Consulting Director

Overview

As Consulting Director, you will lead evaluation projects and proposals for UK Government departments, guiding a team of ICF evaluators. You will shape education and employment strategy and grow an integrated client offering with a focus on policy analysis, methodological excellence, and winning bids. You’ll work with senior experts to translate complex policy issues into high-quality insights for government officials while expanding relationships with key public bodies. This role combines strategic leadership, business development, and hands-on project delivery in a fast-paced, impact-driven environment.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working policy
• private medical and dental insurance
• pension scheme with employer contribution
• life assurance and income protection
• 25 days annual leave plus holidays
• enhanced parental leave policies

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage education and employment strategy
• Lead growth of integrated client offers for DfE, DWP, MHCLG and What Works Centres
• Generate new business through networking and relationship-building
• Lead identification and pursuit of pipeline opportunities in UK education and employment market
• Position and bid for opportunities leveraging market knowledge and client networks
• Oversee growth and account management for assigned clients
• Provide clients with insights and recommendations based on market expertise
• Contribute to pitches and presentations to clients
• Stay updated on industry trends and competitor activities
• Direct projects with technical leadership and management of project teams
• Lead proposals for new work including team building, methodologies and budgets
• Support career development and performance management of the team
• Strengthen methodological capabilities and domain expertise to succeed in the market

Key requirements

• At least 10 years relevant professional experience
• Expertise in UK policy research and evaluation in education, employment and labour markets, youth and inclusion, children and families
• Experience in leading large and complex research and evaluation projects
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative social research methods and evaluation approaches
• Experience in writing competitive bids or grant applications with methodological consideration
• Excellent communication and strong commercial skills including proactive client engagement
• Experience in managing large and complex projects/teams
• Degree, Master’s degree or PhD in relevant discipline

• entrepreneurial mindset
• excellent communication
• relationship-building
• qualitative and quantitative research methods
• proposals development
• budgeting

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