Education Research Consulting Manager -Digital Strategy Specialist

Huron helps its clients drive growth, enhance performance and sustain leadership in the markets they serve. We collaborate with education organizations to develop strategies and implement solutions that enable the transformative change our clients need to own their future. Together, we empower clients to drive innovation, create sustainable funding streams and deliver better student outcomes.

Today, leaders of higher education institutions and academic medical centers are spending too much time reacting to market forces, rather than focusing on the essential priorities that help students, faculty and staff thrive. The most productive path forward requires an intentional approach and innovative thinking, whereby stakeholders across the entire institution rally around a shared vision and embrace the hard work of effecting change.

You'll help our clients to achieve organizational effectiveness, improve student outcomes, implement new technologies and align resources and investments to ensure long-term sustainability.

Join our team as the expert you are now and create your future.

The multi-faceted role you've been looking for… Managers play a vibrant, integral role at Huron. Their invaluable knowledge reflects in the projects they manage and the teams they lead. Our environment inspires and rewards growth… As a Manager, you have the unique ability to specialize in certain areas of education and research consulting that showcase and employ your areas of expertise while pursuing your "career vision". Huron is big enough to offer the opportunity and exposure you need for your career growth-but small enough to give you individual attention for your professional development. Every Manager adds to who we are as an organization-and the more you evolve, the more we do. An exciting career experience awaits you: It's intense… it's analytically rigorous… it's practical… it's entrepreneurial… it's intellectually stimulating-and most definitely-it's career-defining… It's the Huron Way.

Let's get to work - together.

The Consulting Manager leads the delivery of digital strategy consulting engagements for higher education, academic medicine, and research institutions, partnering with institutional and IT leaders to define and operationalize institution wide digital strategies. This role manages complex client engagements spanning IT strategy, data and AI, digital and operating model transformation, while translating institutional goals into actionable plans and investment priorities. The Manager oversees project teams, ensures high-quality deliverables, and contributes to the firm's business and practice development efforts.

Key Responsibilities:

Client Engagement & Delivery

• Lead project workstreams and manage end-to-end delivery of consulting engagements across strategy, operations, policy, and organizational transformation.
• Synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative analyses into clear, compelling recommendations for senior client stakeholders including C-suite executives, provosts, and deans.
• Design and facilitate client workshops, advisory sessions, and stakeholder convenings.
• Maintain accountability for the quality, timeliness, and scope of all deliverables within assigned workstreams.
• Manage day-to-day client relationships, demonstrating sound judgment and proactive communication.
• Collaborate on client engagements with other parts of the firm, including Digital / implementation experts and other functional area consulting leads (e.g., finance, HR, student).

Team Leadership & Development

• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of analysts and associates across active engagements.
• Provide timely, specific feedback to support junior staff growth and performance.
• Foster an inclusive and collaborative team culture aligned with Huron values.
• Contribute to recruiting, onboarding, and training of new team members.

Business Development

• Support the development of proposals, RFPs, and pitch materials for prospective clients.
• Identify and qualify opportunities to expand the scope of existing client relationships.
• Cultivate relationships with key stakeholders across the education and research ecosystem.
• Contribute to the practice's thought leadership agenda through white papers, conference presentations, webinars, and publications.

Practice & Firm Development

• Help develop and refine practice methodologies, tools, and frameworks.
• Share knowledge and insights that strengthen the firm's collective capabilities in the education sector.
• Participate in firm-wide initiatives including training programs, knowledge management, and internal communities of practice.

Required:

• Current U.S. work authorization required
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience working on complex, team‑based engagements in a consulting organization or institution, with a focus on driving change and delivering results
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant managerial experience leading and developing teams
• Ability to travel up to 50% annually and work extended hours as necessary

Preferred Requirements:

• MBA or other relevant advanced degree
• Experience in business strategy, operations improvement, and finance and budget management
• Prior consulting experience
• Higher education experience
• Advanced Excel proficiency, including modeling and macros
• Demonstrated experience leading IT, digital, or enterprise transformation initiatives
• Strong understanding of higher education operating models, governance structures, and stakeholder environments
• Experience managing multi‑workstream projects, interdisciplinary teams, and senior client stakeholders
• Familiarity with enterprise platforms and ecosystems (e.g., ERP, SIS, CRM, data platforms, cloud technologies)

The estimated base salary range for this job is $140,000 - $185,000. The range represents a good faith estimate of the range that Huron reasonably expects to pay for this job at the time of the job posting. The actual salary paid to an individual will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to specific skills or certifications, years of experience, market changes, and required travel. This job is also eligible to participate in Huron's annual incentive compensation program, which reflects Huron's pay for performance philosophy. Inclusive of annual incentive compensation opportunity, the total estimated compensation range for this job is $166,750 - $231,250. The job is also eligible to participate in Huron's benefit plans which include medical, dental and vision coverage and other wellness programs. The salary range information provided is in accordance with applicable state and local laws regarding salary transparency that are currently in effect and may be implemented in the future.

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Position Level

Manager

Country

United States of America