Change Management Consultant (Analyst) - Defence in Bristol

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.

Flexible working - We operate in a hybrid working environment where we come into a client site or office, at least two days per week. Location: Bristol, and client sites in the Southwest (M4 corridor).

Do you feel the desire to join a highly motivated team that aims to create positive and lasting changes in the world? Our Major Programme Services (MPS) team are looking for an exceptional Business Change Specialist with significant experience working on digital transformation programmes within the Defence sector. MPS is in high demand and experiencing repeated successes in delivering value and excellence for our clients who are within daily commuting range from home. Due to this success, we are expanding further across the UK.

MPS are client-facing consultants who are part of PA’s core Programme Transformation and Delivery capability Team, PA’s Centre of Excellence for all project, programme, and portfolio capability. We work across Defence, major projects & infrastructure, transport, and public sector taking on client-facing roles on long-term assignments.

As a Business Change Consultant, you will play a pivotal role to support a client’s goals, programmes, and change initiatives within large, complex digital transformation programmes. The role will involve maintaining and implementing a business change plan through proactive stakeholder engagement to foster successful organisational change. Your collaborative, human-centric, and value-driven mindset will be crucial in delivering successful outcomes for our clients.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work in a collaborative and innovative environment, shaping projects that drive meaningful impact. You will have opportunity to:

• Develop and maintain business change plans to support digital Defence transformation programmes, working with multiple stakeholders to identify and implement business change activities.
• Update change management strategies to reflect programme reality and operational need and proactive risk mitigation.
• Conduct business change assessments across Defence Lines of Development (DLoDs) including change maturity assessments, adoption analysis reviews, and change load assessments aligned to the as-is and to-be state.
• Use visualisation tools to present the impact of changes to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and through programme leadership, with external partners, government agencies, and the wider Defence community as required to prepare the organisation for change and ensure alignment of messaging across all programme activities.
• Work closely with the assignment manager to ensure the business change plan and activities align with wider strategic change activities across Defence.
• Facilitate workshops and events to inspire individuals and teams as well as deliver usable outputs.
• Develop change-themed communication messages appropriate for a variety of channels.
• Foster strong long‑term client relationships by maintaining regular communication and managing expectations.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior team members and undertake knowledge transfer activities.

Qualifications:

• Experience in delivering change within digital programmes, ideally large transformation programmes.
• Ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships across government and Defence environments.
• Expertise in applying change methodologies and tools.
• Proven ability to manage and lead cross‑functional teams.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex information to clients and stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to identify and solve problems, make informed decisions, and manage risks effectively.
• Must be able to work at pace, to a high standard and usually to very tight deadlines.
• Understanding of a human‑centric approach to business change.
• Prior experience working within Defence or similar complex and operationally focused organisations, is desirable but not essential.
• Experience working in a consulting environment and/or consortium/blended teams is desirable.
• Relevant change management qualification (e.g. Digital skills, APMG Change Management, Prosci Certification) is desirable.

We know the skill-gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you.

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.

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 are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare.
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days.
• Generous company pension scheme.
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity‑based initiatives.
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn).

Equality and diversity statement: 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.