Key Insights
- Founded in 1929: Ecorys is one of Europe's oldest research-based consultancies, with over 95 years of experience advising governments, international institutions, and public-sector clients across 150+ countries.
- Mission-Driven Culture: Ecorys is an employee-owned firm focused on positive societal impact. Work here spans climate policy, transport infrastructure, international development, and EU institutional advisory work.
- Interview Process: Ecorys uses a structured hiring process that typically includes a written case assessment alongside behavioral interviews. Preparation is key, even for research-oriented consulting roles.
Ecorys is a world-class research-based consultancy that helps governments, international institutions, and public agencies make a positive impact on society. Founded in the Netherlands in 1929, Ecorys specializes in economic, social, and spatial development, delivering research, program management, and communications services to clients in over 150 countries. With more than 600 staff operating from offices across Europe, Asia, and Africa, the firm is a trusted partner for organizations tackling some of the world's most pressing policy challenges.
Unlike traditional commercial management consulting firms, Ecorys sits at the intersection of policy research and practical advisory work. Its client base is primarily public sector, including the European Commission, national governments, development agencies, and multilateral organizations such as the World Bank. If you are drawn to consulting with real societal purpose and want to build expertise in areas like climate policy, transport infrastructure, or social program evaluation, Ecorys is a firm worth knowing.
Firm Key Stats
| Website | www.ecorys.com |
| Headquarters | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Employees | 600+ |
| Offices | 15+ offices across Europe, Africa, and Asia |
| Worldwide Managing Partner | Roelof-Jan Molemaker, Managing Director (Netherlands) |
| Annual Revenue | EUR 100M+ |
Firm Careers
An Ecorys career is a strong fit for candidates who want to make a real difference through evidence-based policy work. The firm is employee-owned, which means it operates with a long-term mindset and genuine investment in its people. Staff work on complex, multi-country projects for clients like the European Commission, national governments, and international development organizations. The consulting skills you build here, including structured analysis, stakeholder communication, and policy evaluation, translate directly into career advancement. If you are also considering broader consulting preparation, the Black Belt program is a resource many consultants use to sharpen analytical frameworks that apply across firm types, including research and policy consultancies like Ecorys.
Key benefits of an Ecorys career include flexible working arrangements, strong professional development support, access to cutting-edge research projects, and a culture that is genuinely collaborative. The firm operates across 30+ languages, which creates meaningful opportunities for international work. Competitive salaries, share ownership opportunities, pension contributions, and ample training are also part of the package.
One realistic consideration: Ecorys is not a traditional stepping stone to MBB (McKinsey, Bain, and BCG). Its focus on public-sector advisory work differs from commercial strategy work at those firms. That said, Ecorys careers build deep policy expertise, strong analytical skills, and international experience that translates well into roles at development organizations, government agencies, think tanks, or senior in-house strategy positions.
Firm Internship
Ecorys accepts interns across several of its offices, particularly in Rotterdam, Brussels, London, and other European locations. Internships are primarily open to university students and recent graduates from disciplines including economics, public policy, development studies, environmental science, and social sciences. The firm regularly partners with universities across the Netherlands, UK, Belgium, and other European countries to bring in early-career talent.
Internship durations vary by office and project, but most run between three and six months. They are typically structured around live project work, meaning interns contribute directly to research tasks, data analysis, report drafting, and stakeholder engagement. This gives you real exposure to the kinds of assignments full-time consultants work on daily. To apply, check the Ecorys careers portal at careers.ecorys.com for speculative and listed intern vacancies by office.
Firm Jobs
Current Ecorys job openings span consultant, senior consultant, and principal consultant roles across practice areas including resilient economies, mobility and transport, and international development. The firm also recruits for project management, communications, and grant management roles. Most open positions are based in Rotterdam, Brussels, London, Warsaw, and other European hubs. To browse live Ecorys openings and other consulting roles, visit the MC Job Board. You can also apply directly through the Ecorys careers portal at careers.ecorys.com.
Practice Areas
Ecorys organizes its work into two broad service lines: Advise and Support. Within those, the firm covers a wide range of practice areas aligned with major societal and policy challenges.
- Policy formulation and strategy development
- Qualitative and quantitative research
- Impact assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and value for money
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning
- Technical assistance and policy implementation
- Secretariat set-up and management
- Training, learning, and capacity building
- Full-cycle grant management
- Event design and management
- Campaigns, awareness-raising, and public diplomacy
- Editorial and creative services
- Website and database development
Industries
Ecorys works across a broad set of industries, all primarily within the public and social policy space. Its sector expertise reflects the major challenges facing governments and international institutions today.
