Consulting Director

ICF Olson; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Private Medical Insurance

Dental insurance

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Group Income Protection

Enhanced parental leave

25 days annual leave

Job summary

ICF seeks an experienced Consulting Director to join its UK practice, focusing on evaluation projects for government departments and agencies. You will lead the in-house team of evaluators, develop proposals, and shape education/employment strategy to drive growth.

You will bring 10+ years in policy research, strong leadership, and proven ability to manage large, complex projects and bid processes, delivering high-quality insights to government clients.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years relevant professional experience in policy research and evaluation.
• Expertise in UK policy research and evaluation in education, employment, youth or families.
• Experience leading large and complex research and evaluation projects.
• Experience delivering qualitative and quantitative social research methods.
• Experience in writing competitive bids or grant applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and proactively manage education and employment strategy.
• Lead proposals for new work, including building teams, budgeting and methodologies.
• Oversee growth and account management for assigned clients.
• Strengthen relationships with clients and provide insights from market knowledge.
• Direct projects with technical leadership and manage project teams.

Skills

Leadership

Proposal development

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Commercial acumen

Project management

Policy research

Research methods

Education

Degree/Master/PhD in relevant discipline

Job description

Who we’re looking for:

We are looking for an experienced Consulting Director to join a well-established practice within ICF that develops, analyzes and evaluates UK Government policies and programmes. Specifically, the role will be focused on evaluation projects and proposals for UK Government departments and agencies across priority social policy domains, including education/employment, communities, youth and families. You will bring an entrepreneurial, energetic, and organised approach, with an ability to see the many dimensions of a policy problem, engage and work with leading thematic experts, and lead the in-house team of ICF evaluators and analysts that is working in these areas. You thrive in a fast-paced environment, are self-motivated and able to manage a varied workload without compromising quality. You have a wide range of interests and are able to develop a nuanced understanding of complex issues. You are experienced in applying best practice research and evaluation methodologies, in drafting high quality reports and providing insight, support and advice to government officials. You enjoy building winning proposals and embrace the challenge of helping to grow a research and evaluation business. We are looking for an intellectually curious and very well organised individual, with an ability to see the many dimensions of a policy problem and to engage and work with leading evaluation experts.

This role will:

• Develop and proactively manage our education and employment strategy
• Play a leading role in growing our integrated offer for clients such as DfE, DWP, MHCLG and the network of What Works Centres
• Focus on generating business through excellent networking and relationship-building skills
• Lead the identification and pursuit of pipeline and new business opportunities in the UK education and employment market
• Positions and bids for opportunities, leveraging market knowledge and client relationships to maximize growth potential
• Oversees growth and account management for assigned clients
• Builds and maintains robust, long-term strategic relationships with clients
• Provides clients with valuable insights and recommendations based on market and industry expertise
• Continuously seeks ways to improve client services and expand offerings
• Participates in pitches and presentations to clients
• Keeps up to date with industry trends, market developments, and competitor activities
• Direct projects, providing technical leadership and support, manage project teams (including subcontractors), and oversee the delivery of high-quality project outputs
• Lead proposals for new work, including building teams, developing methodologies and budgets
• Support and develop the team that serves this market, including identifying talent requirements, supporting career development and ensuring effective performance management
• Strengthen our methodological capabilities and domain expertise to help us succeed in market

You will have:

• At least 10 years relevant professional experience
• Expertise in UK policy research and evaluation on at least one of the following areas: education, employment and labour markets, youth and inclusion, children and families
• Experience of leading large and complex research and evaluation projects
• Experience in delivering qualitative and quantitative social research methods, and understanding of different evaluation approaches
• Experience of writing competitive bids or grant applications, including an ability to think through the methodological challenges posed by a research question
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong commercial skills and business acumen, including experience in proactive client engagement and leading competitive bids
• Experience in managing large and complex projects/teams
• Degree, Master's degree or PhD in relevant discipline

About us:

Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. Smart, compassionate, innovative, committed, ICF employees tackle unprecedented challenges to benefit people, businesses, and governments around the globe. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth. We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are committed to creating a culture where we embrace our differences in ideas and identities. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. Learn more about what we do and our commitment to inclusion.

The benefits of joining ICF:

• Hybrid working policy, which will provide you with the flexibility to collaborate in the office, as well as in the comfort of your own home, ensuring you are able to successfully deliver the requirements of your role
• Employee wellbeing hub designed to provide highly personalised support across a comprehensive range of wellbeing issues, such as mind, body, finances, community, career programs and HR support
• Competitive recognition program called 'You Matter', which awards points as a 'thank you' for your work achievements
• These points can be spent on a large variety of high-quality items, as well as online or high-street vouchers, all with zero tax payable by the employee
• Single Private Medical Insurance cover with no restrictions on existing conditions
• Dental insurance and an online GP service
• 25 days annual leave, plus UK bank holidays (annual leave increases with years of service)
• Pension scheme with 5% of salary employer contribution
• Life assurance paying 4x annual salary and Group Income Protection paying 66% of salary for up to 5 years if you are off work on long-term sick
• Enhanced parental leave policies, enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental pay

Candidate AI Usage Policy

At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair and equitable interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process. However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodations that involve the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance at [e-mail]. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.

London (GB80)

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