us that collaborative patterns are the very essence of adaptive systems. In practice, this means we: - Design processes that activate collective intelligence rather than individual expertise - Create containers where diverse voices can safely emerge and constructively converge - Build bridges across hierarchical levels, functional silos, and cultural boundaries - Nurture the conditions where authentic dialogue can flourish and shared understanding can grow - Transform potential conflicts into opportunities for collaborative learning and innovation Our role as consultants is to be skilled facilitators of collaborative processes, architects of collaborative spaces, and guardians of collaborative spirit. We understand that true collaboration requires both structure and flexibility, both challenge and support, both unity of purpose and diversity of perspective. Whether we're facilitating a strategic dialogue, designing an organizational intervention, or coaching leadership teams, we always work to strengthen the collaborative fabric that enables sustainable change. This commitment to collaboration shapes everything from our initial contracting conversations to our final evaluation processes. It influences how we: - Partner with clients in co-creating solutions - Integrate multiple methodologies in service of shared goals - Build capacity for collaborative leadership at all levels - Foster psychological safety while encouraging constructive tension - Balance individual agency with collective responsibility Through years of experience across diverse organizational contexts, we've learned that collaboration is not just about working together—it's about creating the conditions where collective wisdom can emerge, where shared purpose can flourish, and where sustainable change can take root. It's about building not just better solutions, but stronger capabilities for future collaboration. In an era of increasing complexity and rapid change, we believe that the capacity for meaningful collaboration is perhaps the most critical capability organizations can develop. It is the key to resilience, the source of innovation, and the foundation of sustainable success. This is why collaboration sits at the core of ou