- Climate, energy, and environment
- Regions and cities
- Resilient economies
- Transport, infrastructure, and mobility
- Public finance and governance
- Security, justice, and migration
- Sustainable agriculture and food systems
- Health, healthcare, and wellbeing
- People, communities, and society
- Education, employment, and skills
Ecorys Locations
Ecorys has a strong European footprint with its global headquarters in Rotterdam and a significant presence in the UK and Belgium. The firm also has offices across Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in Africa and Asia. For a full interactive map of all locations, visit ecorys.com/our-offices.
- Rotterdam, Netherlands (Global Headquarters)
- Brussels, Belgium
- London, United Kingdom
- Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Leeds, United Kingdom
- Warsaw, Poland
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Zagreb, Croatia
- Madrid, Spain
- Rome, Italy
- New Delhi, India
- Lusaka, Zambia
Career Path
The Ecorys career path is structured but not rigid. Entry-level hires typically join as Junior Consultants or Researchers and progress through Consultant, Senior Consultant, and Principal Consultant levels before reaching Director and Managing Director tiers. Promotions are based on performance, contribution to business development, and demonstrated technical expertise rather than strict tenure timelines.
Ecorys does not operate an explicit "up or out" policy in the way that MBB firms do. The culture is more supportive and less tournament-style, which makes it a good fit for candidates who want to build deep sector expertise over time. That said, professional growth requires proactivity. Employees who thrive here take ownership of their development, pursue business development opportunities, and seek out international project work actively.
Exit Opportunities
Ecorys exit opportunities are strongest in the public and social sectors. Alumni frequently move into roles at international organizations such as the European Commission, UN agencies, or the World Bank. National government departments, think tanks, NGOs, and development finance institutions are also common landing spots. Given the firm's strong EU institutional client base, former Ecorys consultants are well-positioned for policy advisory, program management, and research roles within the Brussels ecosystem.
Exits into private-sector consulting or investment banking are less common given the nature of Ecorys work. However, alumni with strong quantitative research or economic modeling skills do transition into roles at commercial research firms, economic consultancies, and financial advisory practices. For a broader view of where consulting careers can lead, explore the MC consulting firm directory.
Notable Alumni
Ecorys has produced a number of leaders who have gone on to prominent roles in policy, consulting, and international development.
- Manon Janssen - Former CEO and Chair of the Board of Management at Ecorys Global.
- Michael Davis - Former Managing Director of Ecorys UK; previously Chief Executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
- Michel van Woesik - Former Chief Financial Officer of Ecorys Group.
Target Schools
Ecorys does not publish an official target school list, but recruiting patterns reflect a strong preference for candidates from leading European research and policy universities. Given its headquarters in Rotterdam, the firm has historically recruited heavily from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Across its UK and Brussels offices, candidates from the London School of Economics, University College London, Oxford, Cambridge, and KU Leuven are well-represented.
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- University of Amsterdam
- London School of Economics (LSE)
- University College London (UCL)
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- KU Leuven
- Sciences Po Paris
- Maastricht University
- University of Birmingham
Diversity Programs
Ecorys has an active Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) program that includes a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion across its global offices. The firm publishes a Gender Pay Report and actively works to build an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities it serves. Ecorys operates with staff from over 40 nationalities speaking more than 30 languages, which makes diversity a structural reality of the organization rather than simply a stated goal.
Ecorys UK also publishes a Social Value report and engages in initiatives targeting underrepresented groups in its hiring. For candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, the firm's mission-driven culture and emphasis on real-world impact can be a particularly compelling draw. Check the Ecorys website for the most current information on diversity and inclusion programs by office.
Ecorys Culture
Ecorys culture is collaborative, international, and mission-driven. Employees consistently describe a genuine sense of purpose in their work. The firm's employee-owned structure reinforces this. When the company does well, the people who built that success share in it. That ownership mindset shapes how teams operate: there is an entrepreneurial spirit alongside a culture of thoughtful, independent advice.
The firm earns strong marks from employees for work-life balance, interesting and varied work, and a collaborative team environment. Some employees flag slower career progression and below-market salaries as areas for improvement, which is a common trade-off in mission-driven organizations.
Flexible working is a real part of the Ecorys offer, not just a policy on paper. The firm actively supports remote and hybrid arrangements, which reflects its distributed, multi-office global model. For candidates who value international exposure, a societal mission, and a collegial environment over prestige or high-intensity commercial consulting, Ecorys culture is a strong fit.
Ecorys History
The Ecorys story begins in 1929 in Rotterdam, when a group of Dutch business leaders founded the Nederlands Economisch Instituut (NEI) with a mission to stimulate research on economic issues. The timing was significant: NEI launched just as the global economy was entering the Great Depression, and its research quickly became essential to policymakers trying to understand and navigate severe economic disruption.
