Associate Partner – Growth & Innovation Practice Leader, UK&I

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Client:

Sia Partners

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

98a9e8beaa91

Job Views:

3

Posted:

26.04.2025

Expiry Date:

10.06.2025

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Job Description:

About the Growth & Innovation Practice

Our Growth & Innovation Practice is a strategic growth engine within the firm, partnering with clients to drive strategic growth, unlock new revenue streams, enhance margin, build new ventures and transform business to deliver sustainable competitive advantage.

We work across all sectors – including consumer, transport, tech, energy & utilities, financial services, FMCG, manufacturing & defence – delivering at the intersection of growth strategy, innovation capability, venture building, and emerging technologies incorporating data & AI leading to transformation programmes designed to deliver the outcomes.

Over the past few years, we have been responsible for delivering some of Sia’s most impactful client engagements, with huge social and commercial impact:

Led the design and delivery of the UK water sectors first open data platform, covering 16 water and waste-water companies, in an OFWAT-funded engagement to improve innovation across the sector.

Tackled issues of fuel poverty, low carbon construction and impacts of carbon monoxide on vulnerable utility customers through the design and delivery of new partnership ecosystems and unified data platforms.

Worked within an IUK funded consortium, including Rolls-Royce and Universal Quantum, to build and commercialise the UK’s first scalable, error-corrected quantum computer applied to CFD and drug discovery.

Built a £m+ new business venture for a telco, targeting utility network operators with new propositions in hybrid connectivity, managed sensors and data analytics.

Innovation operating models & capability building

Proposition development & go-to-market acceleration

Emerging technologies strategy & application – including AI, data, and automation

Partner ecosystems, leveraging multiple organisations with diverse capabilities to solve challenging problems for societal and shareholder value

As a beachhead for Sia’s AI and emerging tech strategy, the practice plays a key role in helping clients harness the power of artificial intelligence, data science, and automation to significantly improve productivity and innovation. We work closely with Sia’s Data Science and SiaXperience Digital teams to design and deploy AI-powered propositions, experiences, and business models. Our ambition is to lead the firm’s offering in ‘applied AI for growth’.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an Associate Partner-level practice leader to play a key role in the leadership and scaling of our Growth & Innovation Practice across the UK & Ireland initially, but with a view to international expansion in due course.

This is a unique opportunity to:

Contribute to and shape the vision for a flagship capability at the front line of strategic innovation

Scale a high-impact team in a high-growth consulting environment

Own and grow a P&L with a clear ambition to grow revenues by 20–30% per year, whilst maintaining target profitability levels

Work at the intersection of strategy, innovation, transformation, venture building, and emerging technology

Leverage relationships and capability across one of the fastest growing consultancies to better meet clients’ fast changing needs

Key Responsibilities

Set the vision and growth strategy for the Growth & Innovation Practice, comprising 20+ individuals across the UK & Ireland.

Own the delivery of commercial targets, practice profitability, and team scaling

Build and evolve our offerings across growth strategy, innovation, tech-enabled venture building, AI strategy and partnership ecosystems with a goal to drive large scale transformation in client/sector.

Co-lead a global Growth & Innovation IP team of + consultants in the development of new IP and offerings, supporting the new Group operating model

Act as a firmwide expert in innovation, emerging technology application and AI adoption

Lead complex, high-impact client engagements with senior stakeholders (C-suite and innovation leadership)

Design and oversee multi-million-pound programmes that combine strategy, design, data, and tech to deliver transformation and step-change growth and/or social impact for clients and those they serve/impact

Strong hands on delivery capabilities, expected to be chargeable on client site as well as overseeing teams delivering on commitments, to clients delight, on budget, on time and to an exceptional level of quality

Partner with our AI, Data, and Digital teams to integrate technology into our innovation solutions and our transformations.

Become a prominent thought-leader in growth & innovation topics, representing and helping grow Sia’s brand through press exposure and event keynotes.

Commercial Ownership

Build a strong pipeline of innovation and growth consulting opportunities, accountable for a personal sales origination target and overall practice revenue targets.

Leverage your own network and market outreach to open up new opportunities and clients for the practice and wider hub demonstrating the ability to generate immediate demand for services.

Shape and lead major proposals, pitches and framework submissions

Create and package new service lines and IP in growth, innovation, and applied AI

Forge partnerships with 3rd parties, startups, VCs, platforms, and tech partners among others to further G&I’s capability and market reach.

Collaborate with other UK&I business units and lines (e.g. Business & Digital Transformation, Energy & Utilities, Life Sciences, etc) to open up new cross-functional opportunities

Collaborate with partners globally to uncover international opportunities and drive future expansion

Team Development

Recruit, develop, and inspire a multidisciplinary team of strategists, innovators, entrepreneurs and tech evangelists

Mentor next-gen leaders and promote a culture of creativity, inclusion, and impact

Lead by example, in delivery, in creation of IP, in the creation of opportunities for both the business and individuals.

Coach, support, challenge and train teams/individuals in the successful delivery of their client engagements and in their development though their career pathway.

Work closely with HR and cultural pillars as appropriate, to ensure the team is suitably trained and developed according to the Sia career pathways. Carry out appraisals and feedback to ensure continuous development and engagement among staff.

Qualifications

We’re seeking a visionary, commercially-minded innovation leader who is excited by building something new, growing fast, and applying cutting-edge technology to solve complex client challenges.

Expected to have 15+ years’ experience in consulting, growth strategy, venture building, innovation

Proven success in building and growing a practice

Strong, proven BD track record, able to support the growth of a practice by bringing in new client relationships, with an existing client list that is active and delivering

Strong experience working with clients on digital and/or AI-enabled transformation and growth

Deep sector expertise (e.g. energy, finance, tech, consumer, telco, defence, etc) would be an advantage

Preferred Backgrounds

Strategy or innovation consulting (top-tier, boutiques, or digital/innovation firms)

Venture studio or incubator leadership

Tech-forward growth, new business model design, or disruptive strategy

Skills & Qualities

Entrepreneurial and strategic thinker with a strong commercial instinct

Strong originator in opening opportunities/adding value to clients; Ability to grow a portfolio (Find, Open, Establish) while also ensuring delivery excellence/ongoing value (Deliver, Extend, Expand). Demonstrating client relationships and longevity is key

Strong team leadership and people development capabilities

Excellent storyteller and communicator with board-level gravitas

Passionate about the future of business, technology, and innovation

Comfortable working across ambiguity and shaping new markets and offerings

Additional information

You can expect…

• A supportive atmosphere, where innovation and initiative are encouraged.
• A commitment to diversity, inclusion and employee well-being.
• Opportunities to flex your intellectual and creative muscles.
• Welcoming, friendly and professional colleagues.
• A personal development plan with clear goals for advancement.
• A meritocratic approach to promotion that rewards those who exceed expectations.
• A competitive salary, in line with the market and your peers.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• A performance-related bonus.
• Health and Life insurance.
• 27 days holiday per year, plus Bank Holidays

Sia is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, remuneration, or discipline, are based solely on performance, competence, conduct, or business needs.