Job description

Senior or Principal Economic Consultant

Our client is an independent consultancy that provides strategic advice to those who lead, do business or invest in local economies. They work with a range of clients including local government, Combined Authorities, private sector investors and developers across the UK. They are an employee-owned business, which demonstrates their commitment to independence and a strong social purpose, that will protect the interests of employees, and work to increase positive impact on places. It also means all staff have a financial stake in the business, with access to many benefits, including a share of company profits.

They are looking to hire a Senior or Principal Consultant in their strategy team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in public sector consulting in strategy and/or transformation, and a proven ability to work with local and regional government stakeholders at all levels. They should be looking to join a consultancy with a difference and a clear mission to support place.
This position is a lead role in the strategy team, working on a range of high-profile strategy development and implementation projects across regional devolution, economic growth, sector development and other key economic policy areas, leading and coaching junior consultants and working closely with the team of directors to support clients to affect change in today's complex and dynamic government environment.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate:

• 4+ years' experience working in a consulting firm (6+ years for Principal Consultant), with a focus on local and regional government strategy or complex transformation projects.
• Strong interest in solving problems in a public sector or public-private environment, understanding of the current public policy environment surround local and regional government and interest in economic policy and local economies and politics in the UK.
• A strong understanding of the policy levers available for places to support economic growth, balancing theoretical insights with practical experience as appropriate
• Excellent understanding of core consulting approaches and methods for strategy development, transformation and change management
• A track record of leading and delivering a diverse range of strategic projects across various public sector policy areas, with deep experience in local and regional government
• Experience interpreting, critically interrogating and conveying data-led insights and working with socio-economic data
• Practiced skills in working with challenging public sector stakeholders and complex client environments
• Ability to work with ambiguity, navigating uncertain client requirements, changing landscapes and political dynamics, and supporting teams to do the same
• Evidence of working in and leading teams, managing clients, projects and consultants on time and to target end to end, from strategy to delivery
• Experience of leading pitch and bid development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including a range of producing client deliverables, presenting formally and informally
• Commitment to personal development, on-the-job learning and strong self-leadership skills

Typical tasks include:

• Leading a range of strategic project work - e.g. developing approaches and plans to meet client requirements, leading and supporting regular client engagement, developing written outputs/ reports/ slide packs, leading research and analytical work and recommendation development for our broad range of clients, ongoing risk and progress management
• Managing day-to-day relationships with clients, project leadership and project teams
• Supporting the development of other colleagues within and outside projects
• Leading and supporting proposal writing
• Contributing to shaping internal best practice around strategy development and delivery
• Supporting the management activities/ administration of the business as required

Principal Consultants are expected to be able to deliver a wider variety and complexity of projects more independently, with less direct supervision from Project Directors, and make a more significant contribution to business development.
The successful candidate could be based at either the Manchester or London office. There would also be a certain amount of travel around the UK to client meetings.
What they offer
Competitive salary dependent on experience and an excellent benefits package comprising:

• Annual profit share (dependent on company performance)
• 8% employer contribution to company pension scheme (after three months)
• 29 days annual leave which includes company closedown between Christmas and New Year and one day birthday leave
• Wellbeing benefits including life insurance, income protection insurance, cycle to work scheme
• Access to employee assistance programme which provides various support services including 24/7 GP appointments
• Hybrid working with an expectation of at least 2 days per week in the London or Manchester office
• Access to training and personal development in line with career progression goals and business requirements

For more information on this role please contact Michelle: mluck@allen-york.com
About us: Allen & York have been matching purposeful people with purpose-led organisations for 30 years. We partner with our clients and candidates on roles that build an understanding of climate change, promote sustainability and create inclusive and responsible organisations, working towards a sustainable world for us all. Committed to inclusiveness in the workplace, we aim to increase diversity across all areas and therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, or whether or not they have a disability. Let's help build a better world, together.