Operations and Improvement Principal Consultant – Cost Optimisation

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.

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. This role can be based in our London Victoria or Manchester locations.

Are you keen to work to build improvement capability and operations excellence? If so, this Operations and Improvement consultancy role could be for you! We are actively looking to recruit Operations and Improvement Principal Consultant – Cost Optimisation. In the UK we work across all industries and sectors. This role will primarily be focused on our Public Services business, specifically our Local Services Portfolio covering the Ministry of Housing, Communities and local government, the wider local government sector, higher education as well as charities.

Our primary areas of focus are:

• Operational effectiveness and efficiency
• Process improvement
• Service design
• Change management
• Training development and delivery

We are seeking a talented individual with Local Services cost optimisation and operational improvement experience. We are looking for candidates with skills and experience in the following areas:

• Core experience of delivering operational improvement across front, middle and back office service areas
• Core experience of working and delivering across local government authorities, higher education institutions and charities
• A track record of realising business benefits and outcomes in a Local Services setting
• Experience deploying advanced techniques such as digital technologies, cost improvement, and change management
• The ability to demonstrate leadership skills in large and diverse project teams
• Confidence to work across multiple levels of an organisation, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate challenging discussions
• An aptitude for delivering creative as well as innovative solutions

The ideal candidate will also have:

• An interest in developing new business (this activity can take several different forms depending on relative experience and rank)
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills; a natural integrator, comfortable navigating across system finance, service design, governance, capacity and workforce modelling and operational excellence
• A drive for personal and professional progression
• Facilitating workshops, providing compelling, evidence-based insights and helping to manage complex and senior stakeholders.

We pride ourselves on partnering with clients, providing a service that delivers real and long-lasting value. Our Operations and Improvement consultants are expected to be hands-on, working together with our clients to bring energy, direction and expertise in helping to solve the most difficult operational and supply chain challenges.

In addition to the formal benefits set out below, we are passionate about the personal and career development of our consultants. Our team is committed to providing the opportunities, support, training and coaching required at all levels to ensure our consultants can all achieve their potential.

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.

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
• Annual performance-based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

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 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 on recruitmentenquiries@paconsulting.com.