Operating Model Consultant - Transport

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

Energy, utilities, and transport are at the forefront of global transformation. From accelerating the shift to net zero and building resilient infrastructure, to reimagining how people and goods move, these sectors face complex challenges and extraordinary opportunities. Digital innovation, clean mobility, and integrated networks are reshaping the way we power and connect the world. To thrive, organisations need fresh thinking and bold strategies—this is where you come in. As part of our team, you’ll help design future operating models that enable these industries to adapt, innovate, and lead.

You will work collaboratively with a diverse team of experts to support clients to design strategies, operating structures and solutions that address their most pressing challenges. You will deliver projects that require a wide range of skills, from strategic design; through business analysis and organisational design; to programme definition and design coherence. You will work in blended teams, partnering with specialists from across the breadth of PA.

The ideal candidate will be able to apply a design thinking mindset, tools and approaches to help resolve a range of complex and societally meaningful client challenges. You will have a key interest in collaborating with leading transport client organisations who are driving major capital and infrastructure programmes, as well as those focused on optimising asset management and operational performance. You will have strong analytical skills and also be able to apply more creative and abstract thinking to help develop ingenious solutions. As a client facing role, you will be expected to engage and present to clients and therefore will be a strong communicator (verbal and written), being able to communicate recommendations and insights from operational to C‑suite level.

You Will Have Opportunity To:

• Work on many of the biggest issues facing the UK, helping build secure societies that work for everyone.
• Gain exposure to deep experts in the transport sector, learning from and building on their experience.
• Develop your business design skillset, through a structured and experiential learning pathway.
• Contribute to the growth and evolution of our team, through participatory and federated leadership.
• Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site.

Qualifications

You will possess a minimum of 2 years’ experience which will include one or more of the following:

• Helping organisations & leadership teams shape business strategy and design organisational and collaborative structures.
• Analysing what an organisation’s customers/users/citizens value.
• Understanding how technology can help make an organisation more effective.
• Analysing and solving problems using a data-driven and human-centred approach.
• Experience delivering within or for transport sector organisations.

Other Desirable Skills Include:

• Familiarity with large capital / infrastructure programmes and asset management organisations.
• Understanding of regulatory frameworks (e.g.: CAA, ORR).
• Awareness of industry trends such as decarbonisation and smart mobility.
• Being conversant in both business and technology architecture concepts.
• Being familiar with enterprise operating model concepts.
• Skilled in creating planning, performance, and governance frameworks for complex programmes.
• Experience of defining one or more of the following – customer‑centric principles into op models, IT op models, procurement and commercial frameworks, op models for capital programmes (e.g. governance and engineering processes).
• Experience in digital operating models (nice to have).
• Comfortable working in a collaborative way with clients and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Confident working independently as the day‑to‑day client point of contact.

We know the skill-gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance. All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK. We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you're unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government’s guidance on security vetting before applying.

Additional information

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work. Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self. We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us.