At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead impactful data and AI projects, ensuring client success and smooth delivery.
- Company: Join Colibri Digital, a leader in digital transformation with a dynamic culture.
- Benefits: Competitive day rate, potential for permanent role, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Be the driving force behind innovative projects that shape the future of technology.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in client-facing roles, experience in data/AI, and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 85000 £ per year.
Contract Engagement Manager
Day rate: competitive (inside IR35)
Contract length: Initially 3/4 months with opportunity to go permanent
Are you a dynamic individual who thrives at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and client success? As an Engagement Manager at Colibri Digital, you will be the driving force behind our most impactful data, AI, and digital transformation programmes. Operating within a fast-paced, complex professional services environment, you’ll act as the primary face of our delivery team, guiding ambitious projects from initial launch all the way to brilliant, value-driven completion.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the senior client-facing point of accountability for all assigned engagements, managing relationships from programme level through to individual workstream sponsors.
- Lead engagement planning, mobilisation, and delivery oversight across data, AI, and digital transformation projects, applying appropriate methodology and governance frameworks.
- Maintain project controls including RAID logs, change control, status reporting, and financial tracking; provide early-warning escalations to senior leadership where required.
- Support the commercial health of engagements — forecasting revenue, monitoring margin, managing scope variations, and collaborating with account teams on renewals and extensions.
- Drive stakeholder management plans; communicate programme status, risks, and decisions with clarity to both client and internal audiences, escalating appropriately.
- Manage and influence cross-functional teams including internal delivery squads, third-party vendors, and client-side resources on a matrix management basis.
- Ensure smooth sales-to-delivery handover, working closely with Solutions Architects and Account Managers to validate scope, resource plans, and commercial structures before mobilisation.
- Contribute to Colibri's delivery practice — identifying improvement opportunities, sharing lessons learned, and helping to evolve engagement management standards and tooling.
- Support business development activities including contributing to proposals, Statements of Work, and client presentations as the delivery authority.
- Ensure timely and accurate revenue recognition in collaboration with finance, maintaining discipline around milestone achievement, purchase orders, and invoicing.
- Act as cultural ambassadors — both externally with clients and internally across our delivery teams. The way an EM shows up directly shapes how our people feel and how our clients experience Colibri.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- A minimum of 5 years in a client-facing professional services delivery role within an MSP or digital consultancy environment.
- Proven track record of managing multiple concurrent, complex programmes across data and/or AI domains.
- Demonstrable experience delivering AI or ML-enabled products and services to enterprise clients.
- Strong proficiency with Agile tooling: Jira, Azure DevOps, GitHub/GitLab.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and negotiation skills, with experience engaging and influencing at C-suite level.
- Strong commercial acumen across budgeting, forecasting, margin management, and change control.
- Client Partnership — Builds deep, trust-based relationships with client stakeholders; acts as a proactive, credible, and accountable delivery partner throughout the engagement lifecycle.
- Influential Communication — Communicates complex delivery topics clearly and persuasively to technical and non-technical audiences at all levels, including written and verbal executive reporting.
- Resilience & Adaptability — Thrives in ambiguous, fast-changing environments; maintains effectiveness, composure, and positive team culture under sustained pressure.
Engagement Manager employer: Colibri Digital
Colibri Digital is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in the fields of data, AI, and digital transformation. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have opportunities to lead ambitious projects while collaborating with talented professionals in a supportive environment. Located in a fast-paced professional services setting, Colibri offers competitive compensation and the potential for long-term career advancement, making it an ideal place for driven individuals seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Engagement Manager
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like Colibri Digital. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at Colibri Digital.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at Colibri Digital.
We think you need these skills to ace Engagement Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Colibri Digital and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Colibri Digital
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Colibri Digital will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to Colibri Digital.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at Colibri Digital.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Colibri Digital. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
