Principal/ Lead Consultant (US based)

Newton; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Support from Directors and Partners

Career progression opportunities

Regular appraisals and pay reviews

Job summary

Newton, a UK-based consulting firm expanding into the US, is seeking a Lead Consultant or Principal Consultant. This role involves overseeing consultants, engaging with clients to drive significant improvement projects, and ensuring successful delivery outcomes. The position is ideal for professionals passionate about consulting and making an impact in the consumer goods sector.

You will lead diverse workstreams, maintain strong client relationships, and contribute to the overall transformation objectives. Flexibility and a willingness to work away from home are key requirements for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Prior consulting experience is essential.
• Experience in retail, manufacturing, or branded consumer goods is preferred.
• Proven ability to manage teams and present to executives.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams of consultants to deliver high-value projects.
• Design and oversee multiple workstreams to meet client goals.
• Build lasting client relationships to drive performance improvement.

Skills

Consulting experience

Analytical skills

Team management

Relationship building

Problem-solving

Job description

Newton is a UK-based consulting firm expanding into the US market, and this is an exciting opportunity to join a growing organisation at a formative stage. You will play a hands‑on role in shaping our US presence, building strong teams and client relationships, and delivering meaningful, lasting impact for our consumer clients.

Our consulting teams will be typically working on either an intense diagnostic or on multi-year, multi-million-dollar transformation programmes with the guarantee of a delivery outcome to our clients. It is crucial that we understand the client fully to identify the biggest opportunity for improvement, design the right solutions and work hand‑in‑hand with the client to implement these in a way that is sustainable. We work where our client works which can often mean working away from home during the week.

Lead Consultant or Principal Consultant

As a Lead Consultant or Principal Consultant, you will be leading your client and team through complex delivery transformation with accountability for delivering significant value to the client. This may include ownership of individual workstreams or accountability across multiple workstreams, delivering value typically ranging from ~$2m to ~$5m+ depending on scope and seniority. You will be managing multi‑disciplined teams and building productive mid‑to‑senior level client relationships that enable strong delivery outcomes.

The role is incredibly varied but would typically cover, but not be limited to:

• Managing teams of consultants (typically 4–8) to identify the biggest opportunities, and then leading your team and client to deliver them
• Designing and reviewing one workstream as a Lead Consultant and a variety of workstreams as a Principal Consultant ensuring alignment to client outcomes and programme goals
• Working closely with programme leads to ensure workstream KPIs are aligned to client organisational outcomes and wider transformation objectives
• Working on site in different US locations, day to day with client counterparts to review progress, problem‑solve and drive performance improvement, while building lasting client capability
• Creating clear, compelling and data‑driven stories for stakeholders – from frontline managers through to senior leaders and executive sponsors – and working with programme leads to remove blockers to progress
• Proactively adjusting delivery, resourcing and commercial plans in collaboration with programme leadership to keep workstreams and programmes on track
• Identifying opportunities for future work within your client area and supporting wider account and market engagement activities alongside programme and account leadership

Requirements

• Prior consulting experience
• Experience in retail, manufacturing, or branded consumer goods
• Managing teams of consultants of various levels, capability areas and across different workstreams
• Building and maintaining trusted relationships with senior managers, heads of function or programme, with competence and confidence to present in front of client executives
• Purpose‑led analysis skills and ability to use logic to solve a problem
• Ability to compellingly present assessment and programme outputs to enable successful progression of next steps
• Running day‑to‑day internal and client‑facing governance
• Resilience in solving highly complex problems
• Collaborative nature, working with internal and external teams to get to the best outcome together
• Proven track record for driving improvement or impact with an outcome‑focused mindset
• Big‑picture thinking and the ability to connect the dots using relevant market themes
• Starting to think more commercially by spotting potential opportunities and understanding and communicating potential risks
• Willingness for self‑development and commitment to supporting the development of others around you; actively seeks and gives feedback
• Ambitious and driven; always strives for the best outcomes for self and others
• Flexible and willing to work away from home

Benefits

Supporting you starts from day one. New joiners often highlight the Newton energy and support they first encounter in the recruitment process and that continues through into their time at Newton. Once in role, you’ll get support from several sources – from stretching projects, on‑the‑job feedback and developmental guidance from Directors and Partners. You’ll have a dedicated and consistent Sponsor/Development Manager to support your career progression with promotions at Newton happening throughout the year and based on performance and readiness to perform and succeed at the next level. You’ll receive regular appraisals and annual pay reviews.