Senior Managing Director, Public Sector

MAKE STRATEGY A REALITY | ACCELERATE YOUR GROWTH | CHOOSE YOUR PATH As the world’s leading change and transformation consultancy, we help businesses move from strategy to reality through a pragmatic and practical approach that builds lasting solutions. We are seeking a Senior Managing Director, Management Consulting to accelerate growth and create impact in our Atlanta, GA office or nationwide. SUMMARY North Highland is a global consulting firm that partners with clients to transform their organizations through strategy, technology, and human-centered change. Our Public Sector practice is dedicated to helping government agencies deliver measurable outcomes for the communities they serve. We are looking for a leader to manage the U.S. Public Sector portfolio, the largest industry area at the firm, focused primarily at the state level. This executive role involves end-to-end P&L responsibility, strategy execution, growth, delivery excellence, and talent development across the Public Sector portfolio, particularly in state-level health, transportation, and technology transformation. YOU WILL: Portfolio Growth and P&L Accountability – Own the national Public Sector portfolio growth agenda, including go-to-market, vertical prioritization (Health & Human Services, Transportation, Enterprise Technology), geographic expansion, and strategic partnerships. Hold key P&L accountability for revenue, margin, utilization, and growth targets; manage and mitigate risks through procurement and contracts understanding. Growth Agenda Setting – Define where North Highland competes, how it differentiates, and what capabilities it builds or acquires; hold leaders accountable for achievement. Executive Representation – Represent the Public Sector portfolio at the North Highland executive leadership level, contributing to firm-wide strategy and cross-practice integration. Business Development & Market Leadership – Drive nationwide business development across targeted Public Sector verticals (Medicaid Modernization, Eligibility Systems, Rural Health, Tolling, Transit, Critical Infrastructure, Enterprise Technology). Lead pursuit strategy for the firm’s largest and most complex opportunities, from market intelligence and positioning through proposal development, orals, and award. Pipeline Management – Develop and manage a national opportunities pipeline aligned to core capabilities—program evaluation, data & analytics, technology modernization, change management, workforce transformation—collaboratively with Practice colleagues. Build strategic relationships with state agency executives, procurement leaders, and policy officials to shape opportunities before they hit the street. Delivery Excellence & Client Stewardship – Serve as the senior executive sponsor for North Highland’s highest-profile public sector engagements nationally. Ensure delivery quality, risk management, and client satisfaction across the full portfolio, intervene with senior judgment at critical moments, and build governance structures that protect quality at scale. Build a culture of delivery excellence across the practice, where client outcomes—not contract compliance—define success. Act as a visible, trusted advisor to agency heads and senior government officials. Talent & Team Building – Build, develop, and retain a nationwide team of public sector consulting leaders who can independently lead major engagements and grow client relationships. Create a culture that attracts mission-driven consultants. Develop career pathways, compensation frameworks, and recognition structures that differentiate the firm. Implement talent development strategies, including rotation programs, mentorship, and succession planning that build bench strength. Thought Leadership & External Presence – Represent North Highland at national conferences, state association convenings, and industry events. Develop and publish points of view, white papers, and business/capability perspectives that build credibility and generate market awareness. Position North Highland as a thought leader in Medicaid modernization, infrastructure investment, and public health innovation. IDEALLY, WE’D LIKE: 20+ years of progressive leadership experience in public sector consulting, government, or a combination, primarily at the state level, with at least 7 years in a senior practice or portfolio leadership role. Demonstrated P&L ownership and revenue growth accountability at a national or multi-regional scale—a track record of building a practice, not just running one. Deep current relationships across the state government landscape—agency executives, procurement leaders, and policy officials who trust your judgment. Broad expertise across at least two core Public Sector capability areas: program evaluation, data & analytics, technology modernization, change management, or workforce transformation. Proven ability to win complex, competitive procurements, including RFQs, RFPs, cooperative agreements, GSA vehicles, and task orders. Experience building and leading high-performing consulting teams—recruiting, developing, and retaining senior talent in a competitive market with fungible skills across domains, disciplines, and geographies. Executive presence and communication skills that earn credibility at the highest levels of government and inspire confidence in clients, team members, and firm leadership. A genuine belief in the mission of public sector transformation and a personal commitment to delivering outcomes that matter for community governments. A collaborative, proactive leadership style that models ‘all ships rise’ behavior in decision-making and ways of working. Preferred Qualifications Prior leadership of a national or large regional public sector consulting practice at a recognized firm. Senior government service experience—federal agency leadership, state cabinet-level service, or equivalent. Experience operating in a matrix organization with clear accountability across domains, geographies, and practices. Track record of driving cultural transformation and implementing new operating models in complex organizations. What Success Looks Like Year One – Drive immediate impact by activating the pipeline, deepening client relationships, deploying the talent bench, and strengthening competitive positioning. Pipeline Health – Apply stage-gate discipline to accelerate deals, surface momentum gaps, and direct resources to high-probability opportunities. Client Relationships – Shift from mapping to active engagement, prioritize key accounts, address at-risk relationships, and establish executive touchpoints that build trust. Talent Bench – Identify high-performers, give them autonomy, close gaps quickly, and align right people to priorities. Competitive Positioning – Sharpen the narrative and market, equip the team with tools and messaging to win, and start building proof points that define reputation. Revenue – Achieve double-digit growth through disciplined pursuit of high-probability opportunities in strategic focus areas. Footprint – Expand into high-growth markets (Medicaid modernization, infrastructure investment, public health innovation). Leadership Bench – Build succession plans for key roles (Initiative Leads, Geography Leads, State Touchpoints). Brand – Position North Highland as a top-tier public sector consulting firm recognized for delivery excellence and measurable client outcomes. Years Two & Three – Continuously achieve double-digit revenue growth, further expand the footprint in high-growth markets, build a leadership bench with clear succession plans, and solidify the firm’s reputation for delivery excellence and measurable outcomes. Why This Role Matters The public sector is at an inflection point. States are transforming how they deliver services, increase innovation, and demonstrate taxpayer value amidst shifting budgets and evolving technologies. Federal funding flows, policy shifts, and technology enable new possibilities. North Highland has the talent, relationships, and capabilities to be the partner states turn to for transformation. We need a leader who brings focus, clarity, and strategic discipline to pursue and deliver this work. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, without the need for visa sponsorship by North Highland. Work visa sponsorship will not be provided, either now or in the future, for this position. North Highland is an equal opportunity employer, and we adhere to all applicable laws and regulations to ensure a fair and equitable workplace. All qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We handle all information in accordance with local privacy standards and maintain strict confidentiality. #J-18808-Ljbffr North Highland