Senior Talent Strategy Consultant
Oliver Wyman, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Senior Talent Strategy Consultant
We are seeking a talented individual to join our Talent Strategy & Digital HR Transformation team at Mercer, a Marsh business. This role can be based in Philadelphia or Washington, DC and offers a hybrid work arrangement, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office.
As a Senior Talent Strategy Consultant, you will support senior consultants in leading and delivering engagements across HR organization digital transformation, HR operating model assessment and design, process optimization, and technology advisory. You will work directly with client stakeholders, drive deliverable development, and help drive measurable impact for organizations navigating the evolving world of work. This is a great opportunity to gain exposure to a wide range of industries and develop deep expertise in how leading organizations redesign their people functions for the future!
We will count on you to:
Organization & Operating Model
Design and implement HR organizational restructuring initiatives, including role mapping, layer analysis, workforce transition planning, and structural simplification opportunities such as management layer reduction and HR business partner ratio optimization.
Conduct current-state assessments of HR functions using stakeholder interviews, digital surveys, and data analysis to identify capability gaps and benchmark against industry trends like integrated, platform-based HR service delivery and centers of excellence evolution.
Develop and present future-state HR operating models aligned with enterprise strategy, incorporating skills-based workforce planning, governance frameworks, RACI matrices, service catalogues, and AI-enabled service delivery.
Prepare change readiness assessments and contribute to change management plans, business cases, ROI analyses, and headcount modeling to support adoption and justify operating model transformations.
Technology & Process Optimization
Manage HR technology platform evaluation and selection through vendor assessments, RFP/RFI development, capability scoring, and alignment with organizational maturity and strategic priorities including AI and automation readiness.
Oversee system implementation and technology roadmap activities such as requirements gathering, data migration planning, user acceptance testing, go-live readiness, and research on emerging HR tech trends like talent intelligence, skills ontologies, people analytics, and employee experience platforms.
Map and analyze end-to-end HR processes (hire-to-retire, talent acquisition, performance management, learning and development) to identify inefficiencies, redundancies, and automation opportunities using process mining and workflow analysis.
Develop process redesign recommendations leveraging automation, AI-driven workflows, and self-service capabilities to enhance employee experience and operational efficiency.
Delivery & Client Engagement Support
Prepare high-quality deliverables including presentations, reports, data analyses, and workshop materials with minimal oversight from senior consultants and engagement managers
Support facilitation of client workshops, interviews, and working sessions, capturing key findings and translating them into actionable insights and recommendations
Develop and manage workstream-level project plans, track milestones, and escalate risks and issues proactively to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery
Contribute to internal knowledge management by documenting methodologies, case studies, and reusable frameworks
What you need to have:
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Management Information Systems, or a related field
4-7 years of professional experience in management consulting, HR advisory, HR operations, or a corporate HR transformation/strategy role
Strong understanding of HR functional areas including talent acquisition, total rewards, learning & development, workforce planning, and HR operations
Advanced analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis using Excel, Google Sheets, or BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to support evidence-based recommendations
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise deliverables for executive audiences
Proven ability to work effectively in team-based, fast-paced project environments with competing priorities and tight deadlines
Willingness to travel to client sites as required (estimated 20-40% depending on engagement)
What makes you stand out?
Familiarity with process improvement methodologies or organizational design frameworks
Demonstrated experience or strong interest in AI applications in HR, including generative AI for content creation, agentic AI for workflow automation, and predictive analytics for talent decisions
Knowledge of skills-based talent management approaches, including skills taxonomies, internal talent marketplaces, and capability-based workforce planning
Exposure to HR technology platforms such as Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM Cloud, ServiceNow HR, or similar enterprise HRIS/HCM systems
Relevant certifications such as SHRM-CP, PHR, Prosci Change Management, or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt are a plus
Master's degree (MBA, MS in HR/OD, or related) is advantageous but not required
Why join our team:
We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have an impact on colleagues, clients, and communities.
Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being.
We are seeking a talented individual to join our Talent Strategy & Digital HR Transformation team at Mercer, a Marsh business. This role can be based in Philadelphia or Washington, DC and offers a hybrid work arrangement, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office.
As a Senior Talent Strategy Consultant, you will support senior consultants in leading and delivering engagements across HR organization digital transformation, HR operating model assessment and design, process optimization, and technology advisory. You will work directly with client stakeholders, drive deliverable development, and help drive measurable impact for organizations navigating the evolving world of work. This is a great opportunity to gain exposure to a wide range of industries and develop deep expertise in how leading organizations redesign their people functions for the future!
We will count on you to:
Organization & Operating Model
Design and implement HR organizational restructuring initiatives, including role mapping, layer analysis, workforce transition planning, and structural simplification opportunities such as management layer reduction and HR business partner ratio optimization.
Conduct current-state assessments of HR functions using stakeholder interviews, digital surveys, and data analysis to identify capability gaps and benchmark against industry trends like integrated, platform-based HR service delivery and centers of excellence evolution.
Develop and present future-state HR operating models aligned with enterprise strategy, incorporating skills-based workforce planning, governance frameworks, RACI matrices, service catalogues, and AI-enabled service delivery.
Prepare change readiness assessments and contribute to change management plans, business cases, ROI analyses, and headcount modeling to support adoption and justify operating model transformations.
Technology & Process Optimization
Manage HR technology platform evaluation and selection through vendor assessments, RFP/RFI development, capability scoring, and alignment with organizational maturity and strategic priorities including AI and automation readiness.
Oversee system implementation and technology roadmap activities such as requirements gathering, data migration planning, user acceptance testing, go-live readiness, and research on emerging HR tech trends like talent intelligence, skills ontologies, people analytics, and employee experience platforms.
Map and analyze end-to-end HR processes (hire-to-retire, talent acquisition, performance management, learning and development) to identify inefficiencies, redundancies, and automation opportunities using process mining and workflow analysis.
Develop process redesign recommendations leveraging automation, AI-driven workflows, and self-service capabilities to enhance employee experience and operational efficiency.
Delivery & Client Engagement Support
Prepare high-quality deliverables including presentations, reports, data analyses, and workshop materials with minimal oversight from senior consultants and engagement managers
Support facilitation of client workshops, interviews, and working sessions, capturing key findings and translating them into actionable insights and recommendations
Develop and manage workstream-level project plans, track milestones, and escalate risks and issues proactively to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery
Contribute to internal knowledge management by documenting methodologies, case studies, and reusable frameworks
What you need to have:
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Management Information Systems, or a related field
4-7 years of professional experience in management consulting, HR advisory, HR operations, or a corporate HR transformation/strategy role
Strong understanding of HR functional areas including talent acquisition, total rewards, learning & development, workforce planning, and HR operations
Advanced analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis using Excel, Google Sheets, or BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to support evidence-based recommendations
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise deliverables for executive audiences
Proven ability to work effectively in team-based, fast-paced project environments with competing priorities and tight deadlines
Willingness to travel to client sites as required (estimated 20-40% depending on engagement)
What makes you stand out?
Familiarity with process improvement methodologies or organizational design frameworks
Demonstrated experience or strong interest in AI applications in HR, including generative AI for content creation, agentic AI for workflow automation, and predictive analytics for talent decisions
Knowledge of skills-based talent management approaches, including skills taxonomies, internal talent marketplaces, and capability-based workforce planning
Exposure to HR technology platforms such as Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM Cloud, ServiceNow HR, or similar enterprise HRIS/HCM systems
Relevant certifications such as SHRM-CP, PHR, Prosci Change Management, or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt are a plus
Master's degree (MBA, MS in HR/OD, or related) is advantageous but not required
Why join our team:
We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have an impact on colleagues, clients, and communities.
Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being.