The Consulting Manager will be responsible for managing and leading assigned consulting projects and engagements for clients across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, owning the quality of solutions, the integration of deliverables and the efficiency of execution within the approved scope, schedule and budget, while aligning client direction with Saudi Vision 2030 and relevant national and sectoral strategies.
Daily tasks include defining engagement approach and work plans, overseeing strategic diagnosis, EFQM implementation, quality management systems, operating model design, service and process development and performance frameworks, assuring the quality of deliverables, and managing client relationships and expectations. The manager will also lead and develop consulting teams, oversee the application of quality and institutional excellence methodologies, and lead technical proposals and business development in coordination with the firm’s leadership.
Key Responsibilities
• Engagement Management: Define the delivery approach, work plans and allocation of resources and responsibilities; monitor scope, schedule, effort, cost and risks; address variances and escalate decisions beyond delegated authority.
• Alignment with the Saudi Context: Steer consulting solutions in line with the client’s mandate and operating environment in the Kingdom, and ensure consistency with Vision 2030 targets, sectoral directions and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Diagnosis and Strategic Planning Leadership: Lead internal and external environment analysis and maturity and gap assessments; oversee the development of objectives, priorities, initiatives and operational plans, ensuring linkage to institutional capabilities and success measures.
• EFQM Model Implementation: Lead the development of institutional practices in line with the EFQM Model across Direction, Execution and Results; manage self-assessments using RADAR logic and review evidence, scoring judgements, strengths and areas for improvement.
• Excellence and Improvement Plans: Translate assessment results into prioritized initiatives with clear owners and deliverables, track progress and impact, and support client readiness for external assessments and excellence awards within the engagement scope.
• Quality Management Systems: Lead the development of quality management systems, policies, processes, procedures and document control; support internal audit planning, management reviews and the handling of nonconformities and corrective actions in line with adopted references and ISO 9001 requirements where in scope.
• Operating Model Design: Review target operating model options and their rationale, ensuring integration of services, capabilities, structure, governance, processes, resources, data, technology and performance, and the practicality of deliverables.
• Service and Process Development: Direct the development of service catalogs and service cards, process architecture, process maps and procedures guided by the APQC Process Classification Framework (PCF) and tailored to the client context, ensuring clear ownership, integration points and responsibilities.
• Performance Management Framework: Oversee the design of strategic and operational KPIs and KPI cards, validate definitions, formulas, data sources, baselines and targets, and review performance reports and corrective recommendations.
• Deliverable Quality Assurance: Establish the technical review plan and acceptance criteria, verify the soundness of analysis, sufficiency of evidence, consistency of documentation and compliance with requirements, and approve deliverables internally within delegated authority before client submission.
• Activation and Knowledge Transfer: Direct pilot implementation, change management and training plans, follow up on implementation feedback, and verify that client teams can use the deliverables and sustain the developed practices.
• Client Relationship Management: Lead technical and project progress meetings, present findings, options and recommendations, manage feedback and expectations, and document decisions, approvals and scope change requests in line with project governance.
• Team Leadership and Development: Assign work based on competencies, evaluate performance and provide coaching and feedback, identify development needs, and promote work quality, collaboration, timeliness and professional integrity.
• Practice Development and Business Growth: Develop methodologies, tools and templates and document lessons learned; lead the preparation of technical proposals and the estimation of resources, effort and cost; and contribute to developing business opportunities in coordination with authorized leadership.
Experience & Qualifications
• Above 10 years of experience in management consulting, institutional excellence or quality management, including at least 4 years managing consulting engagements and teams.
• Proven track record delivering projects for Saudi government or semi-government entities, with strong understanding of Vision 2030, Vision Realization Programs and national excellence programs (e.g. King Abdulaziz Quality Award, EXPRO).
• Deep expertise in the EFQM Model and RADAR assessment, ISO 9001 quality management systems, operating model design, process architecture (APQC PCF) and performance management.
• Strong project management skills with a proven track record of delivering engagements on scope, time and budget, and leading technical proposals and effort and cost estimation.
• Excellent Communication and Presentation Skills (Arabic and English proficiency is highly preferred).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to translate complex findings into clear, executive-level recommendations.
• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop consulting teams in a fast-paced, client-facing environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Quality Management or a related field; a Master's degree or MBA is preferred.
• Professional certification is mandatory: EFQM Assessor, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Project Management Professional (PMP), or an equivalent certification in excellence, quality or project management.
