best education consulting jobs

K–12 Education

The state of education is a long way from where it needs to be to promote high-quality learning. BCG works with K–12 education systems to improve educational outcomes, ensure equity, and prepare students for tomorrow.

To help students master the skills necessary for success in a rapidly changing job market, K–12 education systems must continuously ensure the quality of their teaching workforce and equip schools and teachers with improved curricula—often in the face of budget cuts. The pandemic only heightened these challenges, disrupting K–12 education around the world and exposing deep inequities.

At the same time, however, innovative technologies and approaches are creating new opportunities for K–12 education. Personalized learning, digital tools , and so-called wraparound support programs—with an emphasis on nutrition, after-school tutoring, health and mental health services, and college preparation—are delivering individualized student experiences and ensuring that children have the necessary support to learn and thrive.

BCG’s K–12 Transformation Framework

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Our K–12 transformation framework helps schools rethink how they deliver K–12 education, by combining the drivers that directly impact student outcomes with the enabling elements, such as personalized learning, that create the right context for change. Our approach defines and enables the advances needed to effectively implement 21st century learning and promote student achievement and graduation rates.

Our framework brings together everyone in the local K-12 education ecosystem—school operators, businesses, local and national partners—and creates a team that is committed to improving student outcomes. It then incorporates five elements to create the right context for change:

• Effective Leadership and Management. Establish programs to upgrade the quality of K–12 education leadership in school districts and schools.
• Sufficient Resources. Provide adequate funding and robust physical and technological infrastructure for schools.
• Strong Accountability. Develop policies to hold states, districts, schools, and teachers accountable for student outcomes.
• Rigorous Standards. Set rigorous K–12 education standards and requirements (such as Common Core).
• Sophisticated Data and Measurement Systems. Create reporting systems that enable real-time decision making and accountability.

Our K–12 Consulting Work with Clients

Riyadh Schools in Saudi Arabia used BCG’s closed-loop instructional system to transform itself from a traditional pen-and-paper school to a 21st-century leader in education. The school quickly realized significant improvement in student engagement and attendance, with 95% of all teachers meeting technology-integration targets during initial assessments.

In India, BCG helped the state leadership of Haryana improve learning outcomes for students while realizing a 15% budgetary savings within its 15,000 schools. BCG delivered a multiyear Quality Improvement Programme for the state that has turned around once-declining literacy and numeracy rates and become a model for other regions.

Our Insights on K-12 Education

What a Multicountry Study Reveals About K–12 Education Models for Students with Disabilities

An analysis of 13 developed countries’ experiences with three education models for students with disabilities offers practical guidance for policymakers and educators.

Why Children Are Unsafe in Cyberspace

The risks children face online are growing, and the current responses aren’t nearly enough. Fixing the problem will require a comprehensive global strategy.

Education as a Catalyst for Climate Progress

Education is a powerful means of spurring behavioral change and collective action, cultivating green skills, ensuring a just transition to a sustainable economy, and building communities’ adaptive capacity.

Meet Our Experts in K–12 Consulting

Managing Director & Partner

Managing Director & Senior Partner; Global Leader, Education, Employment, and Welfare

Managing Director & Senior Partner

Washington, DC

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Social Impact

Public Sector

McKinsey is committed to improving lifelong learning opportunities and outcomes around the globe by collaborating with clients on their top-of-mind issues while always keeping equity at the forefront. Our teams include former teachers, institutional leaders, policymakers, and researchers with deep expertise across all levels of education from early childhood and K-12, to higher education and workforce development.

We serve education institutions and systems, governments, philanthropists, investors, service providers, and vocational training providers, complementing our hands-on work with original research to allow us to better understand the sector’s toughest challenges, and build new capabilities to help solve them.

How we help clients

Early childhood education and K-12 school systems

Higher education

Workforce development

Investors, philanthropists, and service and technology providers

Strategy and implementation, organizational and performance transformation, education venture building, partnerships and mergers, examples of our work.

Launching a large-scale online learning initiative for a leading public university system

Partnering with UNESCO to help school systems respond to COVID-19

Good to great transformation for a flagship state university

Featured insights.

How COVID-19 caused a global learning crisis

COVID-19 and education: The lingering effects of unfinished learning

How to transform higher-education institutions for the long term

Reimagining higher education in the United States

Jake Bryant

Partnerseattle.

Wan-Lae Cochran

Partnerwashington dc.

Felipe Child

Partnerbogotá.

Senior Knowledge ExpertBay Area

Senior PartnerMiami

Jonathan Law

Senior partner.

PartnerKuala Lumpur

Duwain Pinder

Partnerohio - columbus.

Jimmy Sarakatsannis

Senior partnerwashington dc.

