Independent Advisory Principal

Barrington James; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A global insights and strategy consultancy is seeking a Principal-level Consultant to elevate client programmes through strategic advisory and research. The ideal candidate has over 8 years of life-science consulting experience, with proven leadership in client interactions and business development. Key responsibilities include developing proposals, stakeholder engagement, and delivering strategic outputs. This full-time role requires travel and offers a 6-month contract with potential for extension. Influential position within a dynamic team environment.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years of relevant advisory/strategic consulting experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience leading client interactions and project teams.
• Demonstrable business development/sales experience in life science consulting.

Responsibilities

• Develop pitches and shape proposals.
• Translate insights into clear, strategic recommendations.
• Identify and scope add-on consulting work.
• Engage stakeholders throughout ongoing research programmes.
• Plan accounts across multiple business units.
• Conduct high-level client-facing strategy discussions.
• Guide teams to deliver actionable strategic outputs.

Skills

Life-science consulting

Client interaction

Business development

Strategic consulting

Research integration

Job description

New Principal-Level Consulting Opportunity | Advisory Consulting x Research Strategy | Full Time (or 4 days / week minimum)

I’m supporting a global insights & strategy consultancy that is looking for a Principal-level Consultant to sit at the intersection of insight generation and strategic advisory — helping to elevate client programmes across multiple business units.

This is a unique role for someone who understands how consulting integrates into a research environment, and who is used to collaborating with research teams to bring strategic, actionable value to clients.

🔍 Ideal Background

You will already have a significant, proven track record within a life-science consulting environment. The ideal candidate has at least 8 years of relevant advisory / strategic consulting experience with a minimum of 4 years of experience leading client interactions and project teams, with demonstrable business development / sales experience in the life science consulting space.

The team is particularly interested in profiles with experience from leading healthcare consultancies such as :

• Lumanity
• McCann Health
• Double Helix
• Inizio Advisory
• …or similar insight-led, strategy-driven environments.

You’ll need to be someone who instinctively understands the nuances of consulting alongside a research programme—how to frame recommendations, shape strategic narratives, and identify additional consulting opportunities that complement ongoing research.

🎯 What the Role Involves

• Pitch development & proposal shaping
• Translate Insights into clear, strategic recommendations
• Identifying and scoping add-on consulting work
• Stakeholder engagement throughout ongoing research programmes
• Account planning across multiple business units
• High-level client-facing strategy discussions
• Guiding teams to deliver actionable strategic outputs

It’s a hands-on, visible role with strong influence across the business.

🕒 Engagement Details

• Full-time preferred (minimum 4 days / week)
• 6-month contract with potential extension
• Must be open to travel (client-facing role)
• Ideal preference is the UK but not essential - travel to the office is required during the first few weeks

If you have advisory consulting experience and thrive working alongside research teams to elevate insights into strategic recommendations, I’d be happy to share more.

Send me a message or drop a comment and I’ll reach out.