Principal/Managing Consultant - Business Growth

Actica Consulting; Guildford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK consultancy seeks a Principal or Managing Consultant in Guildford to drive strategic business development within the Defence sector. The role involves engaging with clients, leading bids, and leveraging digital technologies for growth. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication and interpersonal skills along with a solid understanding of the UK defence sector. This position offers a collaborative environment, opportunities for professional development, and flexible hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Opportunities for professional development

Flexible hybrid working

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the UK defence sector and the Ministry of Defence.
• Background in digital programmes, whether through consulting or programme delivery.
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct market analysis to identify growth opportunities in UK defence.
• Engage with new clients and build relationships with stakeholders.
• Lead the pursuit process, from shaping propositions to presenting to clients.

Skills

Understanding of the UK defence sector

Background in digital programmes

Communication and presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Description

We are seeking an ambitious Principal or Managing Consultant to join the senior leadership team within our Defence Sector. This is a high-impact, hands‑on role for an experienced consulting or digital delivery professional who wants to shape and deliver our growth agenda in UK Defence, from spotting opportunities and building relationships to leading bids and securing new work.

Working closely with our Defence Sector Directors, this role will take responsibility for planning, co‑ordinating and delivering our Business Development activities. It is an ideal opportunity for an individual with significant delivery or consulting experience who is looking to take the next step in their career towards a more executive role.

This role combines strategic leadership with practical, sleeves‑rolled‑up delivery. You will have access to expert support where needed, but you will also be expected to do much of the core work yourself, from shaping opportunities and leading bids to building relationships and driving sector growth. If you enjoy both strategy and hands‑on execution, this role will suit you well. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. This includes ex‑serving Armed Forces personnel, whose leadership, operational experience and other transferable skills are highly valued, even if you have not previously worked in consulting.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Development

• Conduct structured market and account analysis to identify growth opportunities across the UK defence sector.
• Work with Defence Sector Directors to shape Business Development strategy and convert it into clear, measurable plans (e.g. pipeline, order intake, revenue targets).
• Drive pre‑positioning activities and hold yourself and others to account for agreed actions.

Client & Partner Engagement

• Engage confidently with new and prospective clients, leveraging Actica’s established reputation and supported by our Subject Matter Experts.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across the defence ecosystem, including partner organisations.
• Represent Actica at selected industry events, forums and briefings, and support thought‑leadership or marketing activity where appropriate (e.g. speaking slots, articles, LinkedIn content).

Opportunity Qualification & Bid Leadership

• Act as the central point for identifying, qualifying and prioritising new opportunities in line with sector strategy.
• Lead the end‑to‑end pursuit process in new areas, from shaping propositions and win strategies through to coordinating inputs, writing key sections and presenting to clients.
• Ensure bids are commercially robust, compelling and aligned to Actica’s capabilities and values.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Required Skills and Experience:

• Strong understanding of the UK defence sector and the Ministry of Defence
• Background in digital programmes, whether through consulting, programme delivery, or transformation leadership.
• High intellectual agility with a proactive, growth‑oriented mindset.
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.

Additional Requirements:

• Must be eligible and willing to obtain UK Government Security Clearance.
• Strong interest in digital technologies and their application to UK defence and national security.

Key Attributes for Success:

• Ability to engage credibly with senior clients and internal stakeholders.
• A collaborative approach with the confidence to lead others and hold them to account.
• Curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to take on new strategic challenges.

What we offer

• A high‑impact role where you will directly influence the growth and direction of Actica’s Defence Sector.
• A collaborative, supportive environment with direct access to senior leadership and the ability to shape how we develop our services and go‑to‑market approach.
• Opportunities to work on a diverse range of Defence programmes and stay close to both digital delivery and strategy.
• A culture that values integrity, expertise and professional development, with clear pathways to broaden your consulting and leadership skills.
• Hybrid working, with office bases in Guildford, London, Swindon and Cheltenham, and flexibility to balance client, team and home working.

Actica Consulting is a leading Digital Transformation and Cyber Security consultancy focused on the UK Public Sector.

Our teams have a long track record of delivering technology‑focused consultancy in a variety of complex environments. Our projects often run over multiple years and contribute to clients’ mission‑critical objectives and key strategic initiatives. We’re proud of our long‑term client relationships and excellent track record of delivery; as a result, we’re trusted to work on some of the UK Government’s most important and sensitive projects.

We operate in the following market sectors: Defence, Central Government, National Security, Policing and Public Safety, Utilities and Transport.

Our expertise covers: Organisational Improvement, Delivering Complex Programmes, Digital Engineering, Cyber Security, and AI, Analytics and Data.