At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales growth and deliver high-quality recruitment outcomes in the Defence, Nuclear, and Aerospace sectors.
- Company: Dynamic recruitment firm with a focus on contract placements and engineering talent.
- Benefits: Negotiable salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to build your own desk and lead in a specialist market.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced environment where you can make a real impact in recruitment.
- Qualifications: 4+ years of recruitment experience with a proven track record in sales and delivery.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Location: London (Liverpool St - 3 days / WFH - 2 days)
Sector: Contract recruitment within the Defence, Nuclear and Aerospace sectors in UK & EU
Basic salary: Negotiable for the right candidate with proven track record
We are seeking a new member of the team to build and develop a contract only desk focusing on placing highly skilled engineers in the UK & EU defence sector. Experience of building a successful technical / engineering desk using a candidate led approach is essential.
Role Overview
The Principal Consultant is a senior, contract revenue-generating individual contributor with full accountability for driving sales growth and/or delivering high-quality recruitment outcomes within their specialist market. This role requires a consistent and disciplined sales focus, a strong sense of urgency in all activity, and complete accountability for both contract revenue generation and delivery performance. The Principal Consultant owns their market, their pipeline, and their results. Operating with authority and commercial maturity, the Principal Consultant takes responsibility for outcomes, drives hiring processes forward with urgency, and protects profitability through disciplined sales execution and delivery excellence.
Sales Responsibilities (Revenue Ownership & Market Leadership)
- Take full accountability for achieving and exceeding personal contract billing and margin targets at Principal level.
- Demonstrate consistent sales focus through proactive, high-level business development activities.
- Operate with urgency in business development, client follow-up, and opportunity progression.
- Own and grow a specialist market vertical, building long-term, revenue-generating, strategic client relationships.
- Build, manage, and maintain an accurate and healthy sales pipeline, taking accountability for conversion ratios.
- Generate high-quality job flow aligned to profitability objectives.
- Conduct consultative job briefing meetings with accountability for qualifying roles and setting expectations.
- Position services confidently, maintaining strong sales focus when negotiating pricing and terms to protect margins.
- Identify and act on account expansion and cross-selling opportunities with urgency.
- Take accountability for accurate forecasting and disciplined Bullhorn reporting.
- Generate new business through strategic candidate marketing and market mapping initiatives.
- Drive urgency in closing opportunities and securing client commitment.
- Maintain professionalism, sound judgement, and confidentiality at all times.
Delivery Responsibilities (Fulfilment Excellence & Placement Accountability)
- Take full accountability for managing complex and high-value roles from intake through successful placement.
- Demonstrate urgency in sourcing, screening, shortlisting, and managing interview processes to reduce time-to-fill.
- Build and maintain a high-quality contract pipeline of specialist active and passive candidates.
- Apply strong sales focus when presenting candidates, clearly articulating their value and market positioning.
- Conduct thorough and commercially aware candidate qualification with accountability for quality and alignment.
- Drive urgency throughout interview coordination, feedback loops, and offer negotiations.
- Take accountability for closing offers successfully while protecting and maximising margin.
- Guide clients and candidates through the hiring process with authority, structure, and urgency.
- Proactively identify risks in the recruitment process and take ownership of resolving them.
- Generate new business through strategic candidate marketing ('spec CVs') and market mapping initiatives.
- Maintain consistent, high-quality communication with clients and candidates.
- Achieve and exceed KPIs relating to placements, activity, and individual profitability.
- Maintain accurate and timely Bullhorn documentation with full ownership of data integrity.
Commercial Accountability
- Full accountability for individual contract revenue, margin performance, and pipeline health.
- Responsible for maintaining consistent contract sales focus across both business development and delivery.
- Expected to demonstrate urgency in daily activity levels and opportunity progression.
- Accountable for managing both effort and outcomes without reliance on supervision.
- Responsible for protecting profitability through disciplined negotiation and process control.
Minimum Requirements
- Minimum 4+ years’ recruitment experience with consistent evidence of revenue accountability.
- Proven success in exceeding billing and margin targets.
- Demonstrated ability to operate with urgency in a fast-paced, commercially driven environment.
- Strong and consistent sales focus across both client and candidate engagement.
- Advanced negotiation and influencing capability.
- Highly organised with strong prioritisation and time management skills.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong Bullhorn system proficiency with disciplined reporting standards.
Behavioural Expectations
- Demonstrates accountability for personal revenue, delivery of quality, and professional standards.
- Operates with urgency in business development activity, client responsiveness, and placement execution.
- Maintains a disciplined and visible sales focus in every professional interaction.
- Take ownership of challenges and implement proactive solutions.
- Exhibits resilience and persistence in achieving ambitious revenue targets.
- Maintains professionalism, integrity, and sound commercial judgement at all times.
Principal Recruitment Consultant in London employer: Empersaria UK
As a Principal Recruitment Consultant in our London office, you will thrive in a dynamic work culture that prioritises accountability and excellence. We offer competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, and a strong focus on professional development, ensuring you have the tools and support to excel in the Defence, Nuclear, and Aerospace sectors. Join us to be part of a team that values urgency, innovation, and meaningful contributions to the recruitment landscape.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Recruitment Consultant in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the Defence, Nuclear, and Aerospace sectors. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that Principal Recruitment Consultant role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! When you’re chatting with potential employers or clients, make sure to highlight your experience in building successful technical desks. Share specific examples of how you’ve driven sales growth and delivered high-quality recruitment outcomes. This will set you apart from the competition.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Reach out to companies directly, even if they’re not advertising roles. Use your market knowledge to identify potential needs and pitch how you can help them fill those gaps. This shows initiative and a strong sales focus.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep your Bullhorn game strong! Make sure your documentation is spot on and up to date. Employers love candidates who are organised and detail-oriented. Plus, being proficient in Bullhorn will give you an edge when it comes to managing your pipeline and reporting accurately.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Recruitment Consultant in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Principal Recruitment Consultant role. Highlight your experience in contract recruitment, especially within the Defence, Nuclear, and Aerospace sectors. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you’ve exceeded billing and margin targets in the past. This will help us see your potential impact on our team.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Explain why you’re passionate about this role and how your experience makes you the perfect fit. We love seeing enthusiasm and a clear understanding of what we do.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Don’t miss out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Empersaria UK
✨Know Your Market Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the Defence, Nuclear, and Aerospace sectors. Understand the current trends, key players, and challenges. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show that you’re genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Sales Acumen
Prepare specific examples of how you've driven sales growth in previous roles. Highlight your ability to build and manage a sales pipeline, and be ready to discuss how you’ve exceeded billing and margin targets. Numbers speak volumes!
✨Demonstrate Urgency and Accountability
During the interview, convey your sense of urgency in business development and client follow-up. Share instances where you took ownership of a recruitment process and how you resolved challenges swiftly. This aligns perfectly with what they’re looking for.
✨Practice Your Negotiation Skills
Since negotiation is key in this role, prepare to discuss your approach to negotiating pricing and terms. Role-play potential scenarios with a friend or mentor to refine your strategy and ensure you can articulate your value confidently.
