What does an organizational consultant do?
An organizational consultant specializes in recommending the best practices to optimize an organization's human resources and overall business operations. Their responsibilities typically revolve around performing extensive research and analysis to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the organization, gathering and analyzing data to identify solutions for problem areas, researching new business opportunities, assessing risks, crafting action plans, and devising programs to train the workforce. Furthermore, an organizational consultant may establish guidelines and suggest new policies, all in adherence to the company's vision and mission.
Organizational consultant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real organizational consultant resumes:
- Design and manage a state-of-the-art web-base elearning portal; recognize for creativity and ongoing content and adopt as corporate-wide model.
- Use of qualitative/quantitative research methods to evaluate program effectiveness and ROI.
- Design system architecture, support radio module selection, and perform link budget analysis for embed Bluetooth and ultra-wideband wearable applications.
- Facilitate CRM training to sales team members across the country.
- Consult with clients to design, build and deploy HCM & CRM projects to meet business needs.
- Deliver recommendations and corrective actions to VA and Deloitte leadership.
- Redefine and market Deloitte's methodology for engaging client employees in an organization's sustainability strategy.
- Develop and deliver 30 plus web-base, virtual and instructor-le training for Peoplesoft software enhancements.
- Develop and facilitate performance management initiatives including defining accountability and measuring results.
Organizational consultant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Organizational Consultants are proficient in Organizational Effectiveness, Project Management, and Human Resources. They’re also known for soft skills such as Problem-solving skills, Time-management skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Organizational Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Organizational Effectiveness, 13%
Developed strategic plans and diversity initiatives that ultimately impacted overall organizational effectiveness.
- Project Management, 9%
Lead communication and organization change efforts with multiple international and national corporations, largely working within the Project Management Organization.
- Human Resources, 8%
Conducted organizational risks assessment and developed end-user support model for transformation to a university-wide Financial and Human Resources ERP system.
- Organizational Development, 7%
Provided organizational development consultation to nonprofit agency.
- Organizational Change Management, 6%
Participated on an Organizational Change Management Project for Cervecer a Cuahutemoc-Moctezuma (Heineken Mexico).
- Process Improvement, 6%
Composed and presented power-point presentation highlighting recommendations for talent development, business process improvements, and expected value over time.
Common skills that an organizational consultant uses to do their job include "organizational effectiveness," "project management," and "human resources." You can find details on the most important organizational consultant responsibilities below.
Problem-solving skills. The most essential soft skill for an organizational consultant to carry out their responsibilities is problem-solving skills. This skill is important for the role because "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." Additionally, an organizational consultant resume shows how their duties depend on problem-solving skills: "worked with clients to improve organizational productivity and efficiency by identifying business process opportunities and developing tailored solutions. "
Time-management skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling organizational consultant duties is time-management skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." According to an organizational consultant resume, here's how organizational consultants can utilize time-management skills in their job responsibilities: "project management: ensure change initiatives meet objectives on time, and on budget by increasing employee adoption and usage. "
Interpersonal skills. organizational consultants are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to organizational consultant responsibilities, because "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." An organizational consultant resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "facilitated and designed custom learning programs for interpersonal communication, career management and performance management. "
Analytical skills. For certain organizational consultant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "analytical skills." The day-to-day duties of an organizational consultant rely on this skill, as "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what organizational consultants do: "designed interview protocols, facilitated visioning sessions with key stakeholders, and created a swot analysis. "
Communication skills. A commonly-found skill in organizational consultant job descriptions, "communication skills" is essential to what organizational consultants do. Organizational consultant responsibilities rely on this skill because "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." You can also see how organizational consultant duties rely on communication skills in this resume example: "developed communications strategy to support process/performance improvement effort. "
The three companies that hire the most organizational consultants are:
- Booz Allen Hamilton18 organizational consultants jobs
- Delta Dental Ins4 organizational consultants jobs
- Cerner
2 organizational consultants jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable organizational consultant resume templates
Build a professional organizational consultant resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your organizational consultant resume.
Compare different organizational consultants
Organizational consultant vs. Developer/consultant
A developer/consultant is responsible for developing system databases and applications, depending on the business' needs and clients' specifications. Developers/consultants design their services to manage optimal performance and maximize productivity for timely submission of projects, ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty. They also handle clients' inquiries and concerns, informing them about necessary adjustments to improve strategic procedures and processes. A developer/consultant must have excellent communication and analytical skills, as well as extensive experience with the technology industry.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between organizational consultants and developer/consultant. For instance, organizational consultant responsibilities require skills such as "organizational effectiveness," "client facing," "human resources," and "organizational development." Whereas a developer/consultant is skilled in "java," "javascript," "hr," and "microservices." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Developer/consultants tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $101,340. In contrast, organizational consultants make the biggest average salary, $92,872, in the energy industry.On average, developer/consultants reach similar levels of education than organizational consultants. Developer/consultants are 3.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Organizational consultant vs. Business analyst-consultant
A business analyst-consultant is responsible for overseeing the project management and ensuring that the operations meet the agreed-upon project deliverables. Business analyst-consultants closely coordinate with the clients for their specifications and requirements, monitoring the resources and processes for the project completion, and aligning those to the clients' budget goals. A business analyst-consultant helps the development team on strategizing techniques for brand promotions with minimal costs with maximum quality and productivity. They should have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on identifying business opportunities to drive revenues and increase profitability.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that organizational consultant responsibilities requires skills like "organizational effectiveness," "human resources," "organizational development," and "employee engagement." But a business analyst-consultant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "strong analytical," "business analysts," "hr," and "user acceptance."
Business analyst-consultants earn a higher average salary than organizational consultants. But business analyst-consultants earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $105,940. Additionally, organizational consultants earn the highest salaries in the energy with average pay of $92,872 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Business analyst-consultants tend to reach similar levels of education than organizational consultants. In fact, they're 3.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Organizational consultant vs. Business consultant
A business consultant is an individual who works directly with business owners on developing a business plan and identifying their marketing needs. Business consultants offer business owners a wide range of services, such as supplementing existing staff, provide expertise in a specific market, and influencing other people. To increase revenue in business, business consultants should have experience success with the previous business owners. Business consultants must also have a bachelor's degree in business management and received years of field training.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from organizational consultant resumes include skills like "organizational effectiveness," "organizational development," "employee engagement," and "performance management," whereas a business consultant is more likely to list skills in "strong analytical," "analytics," "healthcare," and "tableau. "
Business consultants earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $89,294. Organizational consultants earn the highest pay from the energy industry, with an average salary of $92,872.Most business consultants achieve a lower degree level compared to organizational consultants. For example, they're 5.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Organizational consultant vs. Healthcare consultant
Utilizing their expertise in the healthcare industry, a healthcare consultant specializes in conducting extensive research and analysis to devise strategies for optimal workplace operations. They typically coordinate with different departments to gather data, identify strengths and weaknesses in existing systems, develop plans to improve particular areas, propose budgets and business plans, and recommend measures to optimize processes. Moreover, a healthcare consultant must produce progress reports and presentations to clients, advise alternatives, and implement new and existing policies and regulations.
Types of organizational consultant
Updated January 8, 2025
