Senior Manager

Leapwise ( is a strategy consultancy dedicated to helping public sector leaders achieve and sustain high performance. With a strong track record, we are a trusted advisor to both central and local government, having deep expertise in Policing, Criminal Justice, and Public Safety. We provide tailored strategy and planning services that offer leaders the insights needed to make wise investments, enhance public services, and ensure value for money. We are passionate about transforming businesses within the law enforcement community through insights and innovation, and as a team, we excel at inspiring workforces to thrive and perform through our expertise in leadership and organisational development.

Known for our honesty, collaboration, and track record of delivery our approach to creating tailored and precise solutions is underpinned by our values ( To do meaningful work, champion decency and openness, give and take ownership, and learn grow together. We truly live by these values, which we demonstrate through a flexible approach to client and colleague in-person interaction, support for training and coaching, as well as a 9-day fortnight for all employees.

The Opportunity

Our team equips the public sector with the data, evidence, and insight to transform performance and identify cost and resource optimisation opportunities. We also elevate public sector leaders by co-defining and designing new ways of working, systems, and incentives that will create high performance. Examples of our specialist work include developing the long-term vision and objectives for Police Scotland, introducing automation capability within Norfolk & Suffolk Police, and building a strategic foundation for future service offerings within Police Digital Service.

We now have an opportunity for a Senior Manager to join Leapwise. This is an exciting role for an experienced consultant within the public sector to lead some of the highest profile and most complex challenges facing Policing, Justice, and Public Safety today, working alongside passionate and talented colleagues.

About the role

As a Senior Manager in our team, you will lead critical engagements providing advisory services to clients in the policing and justice sector and supporting our growing focus on organisational development, culture, and leadership. You will also play a crucial role in contributing to the growth and development of the Leapwise business through mentoring other consultants and supporting business development activities.

Your responsibilities will include:

• End to end leadership of client projects, providing detailed analysis, strategic input, and quality assurance to deliver the promised impact to clients.
• Gaining a deep understanding of the challenges our clients are facing, establishing “trusted advisor” relationships with client sponsors and senior leadership.
• Reviewing and synthesising large amounts of complex data to inform your recommendations, applying your experience to make creative, practical, and thoughtful recommendations.
• Independently facilitating group workshops, delicately managing sensitive topics with diverse groups.
• Actively contributing to the success of Leapwise through support of marketing and business development activities, collaborating closely with the Directors.
• Leading significant complex proposals, coordinating input across the organisation as required, with good awareness of commercial and delivery practicalities.
• Contributing to existing client accounts by developing client relationships, identifying and following up on sell-on and account development opportunities.
• Contribute to the strategy and vision of Leapwise and its offering, initiating and leading on internal projects to drive improvement.
• Managing and developing talented staff and building the overall capability of our consulting practice through mentoring, sharing expertise, and meaningful feedback.

Base salary between £80,000-£90,000 (FTE)

Potential for an additional performance-related annual bonus

Who we are

We are looking for people with previous experience in both consulting and the public sector, with significant project management capability, and experience building relationships with, and influencing senior stakeholders. You will also bring exceptional consulting fundamentals to support the mentoring and training of team members.

In addition, we will look for you to demonstrate:

• The ability to identify problems, perform root cause analysis and present solutions within complex systems and environments.
• High levels of emotional intelligence and the ability to engage in conversations regarding sensitive topics.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to drive decision making and to help the team to deliver analysis effectively (including qualitative and quantitative).
• The ability to identify business development opportunities, build complex proposals, and manage existing client accounts.
• A willingness to develop yourself and engage in a proactive feedback culture.
• A passion for social impact and public sector work, as well as organisational development (culture change, leadership development, and diversity and inclusion).

Like the rest of the team at Leapwise, you will benefit from a supportive and flexible working environment, which includes:

• Performance related bonus tied to individual and firm performance.
• Support for training, with coaching and personal development from experienced leaders.
• A 9-day fortnight for all employees (we are also open to part-time working arrangements).
• A great office, but with a range of home working options to fit your needs when you are not with clients.
• 5% matched pension contribution.
• Maternity leave package.
• 31 days of annual leave pro rate, including bank holidays (this will increase by 1 day for each year of service, up to a maximum of 38 days).

It is extremely important to us that everyone feels they can apply to Leapwise. Diversity of background creates diversity of thought and that is hugely valuable both to us and our clients. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made to our recruitment process and we'll be happy to discuss how we can best accommodate this.