Analyst / Associate, Strategy

**About Wierd(A)dvisory** At Wierd(A)dvisory, we believe that the nature of advice and expertise is changing and that being strategic calls for more creative problem-solving. That's why we prioritize creating an environment where exceptional individuals with diverse perspectives, thinking, and capabilities can thrive and do their best work. We're seeking an exceptional early-career professional to join our team as an Analyst or Associate.W(A) is a boutique consultancy that partners with senior executives at some of the world's most respected companies and promising start-ups, guiding them through unique challenges arising from complex internal and external dynamics. They choose to engage with us because of our demonstrated willingness to approach longstanding challenges in new ways and our commitment to exceptional quality in everything we do. If you're the kind of person who reads widely, connects unexpected dots, and gets energized by problems that don't have obvious answers, keep reading. **Exceptional Work Awaits our next Analyst or Associate: About the Role** Associate – Client-Facing Strategy Work As an Associate, you'll lead execution on our client portfolio, working directly with senior executives at respected companies and promising disruptors across life sciences, healthcare, CPG, retail, trade associations, and technology. You'll drive strategic inquiries with serious business impact--from strategy and planning to service design and transformation initiatives. Your days will involve: identifying the right business problems to tackle, generating and iterating solution approaches, conducting contextual interviews with stakeholders, synthesizing primary and secondary research, and translating findings into compelling presentations, frameworks, and design artifacts. Excellence in self-guided discovery is essential, as is the ability to organize complex information into coherent strategic narratives. Analyst – Internal Strategy & Operational Excellence As an Analyst, you'll strengthen the firm's foundations while building your consulting capabilities. You'll focus on operational excellence, go-to-market strategy, and thought leadership development—work that directly shapes how we serve clients and grow the firm. This includes research on industry trends, competitive intelligence, capability development, and creating intellectual property that differentiates our approach. You'll gain selective exposure to client work through research initiatives and design artifact development, building skills that position you for client-facing responsibilities as you grow. What Both Roles Share Regardless of position, you'll collaborate closely with firm leadership, develop progressively challenging skills, and contribute to a culture of craftsmanship. Real advancement based on impact, not tenure. Direct influence on how we scale and grow. Work that matters with real responsibilities. **Why This Might Be The Best Job In Canada For You** 💰     Attractive pay and growth opportunities. 💆‍♀️ Our company ethos has employee experience at the centre, fostering a culture that values your well-being and creates the conditions for you to do amazing work. 🧑‍💻 We are strong proponents that the future of work is already here, but unevenly distributed - you should expect to enjoy the flexibility of working from your ideal location, complemented by occasional team gatherings for collaboration and fun. 🤔  If you thrive on doing exceptional work and seek a start-up ‘feel’ versus the bureaucracy and politics of a large enterprise or top-tier firm, we are your ideal fit. 🤝    We consistently aim for purposeful discussion and debate, building muscles and manners that help us say goodbye to dull meetings and hello to more meaningful collaboration. 🔭    A small and impactful part of our business mix involves taking on projects connected to causes, engaging in important system-level conversations pro bono, and giving back.  **Required Qualifications (and Nice-to-Haves) ** You are legally able to work in Canada (Citizen, permanent resident, work permit holder) You are a recent graduate, holding at least a bachelor's degree and possibly an MBA / STEM equivalent. We value your skills, capabilities, and self-directed learning drive over your specific field of study or the reputation of your educational institution. You bring 1-4 years of post-graduate work experience, or you possess a remarkably impactful background from a co-op/internship program during your studies. You've done something real. Maybe you launched a side project that gained traction, led an initiative that created measurable impact, shipped something people actually used, or tackled a problem everyone else ignored. We care less about perfectly formatted slide decks and more about evidence that you take initiative, drive outcomes, and don't wait for permission to solve problems worth solving. Experience in healthcare, life sciences, or familiarity with the Canadian/American pharma ecosystem is advantageous, though not a dealbreaker. An understanding of legacy matrixed, multinational businesses as well as innovative, up-and-coming business models at the forefront of disruptive industries is also highly valuable. Exceptional communication is your forte in written, oral, and/or visual forms. You are comfortable structuring notes and synthesis during digital / in-person meetings You are a self-driven individual, capable of maintaining focus in uncomfortable and challenging situations without constant supervision. You prioritize outcomes over “meeting checkboxes” and win at collaborating with senior project resources. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, encompassing Teams, Excel, PowerPoint is a must. Familiarity with emerging AI tools, Miro, or other relevant business platforms is a plus. A valid passport is required, and you should be comfortable with occasional travel within the GTA and potentially across North America or Europe. **The Recruitment Process** Our process involves a 30-45 min virtual interview, a 60-min virtual panel interview, and a final, face-to-face interview in Toronto. References will be contacted before an offer.  Expect clear and timely communication throughout. Interviews will begin in mid December.  This position has an immediate need, with an early January start date. We look forward to welcoming you to the team in 2026. **How to Apply** Ready to be part of something exceptional? Let's talk. Skip the traditional cover letter. We can tell when it's been polished by ChatGPT, and that's not what we're looking for. Instead, write us something real. Tell us: Who you are (actually, not the LinkedIn version) What makes you "good-weird" What self-directed skunkworks project you'd launch if you had 20% of your time here to work on anything you wanted We want to see how you think, what you're curious about, and whether you can communicate an idea compellingly. A slide, a memo, a portfolio--format is up to you. Bonus points for emojis if that's your thing. Include your resume and LinkedIn profile URL. Email everything to hiring@wierdadvisory.com. Visit www.wierdadvisory.com to learn more about us. While our current team is based in downtown Toronto, we embrace internet-enabled collaboration. We sometimes prioritize in-person meetings for significant client milestones and add some excitement with occasional gatherings as a team at a cozy loft downtown. But you won't be required to come to the office every day.