Dirk Schmautzer

Partnerdubai.

McKinsey’s work for social sector, healthcare, and public entities

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Educational Consultant Jobs: Transitioning Out of the Classroom

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Educational consultant jobs are a great fit for teachers transitioning out of the classroom. One of the most common questions I get asked is “what is educational consulting?” This blog will help you understand what you need to know and some next steps to help you if this is a path you are interested in.

If you need help leaving the classroom, check out the  Teacher Career Coach Course .  This step-by-step guide has helped thousands with a transition from teaching. Save time and get support with every step of picking a new path, rewriting your resume, and answering tricky interview questions.

If you are a teacher looking for a career outside of the classroom but still want to remain in education, one successful career path is becoming an educational consultant. Teachers often flourish in these positions because the work needed combines their teaching skills, administrative skills, and presentation skills. Educational consultants do a wide range of duties, sometimes providing qualitative advice on policies and procedures for companies. Some educational consultant jobs are similar to the duties of a professional development training position, training schools and districts. Educational consultant jobs, simply put, are looking for experts in education and job duties will vary depending on who the employer is.

Educational Consultant Jobs: I s this the right career for you?

A large majority of educational consultants work as freelancers. They reach out to school districts on their own and book training opportunities. They charge for full day PD packages or an hourly rate to help with onboarding new teachers, etc. Schools have an available amount of funding that they can use for this type of work.

There are companies that hire teachers specifically as educational consultants to train on specific trainings for districts. They will hire the top candidates to conduct PD (and often allow current teachers to do this as a lucrative side-gig) and fly them around the country to host trainings.

When working as an educational consultant freelancer, you don’t have to only work as a professional development trainer for districts. There are also educational consultant jobs within education companies. But you’ll need to have everything in place in order to start approaching companies as a freelancer. Click here if you want to learn more about freelancing for teachers .

An educational consultant’s job is to provide guidance on curriculum, resources, and teaching styles. Educational consultants make decisions and improvements in school systems, corporations, and home-based settings as well. An educational consultant job may be a full time career change or a part-time or freelance deal to start. This, of course, will depend on your personal goals – long and short term.

Skills for Success

First, teachers with an eye the big picture and finding innovative ways to solve problems have an aptitude for many of the skills needed for educational consultant jobs. You’ll want to showcase your subject-matter expertise with pedagogy and best practices.

The suggested skills and certifications for educational consultant jobs include: competence in researching, reporting, and analyzing data; experience or aptitude monitoring teachers to offer constructive suggestions; and knowledge of state and local rules regarding curriculum requirements.

You’ll want to create high quality presentations in order to deliver the information to clients or school districts. You can create a branded look by using a free program like Canva.

A Key Skill For Success: Networking

Networking is also important, especially for educational consultants who are working in a freelancing capacity. You’ll want to stay in with others who have ins at companies or districts they may be able to refer your services to. You’ll also want to attend conferences to meet others in your field.

If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, then an independent educational consultant job, where you are hired by parents or schools, is an option. It can give you the freedom to set your own schedule and work in any area you choose. This will take quite a bit of research and networking to get started. But, once you build a robust set of contacts to rely on, you’ll find plenty of opportunities.

Do Your Research

While you are on the job search the internet is a useful and valuable tool, especially Google. You can start by searching for educational companies or school districts near you. This should provide you with a helpful list of companies and school districts that are already looking for consultants. You will be surprised at how many companies are in need of a person with the skills of a teacher.

You can research other educational consultants to see what types of packages they are offering to help you prepare your own.

Where to Find Educational Consultant Jobs

Online job boards, such as LinkedIn , Glassdoor and Indeed , will also help to find open educational consultant jobs. Plus, you can use these sites to find additional information and reviews on topics. Such as: growth potential, employee profiles, promotions after 10 years, etc. This will help you decide if a company is a good fit and worth pursuing. 

What to Look for in a Company

Educational consultants are in demand in companies large and small, and there are pros and cons to both.

Larger companies have more name recognition, stability, organizational impact, but are harder to move up the corporate ladder. They will often have more hiring power so educational consultant positions may be more available at a larger education company.

Smaller companies are more flexible with job openings and growth potential variety. Employees will also be able to take advantage of opportunities to take on multiple roles and learn new skills. But a smaller company is less stable, especially if it is a start-up. Educational consultant jobs here may end up becoming much more long-term.

Here’s a helpful tip:

If you love the idea of working for yourself, sign up f or educational conferences as a speaker and pick a subject you are passionate about teaching. This is a great networking opportunity where you can meet companies or districts that may hire you. Meet people in your community with connections and contacts that may prove to be useful while building your client base and offer to do the same presentation at their school or district.

