Associate - Tech & AI

McKinsey & Company, Inc.; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey & Company in Johannesburg seeks IT strategy professionals to work in our Tech & AI practice. You will join teams delivering performance-improvement projects, from analysis to implementation, across industries.

The role emphasizes learning, mentorship, and rapid growth within a supportive, high-performing firm. You will collaborate with clients and colleagues worldwide, leveraging digital technology to transform businesses and processes while developing deep expertise in IT strategy,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in IT management and technology delivery.
• Strong track record in IT strategy consulting or equivalent leadership roles.
• Demonstrated ability to identify business issues, form hypotheses, and synthesize conclusions into recommendations.
• Broad knowledge of current IT trends and their impact on business strategy.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate in small teams (3–5) to analyze and design performance improvements for clients.
• Develop and present tailored recommendations to client management.
• Lead or support implementation of recommendations with client teams.
• Receive ongoing mentorship and training to accelerate leadership development.

Skills

IT management

IT architecture

Technology delivery

Strategy consulting

Operations

Executive presence

Education

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Do you want to do work that matters, alongside supportive leaders who will help you grow faster than you ever thought possible? Are you a creative problem-solver who is energized by challenges? You’ve come to the right place.

YOUR IMPACT

You will typically work in teams of 3-5 consultants to help clients achieve new performance highs. You will make an important contribution to the analysis, design and implementation of business performance approaches, developing tailor-made solutions and working closely with clients to ensure positive impact and sustainable results. This includes gathering and analyzing information, formulating and testing hypotheses and developing recommendations for presentation to client management. From there, you will implement those recommendations with client team members. You will also gain new skills and build on the strengths you bring to the firm. You will receive exceptional training as well as frequent coaching and mentoring from colleagues on you team. You will join our Johannesburg office and work with the McKinsey Tech & AI practice. This group brings together the best of McKinsey’s Tech & AI capabilities to help our clients use digital technology to transform their businesses. You will join a global team working on everything from IT modernization and strategy to agile, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. You will typically work on projects across all industries and functions and will be fully integrated with the rest of our global firm. You will also work with colleagues from across McKinsey & Company to help our clients deliver breakthrough products, experiences, and businesses, both on technology and non-technology topics. Our office culture is casual and social, with an emphasis on education and innovation. We have the freedom to try new ideas, experiment and are expected to be constantly learning and growing. There is also a strong emphasis on mentoring others in the group, enabling them to grow and learn.

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. In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we'll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities you need to become a stronger leader faster than you ever thought possible. Your colleagues—at all levels—will invest deeply in your development, just as much as they invest in delivering exceptional results for clients. Every day, you'll receive apprenticeship, coaching, and exposure that will accelerate your growth in ways you won’t find anywhere else. When you join us, you will have:

• 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

• Strong academic performance; advanced degree preferred (submission of an official academic transcript is required).
• 5+ years of relevant experience in IT management, IT architecture and technology delivery and technology-enabled operations and foundation
• Solid track record of professional success in an IT strategy consulting firm, a high performing IT department, a technology company, a technology-leveraged business, or managing large IT projects (experience as traditional IT consultants, CIOs, CTOs, senior level IT executives, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to identify business issues, form hypotheses, design and conduct analyses, and synthesize conclusions into recommendations
• Distinctive functional experience in strategy, technology, operations, products, general management, consulting and/or deep industry knowledge in industries such as financial services, high tech, energy/utilities, telecom, retail, etc.
• Strong general business acumen; broad understanding of current IT trends and technologies, their impact on business strategy, and implications for senior managers in creating and sustaining competitive advantage and transforming business processes
• Outstanding problem-solving skills; analytic/quantitative comfort
• Team player/leader; mentor; thought leader; collaborative partner
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; strong executive presence

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.

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.