Principal Consultant - IT Management Consultancy

Principal Consultant – IT Management Consultancy – Public Sector, National Security. DV Cleared.
Our client provides a wide range of consultancy services helping clients deliver IT Enabled Business Change. They work with a wide range of clients in the public and private sector they aim to offer individuals a diverse and challenging career.
They have an opportunity for a Principal Consultant to join their team. They are looking to attract candidates who have a proven consulting background with an emphasis on Portfolio Management / Business Change Programme Management / IT portfolio management for the Public, National Security sector..
The successful Principal Consultant will have been engaged in client-side delivery management and consulting roles for various aspects of the business lifecycle, ideally including strategy development, investment appraisal, portfolio definition, business portfolio management, procurement and management of the supply chain, review and management of programmes or portfolios of projects.
The successful candidate will have extensive experience of working closely with sponsors, executives and other stakeholders and is able to engage with all staff levels. They will have sufficient qualities to manage service suppliers on behalf of their clients. Specific experience of working within the Public sector, or the national security field is a distinct advantage.
Requirements – Principal Consultant.
• Candidates must hold DV clearance.
• Degree or equivalent, supplementary qualifications in Information Systems, Management Studies preferred.
• Understanding and experience of the processes and tasks involved in successful delivery of an investment portfolio - ideally for IT implementations in the public sector – covering large complex delivery teams, complex portfolio definition, investment appraisals and business case development, application of standard management frameworks and involving multiple stakeholders.
• Flexibility to adapt from providing advice on improving client’s delivery to “rolling up your sleeves” to assist clients in delivering their portfolio.
• Experience in communicating with, and providing strategic advice to, all levels of stakeholder including senior executives, directors, managers and junior staff.
• Good experience and practical understanding of Portfolio and Programme Delivery, ideally with an understanding of the role and operation of a PMO.
• Commercial skills with a proven ability to contribute to client performance, identify sales opportunities and contribute to tenders, and deliver their engagements profitably.
• Proven and extensive consulting experience with majority of experience within client environments - predominant knowledge of the public sector is an advantage.
• Possession of an active security clearance and familiarity with the MOD, Home Office, or other Security departments a real benefit.
• Recognised and certified qualifications in Programme/Project Management skills/methods (e.g. APMP, MSP, PRINCE2, MoR, Benefits delivery) desirable.
 
Responsibilities – Principal Consultant.
• Will be expected to take lead roles in client or business delivery assignments, with responsibility for service delivery, achieving client satisfaction, producing deliverables to expected quality and within commercial constraints and on occasions managing teams of consultants. Will often be embedded in the client’s delivery teams working directly with client staff and consultants from other organisations.
• Responsible for commercial management of client assignments.
• Responsible for client relationships from initial contact to project completion. Responsible for developing effective approaches to client requirements calling for originality and ingenuity in devising recommendations.
• Contributes a broad range of management and programme management skills, with an in-depth knowledge of at least one relevant business sector. May be a noted expert in a particular functional or industry sector area.
• Will play a prominent role in business development by identifying and exploiting new business opportunities, developing client relationships, contributing to business development strategies, business tenders and sales activities.
• Will report to Service Line Head, and maintain relationships with Business Development Director and Account directors.
• Opportunities may exist for staff line management and development mentoring roles.

The Individual – Principal Consultant.
• Is an experienced consultant/delivery manager with consulting qualities. Does not accept things at face value but is analytical with problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communicator, verbal (ability to listen) and written (able to write concisely). Experienced, mature influential, assertive and diplomatic.
• Focussed on outcomes and not put off by disappointment and can stand up to pressure from client stakeholders.
• Fully politically aware.
• Able to take on business/regional office management responsibility.
• Encourages collaboration within client or home business groups. Leads by example.

Salary -£55K-£70K – Location – Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, South West.