Senior Associate Consultant -- Strategic Advisory Services

Sargent & Lundy•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Sargent & Lundy’s Consulting group is seeking a Senior Associate Consultant to join its growing Strategic Advisory practice. The practice provides Strategy & Transformation, Financial & Economic Advisory, Energy System & Market Planning, and Asset & Project Management services to energy-sector clients, including utilities, independent power producers, project developers, investors, lenders, government agencies, and system operators. The work helps clients navigate market and industry dynamics, make informed business and investment decisions, improve performance, and move strategic initiatives from planning to execution. 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 consultant may also support broader S&L Consulting engagements aligned with their capabilities. They will lead major areas of client engagements, structure ambiguous challenges, translate complex analysis into recommendations and actionable plans, work with clients and senior S&L professionals, mentor junior team members, contribute to business development, and support practice growth. The position has a hybrid work arrangement: 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.
5–10 years of relevant professional experience, including either at least 3 years of consulting experience serving power and utilities clients or at least 5 years of relevant power and utilities industry experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of the power and utilities sector and energy infrastructure, particularly electric generation, transmission, and distribution systems, and how market, regulatory, technical, and financial factors affect their development, operation, and economics.
Genuine interest in the energy and infrastructure sectors and in how market, regulatory, technical, and financial considerations shape strategic, investment, and operating decisions.
Advanced analytical, quantitative, and structured problem-solving skills, including the ability to navigate ambiguity.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex topics clearly to stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise.
Experience leading major areas of engagement delivery, collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams, and engaging effectively with client stakeholders across organizational levels.
Proficiency in producing clear, well-structured client work products using Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
Ability to synthesize complex analyses into actionable recommendations and communicate implications, risks, and implementation considerations to diverse stakeholders.
High initiative, ownership, and accountability, with a record of delivering high-quality work products with limited supervision.
Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without employer-sponsored work authorization; Sargent & Lundy does not sponsor work authorization for this position.

Nice To Haves

MBA or other relevant advanced degree.
Experience with major capital projects or programs involving transmission and distribution, generation, or other complex infrastructure.
Demonstrated ability to lead development of business cases, implementation plans, or transformation roadmaps, including evaluating strategic options, impacts, risks, and implementation requirements.
Experience assessing organizational capabilities, leading process-improvement initiatives, or designing governance or operating models.
PE, PMP, or another relevant professional licensure or certification.
Interest in learning and effectively using emerging technologies where relevant; experience with AI, automation, programming, or similar technologies is valued but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead major areas of engagement delivery, including rate case support; business cases and investment evaluations; strategic assessments and business planning; emerging-technology evaluation frameworks 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 or oversee analyses, develop business cases and recommendations, and prepare implementation plans, client presentations, reports, and other work products that translate client challenges into practical actions.
Lead or support client meetings, interviews, working sessions, and workshops with stakeholders at multiple levels.
Contribute to the Strategic Advisory practice by developing analytical tools, frameworks, and practice collateral, and contributing to proposals and thought leadership content.
Support other S&L Consulting engagements as needed, including power supply planning, due diligence, asset transactions, and related services.
Mentor junior team members and collaborate with clients, senior S&L professionals, and cross-disciplinary teams.