Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

Consulting at Advance Programs is a team sport. This area evaluates your ability to build trust, influence without authority, and collaborate across diverse, global teams.

Be ready to go over:

• Peer-level communication – Engaging with senior leadership and external partners as a trusted advisor.
• Conflict resolution – Navigating disagreements regarding research directions, program timelines, or strategic priorities.
• Cross-functional alignment – Bridging the gap between highly technical research teams and business-focused client stakeholders.

Example scenarios:

• "Describe how you would handle a situation where a Principal Investigator disagrees with your strategic recommendations for program implementation."
• "How do you translate highly complex, technical research findings into a presentation suitable for executive-level board members?"

As a Consultant at Advance Programs, your day-to-day activities will be dynamic, intellectually stimulating, and highly collaborative. You will act as the engine driving our strategic initiatives from concept to completion.

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Program Strategy & Planning: Collaborating with senior leadership, Principal Investigators, and regional lead investigators to define program scopes, set strategic objectives, and build execution roadmaps.
• Research Coordination: Supporting the design and execution of planned research activities, ensuring that methodologies are robust, timelines are respected, and deliverables meet our high standards of quality.
• Client & Stakeholder Advisory: Serving as a key point of contact for external partners, delivering structured updates, translating technical findings, and providing strategic recommendations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working closely with internal research, operations, and management teams to ensure seamless project execution and to foster a collaborative, supportive team environment.
• Deliverable Creation: Drafting high-quality reports, executive briefs, and presentations that synthesize complex program data into clear, actionable strategic narratives.

We look for candidates who bring a unique blend of analytical brilliance, structured thinking, and exceptional interpersonal warmth. To be competitive for the Consultant role, you should meet the following requirements:

• Professional Experience: A strong background in management consulting, strategic program management, or research-driven advisory services. Experience working in global or multi-regional environments is highly valued.
• Methodological Capability: Demonstrated experience designing and executing research projects, ideally in collaboration with academic, scientific, or highly technical stakeholders (such as Principal Investigators).
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to present complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences.
• Problem-Solving Skills: A proven track record of navigating ambiguity, structuring complex scenarios, and delivering high-impact solutions under tight timelines.

Skills Breakdown

• Must-have skills: Structured problem-solving frameworks, qualitative/quantitative research design, stakeholder management, executive presentation creation, and collaborative project management.
• Nice-to-have skills: Experience with specialized research tools, regional language capabilities, or prior exposure to policy and development consulting frameworks.

Q: How difficult is the interview process for the Consultant role? A: Candidates generally describe the difficulty as average but note that the process is thorough and intellectually challenging. You will face structured scenario questions and deep dives into your past experience, meaning preparation is essential to succeed.

Q: What is the company culture like during the interviews? A: The culture is highly collaborative, friendly, and professional. Interviewers aim to make the process feel like a peer-to-peer conversation. They want to see how you think and how you collaborate, rather than trying to trip you up with trick questions.

Q: How should I prepare for the scenario-based questions? A: Practice structuring your answers using clear consulting frameworks. Focus on breaking down the problem, stating your assumptions, walking through your logical steps, and concluding with a clear, actionable recommendation.

Q: Will I meet with regional teams during the process? A: Yes. Depending on the scope of the projects you will be supporting, it is common to meet with regional lead investigators or in-country directors (such as team members in Bangkok or Leeds) to assess your cross-cultural communication and global program management capabilities.

Q: What is the typical timeline from the first interview to an offer? A: While the timeline can vary based on project needs and candidate availability, the process is highly communicative. Recruiters and hiring managers keep candidates well-informed of their status at each stage of the journey.

To ensure you make the best possible impression during your interviews at Advance Programs, keep these practical, insider tips in mind:

• Embrace the conversational tone: Our interviews are designed to feel like a discussion with a coworker. Do not be overly stiff or formal. Engage naturally, ask insightful questions, and treat the interviewer as a collaborative partner in solving the scenarios presented to you.

• Lead with structure: Whether you are answering a behavioral question or a complex case scenario, always structure your thoughts. Use frameworks like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions, and clearly outline your steps when tackling problem-solving scenarios.

• Show comfort with ambiguity: In consulting, project scopes and client requirements can shift rapidly. Demonstrate that you are highly adaptable, comfortable making decisions with incomplete information, and capable of pivoting strategies smoothly when required.

• Do your homework on our global footprint: Be prepared to discuss how you adapt your communication and consulting style when working with international teams, regional leads, and diverse stakeholder groups across different cultural and regulatory landscapes.

The Consultant role at Advance Programs offers an unparalleled opportunity to drive high-impact research and strategic programs on a global scale. By joining our team, you will work alongside brilliant, collaborative professionals—including Principal Investigators and regional leads—to solve complex challenges and deliver outstanding strategic advisory services.

To maximize your chances of success, focus your preparation on mastering structured scenario frameworks, refining your research methodology examples, and practicing a collaborative, peer-like communication style. Demonstrating both your analytical depth and your cultural alignment will set you apart as a top-tier candidate.

The compensation insights above reflect the competitive salary structure offered at Advance Programs. When evaluating this data, consider how your specific regional expertise, years of consulting experience, and specialized research capabilities align with our strategic needs. We look forward to learning more about your unique background and the value you can bring to our teams. Good luck with your preparation, and we hope to welcome you to Advance Programs soon!