Principal Consultant
5 days ago
Paris
Role Summary: The Principal Consultant is a senior leader within our Strategy Consulting & Innovation practice, responsible for guiding clients through complex business and digital transformations. In 2026, this role demands a sophisticated command of artificial intelligence — not merely as a technology topic to advise on, but as a core instrument for delivering consulting work: accelerating analysis, elevating insight quality, and scaling delivery capacity. The ideal candidate combines deep strategic consulting expertise with hands-on fluency in AI tools and emerging agentic workflows. They lead high-impact engagements across industries, build trusted advisor relationships with C-suite stakeholders, and actively shape the practice's AI-forward methodology and intellectual capital. AI-First Capability Snapshot This role requires demonstrated competency across three dimensions of AI fluency: ◆ AI as a Delivery Tool Uses generative AI, agents & automation in day-to-day consulting work to accelerate research, analysis, synthesis & documentation. ◆ AI as a Strategy Domain Advises clients on AI roadmaps, operating model redesign, responsible AI governance, and value realization. ◆ AI as an Innovation Lens Identifies AI-driven disruption patterns, emerging use cases, and transformational opportunities within client industries. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Consulting & Client Leadership • Strategic Architect: Serve as a senior strategic advisor to clients, designing and leading initiatives that drive operational efficiency, revenue growth, and competitive differentiation., • Client Engagement: Build and sustain trusted relationships with C-suite and senior stakeholders; translate complex challenges into actionable, high-impact strategies., • Responsive Strategist: Listen deeply to client needs, develop bespoke frameworks, work breakdown structures, execution plans, and workstream outcomes aligned to stated and unstated priorities., • Engagement Leader: Own the engagement plan end-to-end, managing cross-functional alignment, milestones, risks, and delivery quality. AI-Driven Delivery & Transformation • AI-Augmented Analysis: Leverage large language models, AI-assisted research platforms, and automation tools to accelerate market analysis, benchmarking, insight synthesis, and document production — dramatically increasing the speed and depth of consulting deliverables., • Agentic Workflow Design: Apply and advocate for agentic AI workflows — multi-step AI task orchestration — to automate repeatable consulting processes such as competitive landscape scans, data triangulation, and draft generation., • AI Transformation Leadership: Lead client-facing AI strategy engagements: assess AI readiness, design AI use-case roadmaps, define governance frameworks, and drive implementation of AI solutions including automation, predictive analytics, and GenAI applications., • Responsible AI Advocacy: Embed responsible AI principles — fairness, transparency, explainability, data privacy — into all AI advisory work and internal delivery practices., • Digital & Technology Strategy: Architect digital transformation strategies that integrate AI, cloud platforms, data infrastructure, and emerging technologies aligned with clients' operational and strategic goals. Insight Generation & Thought Leadership • Insight Synthesizer: Conduct market and competitive analysis, industry assessments, benchmarking studies, and capability gap evaluations to generate differentiated strategic insights., • Innovation Scout: Identify and evaluate AI-driven innovation opportunities; help clients understand the transformational implications of emerging technologies on their business models, operations, and customer experience., • Thought Leadership: Contribute to practice-level POVs, frameworks, and methodologies; publish insights; represent the firm at industry forums and client events on topics including AI strategy, digital transformation, and operating model redesign., • Business Case Development: Develop robust, data-driven business cases for transformation initiatives using the consultancy's ideation and engagement methodology; present findings to executive audiences with clarity and conviction. Practice Development & Collaboration • Methodology Innovator: Develop and refine AI-forward consulting frameworks, delivery accelerators, and best practices — including prompt libraries, AI tool protocols, and reusable analysis templates — based on client experience and market signals., • Collaboration Champion: Operate effectively in multidisciplinary teams; leverage internal expertise across technology, design, data, and strategy to craft comprehensive solutions., • Stakeholder Liaison: Manage day-to-day client relationships with key stakeholders and sponsors; ensure clear communication, proactive issue resolution, and sustained client satisfaction., • Talent Mentorship: Coach and develop junior consultants, sharing AI tool knowledge, analytical frameworks, and client engagement best practices to build practice capacity. Qualifications Experience & Education • 10+ years of professional experience in management consulting, strategy, or digital transformation roles., • Demonstrated track record leading complex, cross-functional client engagements from strategy through execution., • Industry expertise across one or more verticals (e.g., retail, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, technology)., • Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field required., • MBA or relevant postgraduate degree highly preferred. AI & Technology Fluency • Hands-on proficiency with generative AI platforms and tools (e.g., ChatGPT Enterprise, Claude, Copilot, Gemini) for consulting delivery tasks including research, synthesis, and content generation., • Working knowledge of agentic AI workflows, prompt engineering, and AI tool orchestration., • Ability to assess, design, and advise on enterprise AI strategies including use-case prioritization, ROI modeling, data readiness, and governance frameworks., • Familiarity with AI/ML concepts, large language models (LLMs), automation platforms, and data analytics tools sufficient to engage credibly with both technical and business audiences., • Experience with digital transformation technologies: cloud platforms, API ecosystems, data infrastructure, intelligent automation (RPA + AI), and customer experience platforms. Consulting Skills & Competencies • Exceptional structured thinking: problem decomposition, hypothesis-driven analysis, and executive-level storytelling., • Superior communication and presentation skills; ability to distill complex topics into clear, compelling narratives for senior audiences., • Proficiency in project management tools and collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft 365, Teams, Asana, Miro, or equivalent)., • Ability to operate independently and drive outcomes in ambiguous, fast-paced environments., • Motivated self-starter with a continuous learning mindset, especially regarding emerging AI capabilities and industry disruption patterns., • Relevant certifications in AI, project management, digital transformation, or related fields are a plus (e.g., Google Cloud AI, Microsoft AI-900, PMP, TOGAF)., • Willingness and ability to travel 50%+ to client locations based on engagement requirements. Expected Outcomes Success in this role is measured by outcomes that reflect both client impact and practice advancement: Client Impact: Measurable efficiency gains, cost savings, and revenue growth outcomes attributable to engagement strategies. AI Value Realization: Successful AI transformation projects with quantified ROI; clients progressing along AI maturity roadmaps. Delivery Excellence: High client satisfaction and retention scores; on-time, on-budget engagement delivery. Practice Contribution: New frameworks, POVs, and AI-enabled delivery accelerators added to the practice knowledge base. Revenue Growth: Contribution to practice revenue targets through new business development, expansions, and client referrals. Talent Development: Junior consultants mentored and upskilled, particularly in AI-augmented consulting techniques. Why This Role This is an exceptional opportunity for a forward-thinking strategist who believes AI is not a future trend — it is the current operating environment. We are looking for a Principal Consultant who is as comfortable designing a client's three-year AI strategy as they are using AI tools themselves to deliver sharper, faster, and more impactful consulting work. If you combine strategic rigor with genuine AI fluency, a passion for driving transformation, and the ability to build trusted client relationships, we invite you to join us in shaping what world-class consulting looks like in the age of intelligent technology.