Associate Consultant -- Strategic Advisory Services

Sargent & Lundy•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Sargent & Lundy’s Consulting group is seeking an Associate Consultant to join its growing Strategic Advisory practice. The practice serves energy-sector clients—including utilities, independent power producers, project developers, investors, lenders, government agencies, and system operators—across strategy and transformation, financial and economic advisory, energy system and market planning, and asset and project management. The work helps clients make strategic and business decisions and turn them into practical action, drawing on Sargent & Lundy’s technical expertise and energy-sector experience. The role focuses primarily on strategic advisory services, including business strategy, financial and economic analysis, market and system planning, organizational strategy, implementation planning, governance, and change enablement. The Associate Consultant supports project teams through structured research and analysis, translating findings into recommendations, client work products, and actionable plans. The position collaborates with clients and senior professionals, contributes to high-impact engagements and practice growth, and may support broader Sargent & Lundy Consulting engagements when aligned with the employee’s capabilities. The work arrangement is hybrid: three days per week in the office and two days working remotely. Sargent & Lundy does not sponsor U.S. work authorization for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field.
3–6 years of relevant professional experience.
Experience in, or demonstrated knowledge of, the power and utilities sector.
Understanding of energy infrastructure, particularly electric generation, transmission, and distribution systems, and how market, regulatory, technical, and financial factors affect their development, operation, and economics.
Strong analytical, quantitative, and structured problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyze large data sets and perform financial or economic analysis.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with client stakeholders in meetings, interviews, and working sessions.
Ability to manage assigned areas of project work with increasing independence under appropriate direction.
Ability to synthesize complex information and analyses into clear, actionable recommendations.
Strong organizational skills and follow-through, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced consulting environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
U.S. work authorization sponsorship is not provided for this position.

Nice To Haves

MBA or another relevant advanced degree.
Prior experience in consulting, advisory services, or a related professional services environment.
Genuine interest in the energy and infrastructure sectors, including how market, regulatory, technical, and financial considerations shape strategic, investment, and operating decisions.
PE, PMP, or another relevant professional licensure or certification.
Interest in learning and effectively using emerging technologies where relevant to the role; experience with AI, automation, programming, or similar technologies is valued but not required.

Responsibilities

Support assigned areas of engagement delivery, including rate case support; business cases and investment evaluations; strategic assessments and business planning; frameworks for evaluating emerging technologies and related market, technical, and economic analyses; process improvement; operating model design; transformation and implementation support; and advisory support for major capital projects and programs.
Conduct research, organize data, and perform analyses that inform business cases, recommendations, and implementation plans.
Translate findings into high-quality client presentations, reports, and other work products under the direction of project leadership.
Participate in client meetings, interviews, working sessions, and workshops with stakeholders at multiple levels; support project leadership in facilitating discussions and advancing next steps.
Support development of analytical tools, frameworks, and practice collateral, and contribute to proposals and thought leadership content for the Strategic Advisory practice.
Support other Sargent & Lundy Consulting engagements as needed, including power supply planning, due diligence, asset transactions, and related services.
Contribute to the continued growth of the Strategic Advisory practice.