Principal, HR & Workforce Transformation

Gate One; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Gate One, a leading HR and workforce transformation consultancy, seeks a Principal to lead high-value HR and workforce transformation engagements for senior client leaders. You will shape strategy, oversee delivery, and build executive relationships to drive business impact.

You will guide clients on AI implications for work, performance and HR practices, while growing Gate One's capability and market presence with senior HR leaders.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in managing complex workforce/HR transformation engagements.
• Strong executive communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience leading teams and developing consultants across multiple engagements.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-value HR and workforce transformation engagements from strategic diagnosis to delivery.
• Advise on AI and emerging technology implications for work and HR practices.
• Grow client accounts through executive relationship management and opportunity shaping.
• Develop propositions, credentials and market point of view to strengthen client relationships.
• Coach and develop consultants across engagements and capability areas.

Skills

Executive stakeholder management

HR transformation

Organisational design

Strategic workforce planning

AI impact on work

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Job description

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

Within our People, Culture & Change practice, we help organisations deliver people-centred transformation that is practical, sustainable and connected to business outcomes. Our work spans enterprise change, culture and leadership, organisational development, strategic workforce planning, organisation design and HR transformation.

As organisations respond to changing business models, new technology and the impact of AI on work, senior HR leaders are facing fundamental questions about workforce composition, skills, operating models, performance and organisational capability.

As a Principal, you will help build and grow Gate One's HR & Workforce Transformation capability, working with CHROs, CPOs and senior business leaders to address these challenges. You will combine deep subject-matter expertise with consulting leadership, helping clients turn ambitious workforce strategies into practical and lasting change.

Specifically, you will:

Lead High-Value Client Delivery

• Lead complex HR and workforce transformation engagements from strategic diagnosis and proposition design through to implementation and delivery.
• Help clients connect business strategy with future workforce capacity, capability, skills and organisational requirements.
• Lead work across strategic workforce planning, organisational development (OD) and HR transformation, helping clients build the capability, skills and ways of working needed to deliver new strategies and operating models.
• Advise clients on the implications of AI and emerging technology for work, roles, workforce composition, performance and HR practices.
• Lead multidisciplinary Gate One and client teams, ensuring delivery excellence and measurable outcomes.

Grow Client Accounts and Shape the Market

• Build and deepen executive relationships with senior HR and business stakeholders across existing and prospective clients.
• Identify, shape and convert opportunities in HR transformation, strategic workforce planning and organisational development.
• Lead proposals, pitches and commercial conversations, bringing together the right combination of sector, transformation and specialist expertise.
• Develop distinctive propositions, credentials and points of view that strengthen Gate One's position with senior HR leaders.
• Collaborate across Gate One and the wider Havas network to create and grow opportunities.

Build the Capability and Develop Others

• Help shape and grow Gate One's HR & Workforce Transformation capability within People, Culture & Change.
• Bring market insight and practical experience to the development of our methods, propositions and go-to-market approach.
• Lead, coach and develop consultants across multiple engagements and capability areas.
• Support recruitment and the development of a strong pipeline of HR, workforce and organisational transformation talent.
• Act as a role model for Gate One's values, behaviours and consulting standards.

About You

You will bring approximately 10-15 years' relevant experience, with substantial experience in management consulting or a combination of consulting and senior in-house HR transformation leadership. You will already be operating at Senior Manager, Director or Principal level and have a proven track record of leading complex workforce, HR or organisational transformation engagements.

You will also bring:

• Deep expertise in HR transformation, strategic workforce planning and/or organisational development (OD), with experience helping organisations build the capabilities and ways of working needed to deliver evolving strategies.
• Experience translating strategic workforce questions into practical programmes, interventions and measurable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of areas such as organisation design, future skills, talent and capability, performance, workforce experience or learning and development.
• A forward-looking perspective on the impact of AI and emerging technology on work, workforce and organisations.
• Experience shaping propositions, developing accounts and contributing to business development.
• Excellent executive communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and genuine interest in helping build and shape a growing capability.

You may have built your career primarily in management consulting, or combine consulting with significant in-house HR or workforce transformation leadership. What matters most is genuine depth in this space, strong consulting judgement and credibility with senior HR leaders.

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.