The bulk of Monitor’s Senior Consultants are either former Consultants or recent MBAs. A background in business is typically expected.
Role and Responsibility
The Senior Consultant is responsible for managing a discrete workstream, or module, as part of a broader project. For instance, on a growth strategy project for a pharmaceutical company, one module may be focused on conducting expert interviews and secondary research to understand key market trends, another on gaining a better understanding of unmet patient needs, and a third on developing financial forecasts for the future performance of existing lines of business. The number of modules varies from case to case, and depends on the size of the team and the scope of the project. Similarly, the number of consultants assigned to a module varies based on the level of complexity of the work.
Senior Consultants frequently manage one or more Consultants; their responsibilities can include:
- Working with Partners, Associate Partners, Managers, Senior Managers, and clients to develop hypotheses and work plans that address project objectives
- Managing data collection and analysis
- Developing insights from the analytical process and integrating the module’s findings into the broader project work
- Communicating analysis and recommendations both verbally and in writing to team members and client leadership
- Building the relationship between Monitor and the client’s project team
- Providing professional development opportunities and feedback for Consultants
Your Development
Senior Consultants have already built a business foundation, either at Monitor or through work experience elsewhere. They enter through three channels: as existing employees promoted from Consultant; as recent graduates of top-tier MBA programs; or as seasoned professionals with significant business experience.
This stage is focused on exploring the breadth of Monitor’s areas of expertise (like marketing, innovation, or organizational design), finding opportunities to develop deeper expertise, and building advanced business skills and a network of relationships within the firm.
During this period, you’ll take on internal roles to build your leadership skills, such as heading up recruiting efforts at a university, or leading community-building initiatives in an office.
Many Senior Consultants also choose to explore international opportunities. For some, this means working on one or more projects outside of their home country. Others may choose to transfer abroad, either temporarily or permanently. In recent years, many Senior Consultants have helped start new offices in places like Dubai and Moscow.
The majority of your learning will come through work experience and active coaching on case teams and client projects. During the staffing process, you’ll help steer the kinds of opportunities you want to pursue. This may mean gaining experience in a content area such as innovation or organizational design, taking an international allocation, or pursuing an internal opportunity like recruiting or human assets. This training program not only exposes you to world-class content (often developed by Monitor’s thought leaders), but it also presents many opportunities to broaden and deepen your networks within the firm.
Building a Deeper, Global Network
As a Senior Consultant, you will have the chance to develop deeper relationships with both your global peer group and the firm’s global leadership. Our staffing structure provides consultants in all regions opportunities to work in offices around the world through case allocations and formal transfers. Your network is a valuable asset to your professional development, and it serves as the foundation of the personal and professional relationships upon which you will build your career at Monitor.
What’s Next?
Senior Consultants who perform well are given the opportunity to take on new responsibilities and, upon promotion, receive further professional development opportunities as Managers and Senior Managers. Our meritocratic approach to promotion means your time frame for advancement is determined by the skills you demonstrate and the value you create for our clients—it’s customized to where you are in your career, not your entering class. Senior Consultants can advance to Manager, and beyond, without pursuing an MBA.
Many of our undergraduate Senior Consultants do choose to pursue a graduate degree, typically an MBA at a top-tier business school. This year, Monitor will send consultants to such schools as Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government, INSEAD, Kellogg, London Business School, Stanford, Tuck, and Wharton to pursue their MBAs. Monitor actively invests in supporting our alumni who leave to pursue a graduate degree through our EXTEND training program, designed to help our departing alumni make the most of their graduate school experience. We frequently sponsor high-performing Consultants and Senior Consultants in their pursuit of an MBA—and other advanced degrees—should they return to the firm upon graduation. Those who opt for a different industry or job function often report that their time with us was invaluable in developing the analytical and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive business environment.