Assistant Manager: People Consulting

Client Industry: Various industries depending on client portfolio
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng (Hybrid)
Division: Consulting – People Consulting
Reports to: Manager / Senior Manager – People Consulting

1. About EY

EY is a global leader in Assurance, Tax, Strategy and Transactions, and Consulting services. Our purpose — Building a better working world — inspires us to help clients, people and communities thrive. We combine deep industry knowledge with advanced technology and global perspectives to deliver long‑term value.. Our purpose is underpinned by our commitment to inclusion, sustainability, innovation and exceptional client service.

2. The Opportunity – People Consulting

EY’s People Consulting team helps organisations respond to transformative forces such as digital disruption, workforce shifts, culture change, leadership expectations and new operating models. The practice places Humans@Center of transformation and provides capabilities across Workforce Advisory, Organisation Design, Behaviour Change, Leadership Enablement, Employee Engagement and Talent solutions. The team helps clients design and implement people‑centric strategies that enhance organisational effectiveness, employee experience and long‑term value.

As an Assistant Manager, you will support project delivery, partnering closely with clients to shape and deliver people‑centric transformation solutions.

3. Role Description

The Assistant Manager: People Consulting plays a key role in supporting the design and delivery of complex people‑related transformation projects. Combining Consulting discipline, people insights and EY’s proprietary methodologies, the role contributes to solving clients’ workforce challenges across capabilities such as Workforce Strategy, Organisation Design, Cultural Transformation, Change Management, Learning, HR Transformation, Talent Management, Reward and People Analytics..

You will collaborate with Managers, Senior Managers and cross‑functional EY teams to deliver integrated solutions, leveraging frameworks and tools used globally across EY’s People Consulting capability. You will support client engagement by guiding more junior team members, ensuring quality, managing deliverables, performing analysis, and shaping insights that influence leadership decision‑making. This role is suited for professionals eager to deepen expertise in areas such as Workforce Transformation, Change Management, Organisation Design and Culture, while building a pathway to management roles within EY.

4. Key Responsibilities

• Support project delivery across People Consulting capabilities such as areas such as Workforce Transformation, Change Management, Organisation Design and Culture
• Conduct analyses, assessments, stakeholder mapping, interviews, workshops and research to develop insights that inform client solutions
• Develop client‑ready deliverables including reports, frameworks, and communication artefacts
• Support project management activities such as planning, resource coordination, progress tracking, risk identification and quality assurance
• Coach junior team members to develop analytical, consulting and communication capabilities
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary EY teams to deliver integrated transformation solutions
• Contribute to business development activities

5. Skills & Attributes for Success

• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and critical‑thinking capability
• Excellent communication, facilitation and presentation skills
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision, as well as the ability to work effectively within and across teams
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship‑building abilities
• High attention to detail
• Proactive, adaptable and able to work in fast‑paced environments
• Commitment to quality, collaboration and continuous learning
• Strong business acumen

6. Technical Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Industrial Psychology, Business Management, or related discipline
• A postgraduate qualification is advantageous
• 5-6 years’ experience in People Consulting or related fields
• Experience in at least one of the following:
• Workforce Strategy
• Organisation Design
• Cultural Transformation
• Change Management
• Learning
• HR Transformation
• Talent Management
• Reward
• People Analytics
• Strong project management capability, including agile delivery
• Proficiency in MS Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)