Consultant - Defense & Security - Campus 2026 with Security Clearance
This entry-level consulting role supports government clients in defense and security by assisting in project and program management, performance evaluation, risk analysis, and process improvement to help achieve strategic objectives. The position involves client interaction, data analysis, policy development, and contributing to business growth activities, requiring strong analytical and communication skills along with the ability to obtain a federal security clearance.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Consultancy.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
What You’ll Do
This is an entry-level consulting role supporting government and public‑sector clients on program and project management, policy, and operational improvements. You'll work on small teams (and sometimes independently) to deliver actionable recommendations and high-quality deliverables for mission‑critical programs.
- Assist clients in designing, launching, and improving projects and programs to meet strategic goals.
- Help define, develop, and implement performance metrics and reporting to measure program effectiveness.
- Analyze program and project risks and support development and monitoring of mitigations.
- Document and evaluate business processes and recommend improvements.
- Apply analytical, problem‑solving, and reporting techniques to synthesize findings and support decisions.
- Produce clear client communications, including memos, issue papers, briefings, and presentations.
- Conduct research, collect and analyze data, and produce models/visualizations to inform recommendations.
- Support policy and procedure analysis and refinement across programs and operations.
- Contribute to proposal development, internal initiatives, learning materials, and recruiting efforts.
What You’ll Need
- US Citizenship required (ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust, Secret, or higher federal security clearance).
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree completion expected between fall 2025 and summer 2026 from an accredited college or university.
- Strong analytical skills and clear written and verbal communication.
- Ability to work in teams, prioritize tasks, and adapt to changing project needs.
Nice to Have
- Degrees/backgrounds preferred: Public Policy, Government, International Studies, Accounting, Finance, Business, IT, Computer Science, Audit Readiness, Data Science, Communications, STEM majors.
- Active US security clearance (SECRET, TOP SECRET, TS/SCI, with or without polygraph) is a plus.
- Familiarity with project management phases (Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring, Closure).
- Experience producing high-impact deliverables in fast-paced environments.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to create/edit technical and non-technical written products and graphical presentations.
- Client-facing experience and comfort participating in meetings and briefings.
- Rapid learner with the ability to synthesize information from multiple sources.
- Interest in consulting careers supporting national security or other public-sector missions.
Compensation & Benefits
Estimated salary: $116,811 per year (estimated by the original listing).
Benefits include (examples; actual package determined by the hiring employer):
- Medical, prescription, dental & vision insurance
- Paid sick time and company holidays
- Eligibility for discretionary incentive bonus (role-dependent)
- Parental leave and adoption assistance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Basic and supplemental life insurance
- HSA / FSA options
- Short‑term & long‑term disability
- Student loan paydown and tuition reimbursement
- Professional development, skills training, and certification support
- Employee referral program, corporate events, and community outreach
- Emergency back‑up childcare and mobility stipend
About the Employer
This role is posted on behalf of a confidential client operating in the consultancy industry. The confidential client provides management, technology, and risk consulting services to public‑sector and commercial organizations and supports government missions that require high standards of integrity, security, and technical competency.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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