At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead customer engagements and drive Microsoft 365 adoption for impactful digital transformation.
- Company: Join Chess, a top-rated tech service provider with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy private healthcare, flexible working, and generous holiday allowances.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values growth and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Shape the future of businesses with innovative tech solutions and make a real difference.
- Qualifications: Experience in Microsoft 365 consultancy and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: UK-wide | Business Area: Digital | Salary Details: Competitive basic salary plus additional benefits
Reporting to the Digital Transformation Director, you will lead early stage customer engagements as a subject matter expert, shaping commercial conversations and uncovering client needs. You will drive pre-sales activities by articulating solution value, demonstrating Microsoft 365 capabilities, and guiding customers toward clear, outcomes-focused proposals. In addition, you will play a key role in customer success by supporting the deployment, governance, and optimisation of Microsoft 365 solutions. This role blends technical credibility with commercial insight—helping clients understand the business impact of their technology choices, strengthening user adoption, and positioning Microsoft 365 as a strategic enabler across the full digital workplace ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
- Solution Architecture & Delivery
- Drive adoption of Microsoft 365 features and capabilities across customer organisations.
- Provide strategic advice to senior organisation stakeholders to align Microsoft 365 capabilities to business goals, initiatives and regulatory requirements.
- Proactively identify emerging trends and new features across Microsoft 365, including AI driven productivity, security, governance, automation and the modern workplace experience.
- Lead design and discovery workshops with customers to understand requirements and agree technical solutions.
- Deliver end to end project engagements including design, implementation, testing, handover, documentation, and support, either independently or alongside a project manager.
- Act as an escalation point for complex or high priority support issues, providing expert guidance and hands on assistance to ensure timely and effective resolution.
- Conduct environment assessments, maturity evaluations and roadmap development.
- Lead the development of reusable solution accelerators and best practice solutions.
- Presales and Marketing
- Design and deliver interactive demos, training sessions and small-group workshops for customers and internal teams, working closely with the Head of Sales to support specific opportunities.
- Deliver high impact webinars and seminars showcasing current and future Microsoft 365 capabilities to generate new business and engage wider audiences.
- Develop material to highlight new features, capabilities and trends across Microsoft 365.
- Contribute to high quality proposals, providing clear solution design, understanding of requirements, scope definition, required activities and accurate effort estimates.
- Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Keep up-to-date with the Microsoft 365 roadmap and market trends to understand new features, assess their impact and provide strategic guidance.
- Demonstrate a commitment to personal development by proactively seeking opportunities to enhance your knowledge and skills.
- Provide guidance and mentor colleagues, to promote knowledge sharing and enhance delivery quality.
Key Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in a senior M365 or Modern Workplace consultancy or architecture role.
- Strong leadership background with demonstrable experience guiding and developing technical teams.
- Expertise in Microsoft Copilot, SharePoint Online, Teams, OneDrive, Exchange Online, and the wider Microsoft 365 stack.
- Deep understanding of governance, security, and compliance features within Microsoft Purview.
- Proven delivery of multiple modern SharePoint Online intranet solutions, covering hub site strategy, information architecture, and adoption planning.
- Delivery of advanced SharePoint solutions, including document management solutions, automation and AI.
- Experience of planning and enabling SharePoint migration initiatives.
- Ability to define and implement governance frameworks across Microsoft 365, including document workflows, lifecycle, security and secure collaboration.
- Strong presentation and communication skills, with confidence presenting to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to translate business requirements into scalable, secure, and user-centric solutions.
- High standard of written documentation and solution design.
More About You
- Excellent communication skills, including being able to communicate technical ideas to non-technical audiences.
- Proven ability to engage with senior business stakeholders.
- Track record of being able to produce clear and concise design documentation and reports.
- Confidence in creating and delivering presentations to both remote and in-person audiences.
Preferred Qualifications
- One or more of the following Microsoft certifications is considered advantageous:
- MS-102 (Microsoft 365 Administrator)
- MS-700 (Managing Microsoft Teams)
- SC-401 (Administering Information Security in Microsoft 365)
- PL-900 (Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals)
What’s in it for you?
Your Benefits at Chess: We care about your health, wellbeing, and career. Here’s what you’ll enjoy:
- Private healthcare (free after 1 year)
- Eye tests, flu jabs, and on-site health checks
- Mental health support from trained First Aiders
- A Wellbeing Day after 1 year
- Half-Day Fridays—start your weekend early!
- Hybrid working support with a home office allowance
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Buy or sell up to 5 holidays twice a year
- Perkbox discounts on shopping, travel, fitness, and more
- Points-based rewards from year 2
- Charity donation matching (up to £100)
- Recognition platform to celebrate your wins
- EE SIM offers for you and your family
- £1000 referral bonus
- Learn 2 Earn scheme to boost your salary
- Team socials and celebrations
- Bespoke onboarding and leadership training
- Dedicated Culture Team to support you
Working Hours & Location
A standard week is 37½ Monday to Friday. Flexible, hybrid position with a home-first working policy. Allowing you to enjoy the flexibility of working from home whilst also having the option to work from one of our many local hubs spread throughout the UK. Ad-hoc travel to offices within the group and other locations may be required on occasion.
Why Join Chess?
Chess is one of the UK's leading independent and trusted technology service providers, employing over 280 skilled people across the UK, supporting over 18,000 UK businesses. Diversity, equality, and inclusion is at the heart of our Chess culture, and we are passionate about our One Team spirit. We’re extremely proud that our people voted us No.1 in 'The 100 Best Companies to Work for' list 2018, and we continue to celebrate more than 17 years in the top 100. Our continued focus on growth creates opportunity for everyone to progress their career, to develop knowledge and skills, to gain reward and recognition and to maximise their potential. The growth and success of our people ensures the growth and success of our business.
Equal Opportunities Statement
At Chess ICT, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workforce. We want to make sure everyone has a fair chance and opportunity throughout the application process. If you require any adjustments during your application or interview, please feel comfortable reaching out to our recruitment team so we can support you. We believe that "if you're not growing, we're not growing."
Lead Consultant employer: Chess Limited
Chess Limited in Wilmslow is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With a vibrant work culture that encourages collaboration and innovation, employees benefit from private healthcare and flexible hybrid working arrangements, making it an ideal place for those seeking a rewarding career in sales. The company’s commitment to nurturing talent ensures that team members have ample opportunities for advancement while contributing to exciting projects in cutting-edge service areas like Cybersecurity and Data.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Consultant
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Chess Limited values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Chess Limited might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at Chess Limited!
✨Direct Apply to Chess Limited
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Chess Limited website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Consultant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Chess Limited.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Chess Limited. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chess Limited
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
