Principal Strategy & Advisory Consultant

Employment: Full-time Experience level: Mid-Senior Level Job Description We are looking for a Strategy & Advisory Principal to join Version 1’s Transformation Design Group (TDG). This is a senior consulting role for someone who can build trusted relationships with client leaders, navigate ambiguity and shape user-centred digital and business transformation that delivers meaningful outcomes. You will work across client advisory, complex problem-solving, proposition development and consultative pre-sales. The role combines big-picture thinking with hands-on delivery: you may be helping a leadership team define its transformation vision, unblocking a difficult programme, coaching a multidisciplinary team, or shaping the next opportunity with colleagues across Version 1. What you will do Advise and deliver for clients  Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders in the public and private sectors, acting as a credible advisor and constructive critical friend.  Bring structure and clarity to complex, ambiguous business problems, connecting strategy to practical execution.  Shape and lead advisory engagements and consultancy work packages, drawing on the breadth of TDG capabilities and the wider Version 1 organisation.  Apply user-centred, evidence-led and commercially aware approaches to transformation, balancing user needs, organisational goals and technical feasibility.  Adapt your methods to the client context and help clients understand where emerging technologies, including AI, can create genuine value.  Represent our thinking and experience through client conversations, case studies, professional networks, events and thought leadership.  Help grow our impact Identify and shape opportunities with existing and new clients, articulating Version 1’s capabilities and the outcomes they can enable.  Lead and contribute to compelling proposals, bids and market propositions in partnership with Commercial, Pre-sales, Delivery and capability leaders.  Use market insight, client intelligence and emerging trends to evolve our propositions and delivery models.  Create clear, persuasive material that brings our services, evidence and points of view to life.  Work across Version 1  Build collaborative relationships across the organisation so that clients experience a joined-up Version 1 team.  Coach colleagues, share expertise and assure the quality of transformation work where your experience can make the greatest difference.  Contribute as part of a close-knit principal team, combining autonomy with shared ownership and support.  Qualifications What you will bring  Significant experience (8+ years) in consulting or an equivalent senior advisory environment, shaping and delivering transformation with a strong record of working on complex programmes and change agendas.  Deep expertise (able to coach) in at least one TDG discipline, such as product management, service design, user research, user-centred design, business analysis, change, analytics, plus a strong appreciation of how these disciplines connect with each other, delivery management and technology.  Confidence working with senior and executive stakeholders, including the judgement to challenge constructively and communicate complex ideas clearly.  The ability to move comfortably between strategy and detail, creating direction while remaining willing to work alongside teams to make progress.  Experience shaping opportunities, proposals and communicating a clear value story.  Commercial awareness and the ability to balance customer outcomes, delivery realities and sustainable growth.  Excellent written, facilitation and presentation skills.  How you work  Curious and analytical: you ask the right questions, seek evidence and quickly make sense of unfamiliar situations.  Collaborative and low ego: you bring people together, value different perspectives and share credit.  Customer focused: you stay close to the real problem and prioritise outcomes over activity.  Pragmatic and adaptable: you use the right approach for the context rather than applying a fixed playbook.  Autonomous and accountable: you are comfortable leading at senior levels and take ownership for quality and results.  Growth minded: you spot possibilities, develop new ideas and help others build confidence and capability.  Honest and clear: you build trust through integrity, sound judgement and straightforward communication.  Additional Information At Version 1, we believe in providing our employees with a comprehensive benefits package that prioritises their wellbeing, professional growth, and financial stability. Share in our success with our Quarterly Performance-Related Profit Share Scheme, where employees collectively benefit from a share of our company's profits Strong Career Progression & mentorship coaching through our Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes with a dedicated quarterly Pathways Career Development programme Flexible/remote working, Version 1 is tremendously understanding of life events and people’s individual circumstances and offer flexibility to help achieve a healthy work life balance Financial Wellbeing initiatives including; Version 1 Pension with a 5% employee-matched contribution, Private Healthcare Cover, Life Assurance, Financial advice and an Employee Discount scheme Employee Wellbeing schemes including Gym Discounts, Bike to Work, Fitness classes, Mindfulness Workshops, Employee Assistance Programme and much more.  24 days holiday allowance plus Public Holidays, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave and special leave policies Educational assistance, incentivised certifications, and accreditations, including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat Reward schemes including Version 1’s Annual Excellence Awards & quarterly Star Awards. Environment, Social and Community First initiatives allow you to get involved in local fundraising and development opportunities as part of fostering our diversity, inclusion and belonging schemes. And many more exciting benefits… drop us a note to find out more. Version 1 is an equal opportunities employer We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and we value the different perspectives people bring including those shaped by disability and neurodiversity. We want every candidate to have a positive and accessible recruitment experience. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process, please contact Ashley.Smith@version1.com at Version 1. We will consider all requests carefully, respectfully and confidentially. #LI-AS1 #LI-Hybrid Company Description Version 1 has celebrated 30 years in business and continues to be trusted by global brands to deliver technology and transformation solutions that drive customer success. Our deep expertise enables our customers to navigate the rapidly evolving technology landscape. We foster strong partnerships with global technology leaders including Microsoft, AWS, Oracle, Red Hat, OutSystems, Snowflake, ensuring that our customers are provided with the highest quality solutions and services.   We’re an award-winning employer reflecting how our employees are at the very heart of  what we do:  UK & Ireland's premier AWS, Microsoft & Oracle partner  3300+ strong, €350/£300m revenue business  10+ years as a Great Place to Work in Ireland & UK  Best Workplace for Women in the UK & Ireland by GPTW  Best Workplace for Wellbeing in the UK by GPTW  We’re a core values driven company, we hire people who share our values, and we reward those who display and foster them, it’s deeply embedded within our DNA. Invest in us and we’ll invest in you!.