Director of Business Consulting (Associate Partner)

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa (Hybrid)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: Competitive Base Salary + Performance-Based Incentives (Year 2 onwards)

Executive Opportunity

Our client is seeking an accomplished Director of Business Consulting (Associate Partner) to drive strategic growth, develop executive-level client relationships, and deliver transformational digital and operational improvement initiatives.

This is a senior leadership role for a commercially astute consulting professional with a proven ability to originate opportunities, shape complex solutions, and lead large-scale client engagements from strategy through delivery and managed services.

The successful candidate will operate as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders, helping organizations unlock measurable business value through digital transformation, automation, data-driven decision-making, and operational excellence.

The Role

As Director of Business Consulting, you will take ownership of key client relationships, identifying complex business challenges and translating them into outcome-driven solutions that enhance performance, efficiency, and profitability.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, drive revenue growth, oversee solution delivery, and establish long-term strategic partnerships with clients. Unlike traditional consulting roles focused solely on advisory services, this position requires an individual who can successfully sell, design, implement, and manage transformational solutions.

The role will initially focus heavily on a major strategic client engagement, requiring a high level of executive presence, relationship management, and delivery oversight.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Client Leadership

• Build and expand senior-level client relationships across target industries.
• Identify, originate, and convert new consulting and digital transformation opportunities.
• Develop compelling business cases and value propositions aligned to client objectives.
• Lead commercial negotiations and secure outcome-focused consulting engagements.
• Monetize existing relationships and establish new strategic partnerships.

Strategic Consulting & Solution Design

• Diagnose complex business challenges and identify opportunities for operational improvement.
• Lead solution workshops and business transformation engagements.
• Define digital roadmaps and value-based transformation strategies.
• Collaborate with technical specialists to design scalable solutions.
• Ensure solutions deliver measurable business outcomes and sustainable value.

Delivery & Account Management

• Oversee the successful delivery of consulting and digital transformation programs.
• Manage client expectations, delivery risks, and commercial commitments.
• Lead Agile transformation and implementation initiatives.
• Govern projects from concept through implementation and managed services.
• Act as the trusted client partner throughout delivery and adoption phases.

Revenue & Commercial Accountability

• Own revenue growth and account profitability.
• Take accountability for outcome-based commercial models and delivery commitments.
• Drive long-term client value creation while achieving business targets.
• Identify expansion opportunities within existing accounts.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead multidisciplinary consulting and delivery teams.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor consultants and support team development.
• Create an environment where teams can innovate, learn, and succeed.
• Inspire confidence and build strong internal and external stakeholder relationships.

Industry Experience Required

Candidates should demonstrate significant experience in one or more of the following areas:

Mining & Resources

• Operational improvement initiatives within mining and commodity environments.
• Digital transformation of mining operations.
• Data, automation, and performance optimization programmes.

Supply Chain & Logistics

• Digital operational improvement across supply chain and logistics functions.
• Process automation initiatives beyond traditional ERP implementations.
• End-to-end optimization of operational performance and customer value chains.

Required Experience

Essential

• Significant experience within a consulting, advisory, or professional services environment.
• Proven success selling and delivering complex consulting engagements.
• Strong track record of executive stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Experience securing opportunities where no formal RFP process exists.
• Demonstrated success leading digital transformation and business process improvement initiatives.
• Experience developing commercial agreements and managing complex client engagements.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Experience leading Agile delivery and change programmes.
• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced and complex environments.

Highly Desirable

• Background in automation, digital operations, cloud-enabled transformation, and data solutions.
• Experience designing outcome-based service models.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies, innovation trends, and digital operating models.
• Expertise in business process redesign and operational transformation.

Key Competencies

• Executive Presence and Influence
• Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving
• Commercial Negotiation and Deal Origination
• Client Relationship Management
• Digital Transformation Leadership
• Revenue Growth and Account Expansion
• Business Process Reengineering
• Agile Delivery Leadership
• Change Management
• Team Leadership and Coaching
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Financial and Commercial Acumen

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will be:

• A trusted advisor who builds deep, long-term client relationships.
• A natural leader who inspires teams and creates followership.
• Commercially driven while maintaining an unwavering focus on customer outcomes.
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating within ambiguity.
• Empathetic, collaborative, and people-focused.
• Solution-oriented, with a passion for delivering tangible business outcomes rather than theoretical recommendations.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Postgraduate qualification (MBA or equivalent) preferred.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 12-18 months, you will:

• Establish yourself as a trusted strategic partner to key client stakeholders.
• Lead transformational programmes delivering measurable business value.
• Build sustainable revenue streams and identify growth opportunities.
• Successfully align consulting, technology, and operational delivery teams.
• Create long-term partnerships that extend beyond traditional consulting engagements.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a senior consulting leader seeking a role that combines business development, executive engagement, strategic consulting, operational transformation, and leadership within a high-growth and highly impactful environment.