Managing Consultant - National Security

Meritus; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global professional services firm is seeking a Management Consultant to join its National Security practice. The role involves transforming workforce strategies for national security clients, engaging with senior stakeholders, and contributing to the full consulting lifecycle. Ideal candidates have strong analytical skills, strategic thinking abilities, and a solid understanding of the national security landscape. This position offers opportunities for professional growth and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Generous holidays

Private medical insurance

Additional leave for community work

Qualifications

• Experience in operating model design, organisational design, or change management.
• Consulting engagement lifecycle experience from proposal to delivery.
• Understanding of national security landscape from prior experience.

Responsibilities

• Transform workforce strategies across national security clients.
• Engage with senior stakeholders to influence outcomes.
• Own streams of complex work and drive solutions that are human-centred.

Skills

Strong analytical problem-solving

Strategic thinking

Interpersonal and communication skills

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Management Consultant - National Security

Employment Type: Full-time

Level: Consultant / Mid Level

Locations: Cheltenham

Clearance: Current National Security Vetting must already be held and aligned with national security requirements.

Role Overview

A leading global professional services firm is seeking a Management Consultant to join its National Security practice. This role sits within the People Consulting team and focuses on supporting, advising and transforming national security client organisations. You'll work across projects that span workforce transformation, organisational change, people strategy, and technical transformation, applying pragmatic problem‑solving approaches and human‑centred design principles.

The role requires creative thinking, excellent communication and stakeholder skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior client partners. You'll be expected to operate across the full consulting lifecycle – from proposal and insight generation through to delivery and implementation of strategic recommendations.

Mobility and flexibility are required, as the role may involve significant client‑facing time and travel depending on client needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to projects transforming workforce strategies across national security clients.
• Support growth and delivery of people consulting capabilities within the national security practice.
• Act as a key client advisor, engaging with senior stakeholders to challenge, coach and influence outcomes.
• Build detailed understanding of client business challenges and drive issue‑based discussions with clear insights.
• Develop trust‑based relationships and drive solutions that are human‑centred, data‑driven, and value oriented.
• Own streams of complex work, ensuring delivery meets client expectations and strategic goals.

Qualifications & Skills

The most important attributes for this role are right attitude, logical thinking, and a drive to deliver client value. Candidates should demonstrate:

Experience & Core Skills

• Strong analytical problem‑solving and continuous improvement approach.
• Strategic thinking, with the ability to bring insight to complex situations.
• Experience in one or more of: operating model design, organisational design, change management, leadership development, culture advisory, or workforce transformation.
• Experience across the full lifecycle of consulting engagements – from proposal through delivery, including risk management and stakeholder interaction.
• Experience working with data and with technology in the design or delivery of consulting services for national security contexts.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Preferred / Differentiating Experience

• In‑depth understanding of the national security landscape from prior professional experience.
• Experience leading relationships with client leadership or internal teams.
• Training or certification in change management, Agile methodologies, programme/project management (e.g. Prince2, MSP) or design thinking.
• Exposure to current technologies such as cloud platforms or CRM solutions, and strong skills in PowerPoint and Excel.

Why This Role?

You'll join a well‑respected consultancy with industry‑leading training, access to global networks, and opportunities for professional growth. The organisation offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous holidays, private medical insurance, and additional leave for community work. Engagements in this practice are challenging, varied, and centred on creating measurable impact for national security clients.