Consultant (Development Programme)

ABOUT SQUARCLE / THE TEAM

Squarcle is a growing supply chain and performance excellence consultancy dedicated to driving the performance of our clients. We are people orientated and pride ourselves on our people first culture. Unlike many consultancies Squarcle is as equally dedicated to delivery as it is to design. 

Our multidisciplinary teams help clients connect strategy with delivery through supply chain and operational improvement, business analysis, portfolio, programme and project management (P3M), digitisation and organisational change. Consultants work collaboratively with colleagues and clients, both on site and remotely, to understand challenges, develop practical solutions and support implementation.

‘We optimise the performance of supply chains through the expertise of operations professionals, digitisation and data science’

Squarcle is committed to equality and diversity and our aim is to build a diverse, dedicated, and high-performing team of subject matter experts to help our clients achieve supply chain and operational excellence.

JOB OVERVIEW / INTRODUCTION

The Consultant Development Programme is a route into management consulting for high-potential candidates who bring strong transferable skills, practical experience and a commitment to learning. You do not need to be an established consultant or an expert in all our specialisms: we are looking for the ability to solve problems, work with others, communicate clearly and turn information into practical action. Ideally you will be a service leaver looking for your first civilian role, someone working within an adjacent industry or someone with experience across our markets and capabilities.

On joining, you will undertake a structured six-week Academy programme combining onboarding, consulting foundations, external training and practical digital and analytical skills. Following course completion, you will develop your consulting capability through hands-on project experience as you join your first engagement.

Assignments may fall within the following areas, depending on client requirements, business needs and your developing skills:

• Supply Chain and Procurement: Supporting organisations to build resilient, efficient and commercially effective supply chains, from procurement strategy and sourcing through to operational delivery, supplier management and transformation.

• Enterprise, Digitisation and Change: Providing structured portfolio, programme and project management expertise to translate strategic ambition into successful delivery, ensuring complex transformation is governed, coordinated and aligned to organisational priorities.

• Digital: Helping organisations harness digital technologies, data and intelligent solutions to improve decision-making, operational performance and how services are designed and delivered.

CONSULTANT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The programme is designed to build on your existing strengths and establish a practical foundation for consulting delivery. The schedule below is indicative; course providers, qualification levels, assessment requirements and delivery arrangements remain subject to change.

Weeks 1–2 - Onboarding and induction

Introduction to Squarcle, our people, services, culture, policies, systems and ways of working. Meet key colleagues and understand role expectations, quality standards and information security requirements.

Week 3 - Experienced Hire programme and Consulting 101

Consulting fundamentals, structured problem-solving, research, communication, stakeholder engagement, teamwork and professional expectations. Introduction to Squarcle’s methods and standards for client deliverables.

Week 4 - External course 1 – Lean Six Sigma

Introduction to structured process improvement, identifying inefficiencies and using evidence to improve performance. Course level and any associated qualification or examination to be confirmed.

Week 5 - External course 2 – project management or Agile foundations

Proposed options are APM PFQ or Scrum Master training. The selected course, provider and certification arrangements will be confirmed as part of joining instructions; both courses are not assumed to be included.

Week 6 - PowerPoint, Power BI and analysis foundations

Practical introduction to structuring presentations, communicating findings, working with data and producing clear visualisations and reports. Activities will focus on applying these tools to consulting tasks rather than assuming advanced knowledge on entry.

Graduation

Recognition of programme completion and transition into supported consulting delivery.

Your participation

Engage fully with training and practical activities, complete agreed learning tasks, seek and act on feedback, and take responsibility for your development. The programme provides a foundation for continued learning; it does not assume immediate independent expertise across all specialisms.

PRIMARY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support multidisciplinary project teams, taking ownership of agreed tasks and building responsibility as your capability develops.

• Research client challenges and gather, organise and analyse qualitative and quantitative information from relevant sources to identify findings, options and practical recommendations.

• Support supply chain and operational improvement by documenting current processes, reviewing performance measures and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

• Help gather and document business requirements, map workflows and support communication between business stakeholders and technical or delivery teams.

• Create and maintain project documentation, plans, milestone trackers, action logs and progress reports, with guidance from experienced colleagues.

• Support the identification and recording of risks, issues and dependencies; track agreed actions and escalate concerns promptly to the relevant manager.

