Specialist - Defense and Security

McKinsey & Company; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 172,800 - 211,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Exceptional training and coaching

Job summary

McKinsey & Company in Houston seeks a consultant to serve federal defense and security clients, supporting senior members on high-priority issues. This role involves extensive travel and collaboration with diverse teams to solve challenging problems.

With a focus on leadership and analytical skills, successful candidates will have a Bachelor's degree and the required TS/SCI security clearance. Exceptional training and benefits are provided to foster your professional development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree is a plus.
• TS/SCI clearance required.
• Outstanding record of academic and/or professional achievement.
• Proven record of leadership at work or in extracurricular activities.
• Willingness to travel upwards of 80%.

Responsibilities

• Support senior members of the US defense and security community.
• Contribute to performance-improving approaches and tailor-made solutions.
• Work on strategy, operational performance improvement, and digital issues.

Skills

Analytical aptitude

Leadership experience

Ability to work collaboratively

Effective verbal and written communication

High commitment to standards and values

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree (preferred)

Job description

YOUR IMPACT

You will be based in one of our North America office locations and dedicated to serving our federal defense and security clients.

You will support senior members of the US defense and security community on some of their highest priority issues. You can expect up to 80% travel.

You will work with our defense and security clients on some of their toughest issues, in a fast-paced, non-hierarchical, and caring environment. The work you'll do will be a combination of traditional intelligence operations, analysis and support along with science, technology and engineering work.

You will make an important contribution to the analysis, design, and implementation of performance-improving approaches, developing tailor-made solutions and working closely with clients at all levels to ensure high impact, sustainable results. Your work will include gathering and analyzing information, formulating and testing hypotheses, developing recommendations, and helping to implement sustainable changes.

All your work will be project-based and varied. You will help our clients with a broad range of topics, including strategy, operational performance improvement, risk and resource reallocation, organizational design and talent development, and digital issues.

You are joining a firm that will challenge you and invest heavily in your professional development, building on the strengths you bring. You will receive exceptional training as well as frequent coaching and mentoring from colleagues on their teams. You will build your national security expertise, and learn to bring best practices from the private, public, and social sectors to your clients.

Typically, you'll work in teams of 3-5 consultants, each with varying types of expertise (e.g., digital, strategy, operations, etc.).

YOUR GROWTH

Driving lasting impact and building long-term capabilities with our clients is not easy work. You are the kind of person who thrives in a high performance/high reward culture - doing hard things, picking yourself up when you stumble, and having the resilience to try another way forward.

• Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey.
• A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You'll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
• Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm's diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions for our clients. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• World‑class benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well‑being for you and your family.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree is a plus (if you are less than 8 years out of undergrad, please include your GPA on your resume)
• TS/SCI clearance required
• Outstanding record of academic and/or professional achievement
• Demonstrated aptitude for analytics, both quantitative and qualitative
• Proven record of leadership at work or through extracurricular activities
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and effectively with people at all levels in an organization
• Commitment to high standards and core values
• Willingness to travel upwards of 80%
• Ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, both verbally and in writing

Industries

• Aerospace & Defense
• Public Sector

Capabilities

• Operations
• Organizational Structure
• Technology

FOR U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Certain US jurisdictions require McKinsey & Company to include a reasonable estimate of the salary for this role. To help you understand what you can expect, the salary range for new joiners in this role in United States, including all office locations where the job may be performed, is $192,000 - $192,000 USD gross per year. This reflects our best estimate of the lowest to highest salary/hourly wages for this role at the time of this posting, ensuring you have a clear picture right from the start, though it's important to remember that actual salaries may vary. Factors like your office location, your unique blend of experience and skills, start date and our current organizational needs all play a part in determining the final figure. Certain roles are also eligible for bonuses, subject to McKinsey's discretion and based on factors such as individual and/or organizational performance. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive benefits package that reflects our commitment to the wellness of our colleagues and their families. This includes medical, mental health, dental and vision coverage, telemedicine services, life, accident and disability insurance, parental leave and family planning benefits, caregiving resources, a generous retirement contributions program, financial guidance, and paid time off.

FOR NON-U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. For additional details regarding our global EEO policy and diversity initiatives, please visit our McKinsey Careers and Diversity & Inclusion sites.