State and Local Government (SLG) - Senior Consultant

Guidehouse•Austin, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Senior Consultant on our State and Local Government team in Houston or Austin, you will help public sector clients solve complex operational, strategic, and organizational challenges from planning through implementation. You will serve as a key member of client delivery teams, supporting project management, stakeholder engagement, business process improvement, organizational transformation, program administration, and strategic initiatives across state and local government agencies. You will work directly with client executives, department leadership, and cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions that drive operational effectiveness, improve service delivery, and achieve measurable outcomes. This role requires strong consulting, project management, analytical, and communication skills, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
3+ years of professional experience in management consulting, public sector consulting, program management, project management, government operations, or a related field
Experience supporting complex client engagements and managing multiple workstreams simultaneously
Knowledge of project management principles, methodologies, and best practices
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills
Experience facilitating meetings, workshops, stakeholder engagement sessions, and executive briefings
Experience developing high-quality client deliverables, including presentations, reports, business cases, and strategic recommendations
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
Ability to work independently while managing competing priorities and deadlines
Must currently reside within the Houston or Austin metropolitan area and be available for periodic in-person client and team meetings
Ability to travel throughout Texas and occasionally outside the state based on client needs

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting state, local, or municipal government clients
Experience in strategic planning, program management, grants management, disaster recovery, infrastructure, public safety, transportation, healthcare, or human services programs
Experience with business process improvement, organizational design, change management, or operational transformation initiatives
Experience developing project management artifacts, governance structures, performance metrics, and executive reporting packages
Familiarity with project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Azure DevOps, Jira, or similar platforms
Experience supporting large-scale implementations, modernization initiatives, or enterprise transformation efforts.
Knowledge of federal and state funding programs, compliance requirements, and grants administration processes
Master's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a related field
Professional certifications such as PMP, Lean Six Sigma, Prosci, Scrum Master, or related credentials.

Responsibilities

Serve as a day-to-day project lead supporting the successful delivery of consulting engagements from project initiation through closeout.
Develop project management plans, workplans, schedules, risk registers, action item trackers, and status reports to ensure timely delivery of client objectives.
Facilitate client meetings, workshops, strategic planning sessions, and stakeholder interviews to identify challenges, opportunities, and priorities.
Conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis to evaluate business processes, organizational structures, program performance, and operational effectiveness.
Develop recommendations and implementation strategies that improve efficiency, effectiveness, compliance, and service delivery.
Support organizational transformation, strategic planning, operational improvement, grants management, program administration, and change management initiatives.
Coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders and project teams to ensure alignment with project goals and client expectations.
Monitor project risks, issues, dependencies, and resource requirements while proactively identifying mitigation strategies.
Develop executive briefings, presentations, reports, memoranda, and other client-ready deliverables that communicate findings and recommendations clearly and effectively.
Support performance management activities, including KPI development, reporting frameworks, dashboard creation, and program evaluation efforts.
Assist with business development activities including opportunity research, proposal development, capture support, and client relationship management.
Mentor and provide guidance to junior consultants while contributing to a collaborative and inclusive team environment.

Benefits

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Basic Life & Supplemental Life
Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Student Loan PayDown
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
Skills Development & Certifications
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
Mobility Stipend