After World War II, NEI extended its focus to developing countries, largely at the initiative of its director, the Nobel Laureate economist Jan Tinbergen. This international development orientation became a defining feature of the firm's identity and continues to shape its work today. Through the 1980s and 1990s, NEI grew its commercial presence alongside its research activities, and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 opened major new opportunities in Eastern Europe.
In 2000, NEI merged with ECOTEC Research and Consulting, a UK-based firm founded in 1982 as a spin-off from Aston University in Birmingham. The merged entity took the name Ecorys, combining deep Dutch economic research expertise with ECOTEC's strong track record in UK and EU social and regional policy work. Since then, Ecorys has expanded significantly, opening offices across Europe, Africa, and Asia, and growing its gross revenue to over EUR 100 million.
Ecorys Interview
Preparing for an Ecorys interview is different from preparing for a traditional MBB case interview, but that does not mean it is any less rigorous. If you want to understand what structured consulting problem-solving looks like, our Case Interview Guide is a strong place to start. Ecorys uses a structured hiring process that typically involves a written application and cover letter screening, followed by one or more interview rounds. For consultant-level and above roles, a case assessment or written task is commonly part of the process.
The case interview at Ecorys is generally framed around a policy or research problem rather than a commercial strategy question. You might be asked to evaluate a public program, assess the economic impact of a proposed policy, or interpret research findings and make recommendations. Strong analytical thinking, clear written communication, and the ability to structure a complex problem are what interviewers are looking for.
Ecorys interviews are considered moderately challenging. The firm is looking for people who can demonstrate structured thinking, sector knowledge, and genuine motivation for public-sector advisory work. Do not let the moderate difficulty level be a reason to under-prepare.
Sample questions candidates have reported in Ecorys interviews include:
- Why do you want to work at Ecorys and in research-based consulting specifically?
- Tell me about a time you had to analyze a complex dataset or research problem. How did you approach it?
- How would you evaluate whether a government employment program is achieving its intended outcomes?
- Describe a project where you had to communicate complex findings to a non-technical audience.
- What do you know about the European Commission's role in funding policy research and evaluation?
Firm Interview Process
The Ecorys interview process typically follows three to four stages. Here is what most candidates experience:
- Application and CV screening: Submit your CV and a one-page cover letter in English (or the relevant office language). Motivation, relevant experience, and academic background are the key factors at this stage.
- Written case assessment or task: Many roles include a written case or analytical task. You may be asked to review documents, analyze data, or write a short policy brief. This tests written communication and analytical structure.
- First interview: A competency-based interview with HR or a recruiting manager. Expect questions about your background, motivation, and how you handle ambiguity or complex research tasks.
- Final interview: A more in-depth conversation with a senior consultant or director, focused on technical knowledge, sector expertise, and fit with Ecorys values.
The entire process typically takes four to eight weeks from application to offer. Preparing specific examples of policy or research work you have done, and being able to articulate why you want to work in public-sector consulting, will serve you well throughout the process.
Ecorys Salary
Ecorys offers competitive compensation relative to the public-sector consulting and research market, though salaries are generally below those at commercial MBB or Big 4 firms. For a comprehensive view of how Ecorys compensation compares across hundreds of consulting firms, see the current Consulting Salaries Report at Management Consulted.
Estimated Ecorys salary ranges by level:
- Junior / Associate Consultant: $35,000 to $55,000 per year (roughly EUR 32,000 to EUR 50,000)
- Consultant: $55,000 to $80,000 per year
- Senior Consultant: $75,000 to $100,000 per year
- Principal Consultant: $95,000 to $130,000 per year
- Director and above: Varies significantly by office and tenure
Salaries vary meaningfully by office location. London and Brussels-based roles tend to track higher due to cost of living, while Rotterdam and other European offices may offer different compensation structures. Ecorys also offers employee share ownership, pension benefits, and flexible working arrangements as part of its total package.
Conclusion
Ecorys is one of Europe's most respected research-based consultancies. With a 95-year track record, a genuinely mission-driven culture, and a global reach spanning 150+ countries, it offers a rare combination of intellectual rigor and real-world policy impact. If you are a candidate who wants to work on the challenges that matter most, from climate policy and social welfare to infrastructure development and EU institutional reform, Ecorys deserves a close look.
To maximize your chances, approach the hiring process seriously. A strong cover letter, a well-prepared written case, and clear examples of analytical and research work are your best tools. Whether you are targeting Ecorys or building a broader consulting candidacy, sharpening your structured problem-solving is always time well spent. For further preparation, explore the Management Consulted Case Interview Guide and the Consulting Salaries Report to benchmark your target role.