Consulting Federal Associate Consultant Herndon

Ready to think boldly, work with some of the world's most recognized brands, and kick-start your career? Welcome to the IBM's Associate Program for university hires.

From day one, you'll collaborate with global clients and contribute to projects that help organizations solve their toughest challenges across digital transformation, cloud strategy, AI adoption, and process redesign - working alongside a global cohort of diverse, ambitious peers. As an Associate, you'll have access to industry-recognized certifications, digital badges, and a minimum of 40 hours of structured learning per year on IBM's AI-driven learning platform - supported by coaches, mentors, and thriving professional communities across practices.

IBM's culture of internal mobility means you'll have the freedom to explore new technologies, industries, and career paths as your interests evolve.

Bring your curiosity. Grow your skills. Build what's next - like an IBMer.

About the Team

In this role, you will join IBM's US Federal team to deliver secure, mission-critical technology solutions for government agencies. You'll work with federal, state, and local clients while developing specialized expertise in government compliance and security standards. This role offers unique career growth in a high-demand sector where your contributions directly impact public services and government missions.

Your role and responsibilities

As a Federal Associate Experience Consultant 2027, you'll work at the intersection of customer experience, business strategy, design, and technology, helping clients transform how they engage with customers and deliver meaningful experiences. You will support and lead Experience Strategy efforts through Insight, Idea, and Impact, uncovering customer insights, defining innovative customer experience strategies, and creating roadmaps that guide successful execution. Leveraging a human-centered approach and a growth mindset, you'll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to identify opportunities for customer-centric innovation and drive measurable business outcomes.

Your primary responsibilities include:

• Support customer experience initiatives through research, data analysis, and insight development to better understand customer needs, behaviors, and pain points.
• Create customer-centered deliverables such as journey maps, personas, and experience recommendations that help improve customer outcomes and business value.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to contribute to ideation sessions, workshops, and experience transformation projects using IBM design thinking methodologies.
• Communicate research findings and customer insights to stakeholders, helping inform decision-making and promote customer-centric best practices.

These positions are anticipated to start in 2027.

Candidates must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Federal security clearance while in IBM Consulting-Federal.

To give yourself the best opportunity for success, we advise applying only to roles that align with your skills and experience, rather than applying broadly across all entry-level positions. You’ll receive a status update email for each application, so be sure to check your IBM Careers account regularly — it’s the best way to get a centralized view of which roles you have active applications against.

The below requirements are a guideline. If you have transferable skills we encourage you to apply to this role.

Required education

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred education

None

Required technical and professional expertise

Ability to gather and analyze customer feedback through interviews, surveys, and other research methods to understand user needs and behaviors.

Knowledge of design thinking principles and experience creating customer-centered…