Who is an Implementation Consultant?
The term “implementation consultant” may be interchanged with the job title, “Project Manager.”
Very often, business projects are overwhelmingly massive. In order to keep these projects cost-effective, timely and organized, large businesses hire an “implementation consultant.”
An “implementation consultant” is the main “Go To” person on projects with multiple phases and characteristics.
For example, an implementation consultant is necessary when a business decides it has a need for a major upgrade to their computer system.
What Does an Implementation Consultant Do?
Unlike a project manager who may oversee startup projects, the implementation consultant spends a good deal of time communicating with major individuals in business management such as:
- CEOs
- CFOs
- COOs
- Division managers and supervisors
- Design, mechanical and/or project engineers
The specific type of communication from an implementation consultant is usually founded upon the consultant’s project design. This requires the implementation consultant to have a full understanding of goals of the business owner in relation to proposed projects.
Skill Set Requirements
An implementation consultant must create a project design as nearly flawless as possible. Government agencies often hire implementation consultants to manage huge engineering projects, such as repairs to various types of infrastructure. These include:
- Roads
- Government buildings
- Dams
- Bridges
In the U.S., the Department of the Interior, Department of Engineering and Appropriations Committee all provide input to an implementation consultant so costs can be kept under budgetary constraints.
For these public service jobs, the skills required include leadership, relationship building, communication, and problem-solving.
Implementation Consulting for the IT Industry
It is easy to see why there would be a high demand for implementation consultants in the IT industry. For example, a major overhaul of a business’s computer system in several business branches that must meet today’s ever-evolving demands of clients and vendors.
Implementation consulting would naturally require several factors:
- Strict attention to project design
- Diagnoses of problems
- Resolution of problems related to business operations and systems compatibility
- Cost and expedient implementation to avert delays in daily business transacted.
Clearly, the job of an implementation consultant is complex and requires a large number of approaches and purpose.
The actual complexities occur with “implementation” and do not imply consulting in a generic sense.
Is it Worth it?
The individuals who choose implementation consulting as a career are fully aware of the challenges they will meet. They excel in multi-tasking and interpersonal skills in order to achieve the goals of the hiring business.
Ideally, an implementation consultant in IT will be able to show how their design, planning, and implementation has improved efficiency in business operations.
Salaries for highly skilled implementation consultants depend on education, skills, and experience. A middle-level implementation consulting job applicant can expect a salary range of about $75,000 annually. An experienced implementation consulting job may pay upwards of $90,000 annually, depending on location and industry. Industries include:
- Healthcare
- Compliance Safety and Training
- Computer security
- Public service
- Infrastructure for business and government projects
Note that in addition to jobs in implementation consulting in the U.S. the job applicant should be aware of job opportunities on the international level.
