Principal, Consumer & Retail

Gate One; England; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Gate One, a leading business and digital transformation consultancy, seeks a Principal to lead major client relationships and transformation engagements within its Consumer & Retail practice in the UK. You will support growth of existing accounts, develop new opportunities and shape the sector strategy.

You will bring a strong track record of delivering large-scale transformation programmes, building executive relationships and guiding cross-functional teams to deliver measurable outcomes.

Qualifications

• Approximately 10–15 years of experience in a recognised management consulting firm at senior levels.
• Strong track record delivering transformation programmes and developing client relationships in consumer goods, retail or omnichannel sectors.
• Ability to lead high-value client delivery and coach consulting teams.

Responsibilities

• Act as trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders and executive leadership teams.
• Lead complex transformation programmes across consumer goods, retail and omnichannel organisations.
• Shape solutions addressing strategic, operational and customer challenges.
• Coach teams to deliver measurable client outcomes and growth.

Skills

Executive relationships

Transformation leadership

Team leadership

Business development

Job description

At Gate One, our Principals are trusted advisors to senior client leaders, accountable for creating client impact, driving business growth and shaping the future of our consultancy. They build executive relationships, lead complex transformation programmes, develop high-performing teams and play a critical role in growing our business.

In our Consumer & Retail practice, we help leading consumer goods, retail and omnichannel businesses navigate growth, transformation and disruption. Our work spans customer and marketing transformation, digital and technology transformation, operating model design, AI-enabled change and large-scale business transformation.

Whether supporting a grocery retailer, fashion retailer, consumer brand or digital-first business, you will bring credible sector insight and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing modern Consumer & Retail organisations.

As a Principal, you will lead major client relationships and transformation engagements, while supporting the growth of existing accounts, developing new opportunities and helping shape the future of our Consumer & Retail practice.

Specifically, you will:

Lead High-Value Client Delivery

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders and executive leadership teams.
• Lead complex transformation programmes across consumer goods, retail and omnichannel organisations.
• Shape solutions that address strategic, operational, customer and organisational challenges.
• Provide senior leadership across engagements, ensuring delivery excellence and measurable client outcomes.
• Coach consulting teams to deliver outstanding client impact.

Grow Client Accounts and Drive Business Development

• Build and deepen executive relationships across existing and prospective clients.
• Identify, originate and convert new consulting opportunities within the Consumer & Retail sector.
• Lead proposals, pitches and commercial negotiations.
• Develop propositions, sector credentials and thought leadership aligned to Consumer & Retail.
• Collaborate across Gate One and the wider Havas network to create and grow opportunities.

Lead and Develop Teams

• Lead, coach and inspire consulting teams across multiple engagements.
• Support the development and progression of Managers, Senior Consultants and Consultants.
• Foster inclusive, high-performing environments where people can thrive.
• Act as a role model for Gate One's values, behaviours and consulting standards.

Help Build Gate One

• Play a leading role in the growth and development of the Consumer & Retail practice.
• Shape our sector strategy, market proposition and go-to-market approach.
• Support recruitment, capability development and thought leadership activities.
• Help shape the culture, direction and long-term success of Gate One.

About You

You must have approximately 10-15 years' experience gained within a recognised management consulting firm, including significant experience operating at Senior Manager, Associate Director, Director or Principal level.

At this time, we are not able to consider candidates whose experience sits solely within industry roles.

We are particularly interested in individuals with a strong track record of delivering transformation programmes and developing client relationships within the consumer goods, retail or omnichannel sectors.

You Will Also Bring:

• A strong track record of developing senior client relationships and acting as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders.
• Significant experience leading transformation programmes within Consumer & Retail organisations.
• Demonstrable success in business development, account growth and opportunity conversion.
• Deep Consumer & Retail sector expertise and an understanding of the commercial, operational and customer dynamics that shape different business models.
• Strong commercial acumen and a focus on delivering measurable client outcomes.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing consulting teams.
• Exceptional communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Curiosity, versatility and a passion for solving complex business challenges.

Why Gate One?

Gate One is a business and digital transformation consultancy dedicated to helping clients thrive. As part of Havas, one of the world's largest global communications groups, creativity is in our DNA and shapes how we think, work and deliver meaningful change.

Our vision is for purpose-driven people to create lasting impact together. We combine creativity, entrepreneurial thinking and consulting rigour to help clients deliver transformation that sticks.

We are committed to providing an inclusive, transparent and supportive environment where our people can do their best work, develop their careers and make a genuine difference.

Gate One is committed to an inclusive hiring process. All applications will be given fair consideration regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, faith or social background.

Candidates must hold the legal Right to Work in the UK and meet the level of experience outlined above to be considered for this role.