Senior Principal Consultant

Adcorp Holdings Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 750 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in Johannesburg is seeking a Senior Principal Consultant to drive business development and account management. This role requires a strong background in client relations and executive recruitment, with at least 5-8 years of experience in professional services. The successful candidate will develop key growth strategies, engage with clients, and manage the recruitment process for C-suite and senior executives, ensuring the alignment with client needs. This position offers a dynamic work environment with opportunities for strategic impact.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in professional services and client lead roles.
• 3-5 years at a senior level in a complex organization.
• Proven track record in sales and client engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with clients.
• Conduct client meetings to understand hiring requirements.
• Prepare proposals and negotiate client engagements.
• Build and manage a talent pipeline of executives.
• Utilize various sourcing strategies for candidate acquisition.

Skills

Business development

Client relationship management

Sales performance

Executive recruitment

Market research

Education

Bachelor's degree or similar

Job description

Job title : Senior Principal Consultant

Job Location : Gauteng, Johannesburg • Deadline : January 30

Job Description

The role is required to achieve the strategic and budgeted objectives of the business as well as assist in developing and evolving service offerings in collaboration with the team.

Essential to this role is business development and attracting and securing new clients for DAV.

In addition, the role is responsible for account management and ensuring client accounts are managed effectively and proactively, achieving annual targets (revenue and profit), building relationships and understanding customer trends.

The role will focus on developing key growth strategies, tactics and action plans to support a culture of high performance.

Minimum Requirements

Experience : 5-8 years' experience in a professional services and client lead role of which 3-5years is at a senior level in a suitably complex and qualified organisation.

Proven track record of experience with clients and sales (performance to budget and target incl. profitability and growth).

Broad experience in the service industry

Engaging and working with executive and management teams across multiple entities.

Education : Bachelor's degree or similar.

Roles and Responsibilities

Develop and maintain relationships with clients, serving as a trusted advisor on executive and critical skill hiring needs.

Conduct client meetings to understand business requirements, executive culture fit, and specific position requirements.

Prepare proposals and negotiate terms to secure new business and enhance client engagement.

Build and manage a robust talent pipeline of C‑suite and senior executives across multiple sectors.

Utilize a range of sourcing strategies including LinkedIn Recruiter, industry networks, referrals, and other executive search tools.

Engage and assess candidates for executive roles, focusing on alignment with client requirements and cultural fit.

Create and execute customized search strategies for executive and scarce/critical skills positions with an Associate.

Conduct market research and talent mapping to identify high‑potential candidates.

Partner with an Associate to ensure the efficiency of research and administrative support.

Conduct in-depth interviews, referencing, and assessments to ensure candidate quality and compatibility.

Provide consultative guidance to candidates throughout the hiring process, managing expectations and negotiating offers.

Facilitate the final offer process and coordinate with clients and candidates for successful placements.

Maintain accurate and timely documentation of search processes, candidate profiles, and client feedback.

Prepare and present weekly progress reports to clients and the Business Executive.

Use data‑driven insights to improve processes and ensure key performance indicators (KPIs) are met or exceeded.

Specialist Principal Recruiter in an area of specialization.