At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic direction and growth of Cognia's Advisory function, delivering innovative consulting solutions.
- Company: Cognia, a leader in legal advisory services with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for impactful client engagements.
- Other info: Join a high-performing team and contribute to long-term growth and market presence.
- Why this job: Shape the future of legal operations and drive transformation in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 12+ years in management consulting or legal operations, with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 68231 £ per year.
The Head of Business Advisory leads the strategic direction, growth and delivery of Cognia's Advisory function, developing consulting solutions that help corporate legal departments optimise operations, improve efficiency and adopt innovative legal service models. The role is accountable for shaping and evolving the Advisory service portfolio, driving commercial performance, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-value client engagements.
Working closely with clients, industry partners and internal stakeholders, the Head of Business Advisory identifies emerging market opportunities, develops scalable advisory offerings and leads transformation initiatives across legal operations, process optimisation, technology enablement, legal spend management and alternative resourcing models. The role is also responsible for building a high-performing advisory team, strengthening Cognia's market presence and contributing to the organisation's long-term growth and strategic objectives.
Job Responsibilities
- Develop and lead the Advisory strategy, ensuring alignment with Cognia's broader business objectives and market opportunities.
- Define, build and evolve the Advisory service portfolio, including legal operations, process optimisation, technology advisory, managed services design, and related consulting services.
- Identify emerging market trends, client needs and commercial opportunities within the legal innovation, legal operations and broader advisory landscape.
- Anticipate and respond to developments in legal services, regulation and technology, translating these into practical solutions that create value for clients and the business.
- Contribute to Cognia's market positioning and thought leadership through industry engagement, professional networks and subject matter expertise.
- Lead the development of business opportunities that enhance the growth and market position of the Advisory practice.
- Cultivate and expand strategic client relationships, creating opportunities for advisory engagements and broader collaboration across Cognia's service offering.
- Ensure a consistently high-quality client experience that supports long-term partnerships and sustainable business growth.
- Partner with colleagues across the business to identify, develop and secure opportunities that leverage Cognia's full range of services.
- Serve as a senior advisor to corporate legal departments and other client stakeholders.
- Lead complex consulting engagements from inception through delivery, ensuring high-quality outcomes and demonstrable client value.
- Guide clients through legal operations transformation, operating model redesign, process improvement, technology enablement, AI adoption and change management initiatives.
- Develop and maintain methodologies, frameworks, playbooks and delivery standards that support consistent and scalable service delivery.
- Build, mentor and lead a high-performing team of consultants, analysts and subject matter experts.
- Own the commercial performance of the Advisory team, including delivery against revenue targets, P&L management, pricing strategy, forecasting, profitability and utilisation management.
- Ensure scalable and repeatable delivery models that integrate effectively with managed services, legal technology and outsourcing solutions.
- Collaborate with sales, delivery, technology and innovation teams to design and deliver integrated client solutions.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships across the legal ecosystem, including clients, technology providers, industry bodies and strategic partners, converting those relationships into commercial opportunities, strategic partnerships and increased market visibility.
- Represent Cognia at conferences, industry forums, panel discussions and other market-facing events.
Job Requirements
- 12+ years' experience in management consulting, advisory services, legal operations, legal technology, professional services or a related field.
- Bachelor's degree in Law, Business, Commerce, Management, Technology or a related discipline.
- Proven experience leading and growing an advisory, consulting or professional services function, including developing and executing strategies that drive commercial growth and client value.
- Extensive experience leading complex consulting engagements from solution design through implementation and delivery.
- Experience leading legal operations transformation, operating model redesign, process optimisation, technology enablement or organisational change initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience developing service offerings, methodologies, frameworks and scalable delivery models.
- Strong commercial acumen, with experience managing revenue targets, budgets, forecasting, pricing strategies, profitability and resource utilisation.
- Proven track record of identifying, developing and converting business development opportunities into sustainable client relationships and commercial outcomes.
- Experience building, mentoring and leading high-performing teams.
- Experience collaborating across sales, technology, operations and delivery functions to develop integrated client solutions.
- Knowledge of legal technology, workflow automation, AI-enabled solutions and digital transformation within legal and professional services environments.
- Strong stakeholder management, relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to operate credibly at executive level.
- Excellent communication, presentation and facilitation skills, with the ability to represent an organization in client, industry and market-facing environments.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Advisory in London
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Head of Advisory at Cognia Law!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Cognia Law or be willing to refer you for that Head of Advisory position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Cognia Law who’s on the lookout for their next Head of Advisory star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Head of Advisory role at Cognia Law!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Advisory in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Cognia Law. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cognia Law
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Cognia Law. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
