Principal Consultant

Principal Consultant
Hybrid - 1-2 days per week in the Holborn office
SALARY: £50,000-£55,000 per annum DOE

About Us

We are the global higher education experts, empowering university excellence worldwide. With over five decades of dedicated experience, THE is the world's most authoritative source of data and insight on global higher education. Our expertise, established global platforms, and unrivalled data resources make us the trusted adviser to universities and governments worldwide. Our consultancy division provides advisory services to support higher education institutions' strategic development. We are a global business with a reputation for excellence, seeking an exceptional and highly motivated Director to join our growing, talented, and ambitious team. This is a unique opportunity to join a thriving and passionate business at an exciting time.

About the role

We are looking for a Principal or Senior Consultant responsible for providing strategic consultancy services to higher education, focusing on the research, design, and implementation of comprehensive brand and marketing strategies for our clients across academia, government, and industry sectors.

The successful candidate will lead brand and reputation consultancy projects, possess extensive marketing experience and comprehensive branding knowledge, and be capable of leading a team of consultants, researchers, copywriters, and designers. Regular interaction with clients is essential.

The role is based in London with hybrid remote working in the UK. It requires entrepreneurial spirit, flexibility, and willingness to contribute globally.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading the creation and execution of client brand and marketing strategies, from research to creative execution and activation.
• Collaborating with commercial directors and external clients to define requirements and lead project design and management.
• Line managing Consultants and Research Executives, and actively participating in community management and training.
• Contributing to business and product development by identifying new opportunities and designing research and creative solutions.
• Working with Directors and the Sales team to prepare proposals.
• Providing subject matter expertise through presentations at THE meetings and events, maintaining professional knowledge, and attending relevant events and reviewing publications.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in complex project management, financial management, and successful project delivery.
• Expertise in developing marketing strategies, including brand and reputation research, audience segmentation, brand positioning, and marketing tactics.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with internal stakeholders and external clients globally.
• Self-motivated, confident, and able to work both independently and within teams.
• Strong planning and organizational skills to meet deadlines and manage workload effectively.
• Critical thinking with strengths in qualitative or quantitative data analysis.
• Deep knowledge of the higher education sector and government policies.
• Willingness to work irregular hours and travel internationally.
• Familiarity with data analysis software and data visualization tools.

You do You
You do You. With colleagues located around the world, we know that our individuality and diversity of experiences are our greatest strengths. That's why we want THE to be a place where you are welcome to be who you want to be at work; where you can share whatever part of your life or self-identity you want, without obligation or facing discrimination; and where all abilities and perspectives are recognized and accommodated.