Be Willing to Take a Chance

Finally, I’ll share a story about how I got into educational consulting – by taking a chance. After I’d left the classroom, I stumbled across an educational consulting job with a software company. This job opening was amazing because I am passionate about technology in education.

The job was training teachers on how to effectively implement technology in the classroom. My classroom experience gave me a huge advantage over the other applicants. This educational consultant job had amazing perks. “ But what’s the catch ? ? ” I thought.

I’ve created a Teacher Career Coach podcast episode where I talk about my role as an educational consultant .

When opportunity knocks, don’t be afraid to answer the door. Transitioning out of the classroom is a big step. It can be overwhelmingly scary to leave a career that you once thought would bring you to retirement. But taking that step into an educational consultant job or any ot her career outside the classroom could impact your life in ways you never imagined.

Help for soon-to-be Former Teachers

This is proof positive that there are plenty of opportunities out there. Companies are looking for the talent and the skills teachers specialize in, including jobs as an educational consultant in particular.

If the classroom is no longer your cup of tea, there are plenty of opportunities and resources available to you. You can find the right job to match your skills, just like I did. Because of this, I created a course to help walk teachers through transitioning out of the classroom. The Teacher Career Coach Course has helped thousands of teachers transition out of the classroom.

This complete course will walk you through all the steps to transitioning out of the classroom. For example: identifying the positions you are the most qualified for, writing your resume, network with the right people to get your foot in the door, answer tricky interview questions, and more! We’ve helped thousands of teachers begin their transition. Are you ready?

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How do you write a CV for your first job?

Garret maher, executive director of the global undergraduate awards, shares his top tips for building a strong cv for work after university.

Garret Maher

As an undergraduate student, you are probably thinking that the last three or four years at university have just flown by. You have been working, studying, burning the midnight oil, partying and generally having the best time of your life.

For some, your university experience might not be over yet, if you plan to do some postgraduate studies. For others, it can be an anxious and stressful time coming to the end of your years at university. You might be preparing for your final exams, while also beginning to think about what to do next.

Over the last few years, you might have had the chance to work part time. But now you might be starting to consider applying to your first “proper” job.

Here are my top tips for building a strong CV.  

1. Review your existing CV  

The first thing I would suggest is to open your current CV. Check that all the information is up to date, clear and concise and, most importantly, make sure it shows all the experience you have that is relevant for the type of jobs you are going to apply for.  

2. Compare qualifications  

Look at the job role, what is required of the applicant and the qualifications they are looking for. If these details are all relevant to you, revisit your CV and ensure that those required qualifications are clearly listed.  

3. Identify less quantifiable skills  

Look at real advertised jobs in your field to get an idea of what recruitment teams are looking for. A quick glance at a few graduate roles will not only highlight qualifications you can list on your CV but also less quantifiable skills. These are equally as important, as they will help you satisfy the companies’ requirements when you apply.

For example, one company might be looking for someone who wants to start their career in sales and business development. They will need someone who is a clear communicator, personable, outgoing and professional, someone who also has a strong work ethic and shows good stamina in the face of rejection.

How to boost your career prospects as a university student  Tips for looking for a job How to juggle university with part-time work 

4. Assess your skills  

Ask yourself which of these skills you have. Are you good at getting your point across in a discussion? Did you do some presentations at university? How were they received? Are you good at starting conversations, talkative and personable?

Even if you don’t have sales experience, you can use other experiences and jobs to show that you have these skills.  

You could mention what you did during a final-year project. Perhaps you worked in a team, gave a group presentation, received an A grade and so on. Or you might have been involved in a society or sports team where you showed examples of these skills.  

5. Stand out  

You want to try your best to stand out and gain the attention of a recruiter when you send in your CV. If an employer gets 50 job applications for just one job, then at best they will spend a few minutes glancing at all the applicants and choosing the best ones.  

Make sure you show that you meet all the criteria and have an interest in the role. This will put you in a strong position against other applicants.  

Do your research on the company and make sure that you make it very clear that you know exactly what the role involves and how you can contribute to it.

6. Complete a final review  

Now that you have done your research and edited your CV, do a final review. Make sure that your spelling and grammar are correct. Ensure you have included all the relevant information, such as dates and job titles where relevant, and your contact information is clearly included.  

7. Repeat  

Each time you find a job in which you are interested, it’s important to repeat this process each time and tailor your CV for each different role you apply for. This way you will have a strong CV that is relevant for every role you apply to. Not only will that make sure your CV is strong, but it will also show you have done your research into each job individually.  

This process can sometimes be quite daunting, because you think to yourself “do I have the right qualifications and the experience that an employer wants?”

Believe in yourself – you’ve come this far and getting the job is the next natural step.  

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