Associate Director - Management Consulting

About the Role:

The Associate Director/ Senior Manager – Management Consulting will be responsible for leading and managing existing and upcoming consulting assignments in Tamil Nadu, with a strong focus on project management, team management and client delivery. The role requires deep expertise in Regulatory & Policy and Power Distribution / DISCOM Power Management Operations, including understanding of utility operations, power procurement, regulatory matters, commercial processes, and performance improvement. The role will involve client engagement, team management, quality assurance, business development support, and development of high-quality presentations, concept notes and advisory outputs for senior client stakeholders.

Detailed expectations from the role:

The Associate Director/ Senior Manager will report to senior leadership and will have end-to-end responsibility for managing existing and upcoming consulting projects in Tamil Nadu, ensuring high-quality delivery, effective client engagement, and timely completion. Key expectations include:

• Contribute to business development by identifying opportunities with existing and prospective clients in Tamil Nadu and supporting preparation of proposals, bids and client presentations.
• Support expansion of Mercados existing portfolio of consulting solutions through client engagement, opportunity identification and development of relevant proposals and concept notes.
• Lead and manage multiple ongoing and upcoming consulting assignments in Tamil Nadu, ensuring effective project management, timely delivery and high-quality outputs.
• Provide strategic advisory on regulatory, policy and power management matters relevant to DISCOMs, including power procurement, utility operations, commercial performance and sector reforms.
• Lead and manage assignments related to power procurement, power portfolio management and other DISCOM power management and operational requirements.
• Lead analysis of regulatory and policy developments and assess their implications for DISCOM operations, power procurement, tariffs, commercial performance and client businesses, providing actionable recommendations.
• Act as a key point of contact for clients in Tamil Nadu, leading discussions, project reviews, meetings and stakeholder engagements.
• Mentor and guide team members, review their work, and ensure consistency, accuracy, and quality in deliverables.
• Coordinate closely with internal teams to manage project execution, resolve issues, and maintain delivery schedules.
• Lead preparation and presentation of concept notes, thought leadership papers, and client presentations for senior management forums.
• Represent the organization in client meetings, conferences, workshops and industry events, as required.
• Foster a collaborative, high-ownership team culture aligned with organizational goals.

Required skill set:

• Proven experience in managing consulting projects and client engagements within the power sector, with exposure to business development, proposals and client relationship management.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with existing and prospective clients and contribute to business development through proposals, bids, presentations and solution development.
• Proven ability to lead multiple consulting engagements and manage complex assignments in a fast-paced consulting environment.
• Strong expertise in Regulatory & Policy and Power Distribution / DISCOM Power Management Operations, with the ability to translate sector knowledge into actionable consulting solutions.
• Demonstrated experience working with DISCOMs, Electricity Regulatory Commissions, Government bodies, power sector institutions, generators, and other relevant stakeholders.
• In-depth understanding of DISCOM operations, power procurement and portfolio management, regulatory frameworks, tariffs, commercial matters, and emerging policy and regulatory developments.
• Strong project leadership, stakeholder management, mentoring and team management capabilities, with experience managing consulting teams and deliverables.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex concepts and thought leadership clearly to senior stakeholders.
• High level of analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making ability.
• Proven ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in data analysis, reporting, and presentation tools (PowerPoint, Excel, etc.).
• Strong research orientation with the ability to translate insights into compelling client-facing and thought leadership content.

Education and Experience:

• B.E/B. Tech or Equivalent with MBA in relevant field is mandatory.
• Experience in Power Sector Consulting or Working in Discom in Regulatory and Power Management Operations is Mandatory.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in the power sector, with substantial experience in Regulatory & Policy and/or DISCOM Power Management Operations and consulting / advisory assignments.
• Preference will be given to candidates with strong experience working with DISCOMs, regulatory institutions and other power sector stakeholders.

Location:

• Base location shall be Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Open to travel for project execution and management, as required.

Remuneration Structure:

• We offer a motivation based and competitive reward package.