Senior Manager/Associate Director - Advisory/Consulting) - Aerospace & Defense

Role & responsibilities:

Consulting Delivery & Project Management:

- Manage end-to-end execution of consulting and advisory projects, ensuring delivery within timelines, quality standards, and client expectations.

- Coordinate with internal research, analytics, and domain teams to ensure smooth project execution and resource alignment.

- Develop project plans, timelines, trackers, and governance mechanisms for effective engagement management.

- Monitor project progress, identify risks/issues proactively, and drive timely resolution.

- Ensure high-quality deliverables through structured reviews, data validation, and insight-driven storytelling.

- Lead client communication for project updates, feedback incorporation, milestone reviews, and final presentations.

- Support primary and secondary research activities, including interview planning, questionnaire development, and insight synthesis, develop market forecast models, scenario planning, technology roadmaps, research and consulting deliverables.

- Translate research findings into actionable business recommendations and strategic insights for clients.

- Manage multiple concurrent projects while maintaining strong attention to detail and adherence to deadlines.

- Mentor junior analysts/associates and support capability building within the team.

Sales / Pre-Sales Support:

- Support, drive demonstrations of strategic and growth intelligence AI platforms developed by MarketsandMarkets, review and present AI Deep reports to customers, manage customer queries and objections.

- Support business development teams in identifying and qualifying new consulting opportunities across target industries and accounts.

- Collaborate with consulting leaders and sales teams to develop compelling proposals, RFP/RFI responses, capability decks, and statement of work (SOW) documents.

- Conduct secondary research and market intelligence to build client-specific insights, industry trends, competitive benchmarking, and strategic hypotheses for proposals.

- Participate in client discussions, requirement gathering calls, and solution scoping discussions.

- Develop market opportunity assessments, growth strategy frameworks, competitive landscaping, and customer segmentation analyses to support client pursuits.

- Work closely with internal stakeholders to create differentiated consulting solutions aligned with client objectives.

- Assist in preparing commercial estimates, effort planning, timelines, and resource allocation for proposed engagements.

- Contribute to account mining initiatives by identifying whitespace opportunities and potential consulting themes within existing client accounts.

- Maintain repository of reusable proposal content, credentials, case studies, and consulting assets.

Preferred candidate profile:

- MBA / masters degree in marketing, Business Analytics, International Business, or related disciplines.

- 10 to 15 years of experience in management consulting, market research, advisory, growth or strategy consulting within Aerospace and Defense domain.

- Strong understanding of disruptive technologies, trends, innovations, industry shifts, emerging business models, regional dynamics, geo-political conflicts, in one or more of the following domains- military, unmanned systems, space & satellites, advanced air mobility, commercial / digital aviation, marine.

- Strong experience in proposal development, consulting sales support, and project management.

- Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and structured thinking abilities.

- Strong proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, and business storytelling. Proficiency in leveraging AI powered tools and technologies for research, analysis, content development, and workflow optimization will be considered an added advantage.

- Ability to synthesize large volumes of information into clear strategic insights.

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience interacting with global clients.

- Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.