• Contribute to clear presentations, reports, dashboards and supporting materials that explain analysis, recommendations and delivery progress.

• Participate in client meetings and workshops, listen actively, ask relevant questions and capture accurate requirements, decisions and actions.

• Build constructive relationships with clients and colleagues through professional communication, reliability, integrity and respect for confidentiality.

• Support implementation of agreed improvements, including coordinating activities, assisting with testing and communicating new processes and ways of working.

• Contribute to business cases, requirements documents and other project or procurement materials where appropriate to the assignment and your experience.

• Manage your workload against agreed priorities, deadlines and quality standards, keeping colleagues informed and seeking support when required.

• Apply Squarcle’s quality assurance processes, check the accuracy of your work and respond constructively to review and feedback.

• Develop your consulting, analytical and technical skills through the Academy, practical delivery, coaching and continued professional learning.

SECONDARY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support research and preparation of proposals, bids and other business development materials as required.

• Contribute to internal reporting and the development of Squarcle’s methods, templates and knowledge resources.

• Share learning and relevant experience through team discussions and knowledge sessions.

• Support wider company activities, committees, forums and recruitment initiatives where appropriate.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

• Experience in supply chain, logistics, operations, business analysis, project coordination, PMO, service delivery or a related environment.

• Evidence of transferable skills gained through employment, professional training or other relevant experience, and the ability to explain how these could contribute to consulting delivery.

• Strong problem-solving and analytical potential: able to break down a challenge, evaluate information and draw reasoned conclusions.

• Curiosity, a willingness to learn and the ability to grasp new concepts and apply feedback in practice.

• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain ideas logically and adapt your approach to different audiences.

• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with examples of building constructive working relationships and contributing to shared outcomes.

• Organisation, attention to detail and the ability to take ownership of tasks, manage competing priorities and meet agreed deadlines.

• Confidence working with numerical and written information, checking accuracy and identifying relevant findings.

• Working familiarity with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and willingness to develop digital and data skills further.

• Professionalism, integrity and a commitment to delivering a good service for clients and colleagues.

• Adaptability and motivation to work across different assignments, learn unfamiliar subject matter and participate fully in an intensive development programme.

• Willingness to work at the locations required for client delivery activities, including client-site visits in line with the role’s agreed arrangements.

DESIRABLE

• Involvement in a project, process improvement, organisational change or the introduction of a new system or way of working.

• Experience gathering requirements, mapping processes, analysing data or producing performance reports.

• Experience working with customers, clients or stakeholders to understand needs and resolve practical problems.

• Familiarity with Power BI, Visio or other data visualisation, process mapping or project management tools.

• Relevant study, professional development or qualifications in business analysis, supply chain, project management, Agile or continuous improvement.

• Experience in sectors relevant to Squarcle’s clients, including Defence.

What we offer

We believe great work deserves great rewards. Here’s what you can expect as part of the team:

• Generous leave package
  • 26 days of annual leave (including your birthday!) plus UK bank holidays — increasing to 27 days after three years, and 28 after seven years
  • You’ll also get five extra days for your five and 10 year anniversaries
  • Additional leave for members of the Reserve Forces and CFAV.
• Private medical insurance
  • Provided once you’ve completed your probation.
• Recognition and rewards
  • £1,000 referral bonus for successful hires
• Performance related awards
  • Milestone and life-event hampers to celebrate life’s big moments
• Development & learning
  • Annual training week abroad
  • Funding for qualifications that benefit both you and the business
• Travel & wellbeing
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Discounted travel through funded railcards
• Pension
  • Our pension provider is NOW Pensions, pension contributions are 3% employer and 5% employee

We review our benefits regularly to ensure they stay competitive and meaningful - so this list may evolve as we grow.

Our working hours are 8:30am – 5:30pm (with an hour for lunch), Monday – Friday.

Apply now and take the next step toward doing work that matters, with a team that’s shaping the future of supply chain consulting.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 6 months. If you hold dual citizenship or nationality from another country, please make us aware of this during the application phase. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Privacy Policy - Squarcle Consulting Ltd

We’re committed to creating a diverse environment. We embrace differences and hire based on merit, giving equal consideration to all applications, regardless of gender, background, and race.