At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead AI leadership initiatives, translating ideas into impactful client engagements.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking institute dedicated to transformative leadership.
- Benefits: Health insurance, remote work setup, generous training budget, and pension scheme.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace committed to diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Why this job: Shape the future of leadership with AI and collaborate with senior leaders.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in strategy consulting or leadership roles, with AI experience preferred.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Salary: Dependent on experience. Contract: Full-time, permanent Location: London/Hybrid
ABOUT THE ROLE
This role is about building and scaling Forward Institute’s AI leadership offer. It combines three core elements:
- Translating our distinctive point of view into commercial propositions
- Converting growing demand into high-quality client engagements
- Delivering that work with senior leaders across sectors
The role requires someone who is comfortable operating with autonomy, working across strategy, business development and delivery. You will work closely with the CEO and Managing Director to translate our distinctive thinking on AI and leadership into propositions and engagements for our partners.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Turn Forward Institute’s distinctive thinking on AI and leadership into compelling client propositions
- Work with internal and external experts to codify the offer
- Build a deep understanding of client context, needs and priorities
- Connect our vision with client challenges to shape tailored, high impact proposals
- Lead client conversations, develop proposals and convert opportunities into engagements
- Design and facilitate workshops, programmes and leadership sessions for senior teams, acting as co‑facilitator on larger engagements
- Lead client engagements end-to-end, acting as a trusted point of contact
- Create trusted spaces for reflection, challenge and decision‑making
- Build relationships with mission‑aligned organisations and identify opportunities for collaboration
- Support the development of joint work, thought leadership and impact‑led initiatives
- Contribute to our external voice on leadership in the age of AI
ABOUT YOU
This is a strategic and commercial role at the heart of a growing area of our work. We are looking for someone with strong commercial instinct, intellectual rigour, and a genuine obsession with how AI will reshape organisations, leadership and society. You will have experience of building and growing a new proposition and the confidence to take it into the market. You are as comfortable winning work as you are delivering it.
You’ll love it here if you are:
- Entrepreneurial and comfortable building something new from strong but incomplete foundations
- Commercially sharp, with a clear instinct for where value lies
- Deeply curious about how AI will reshape organisations and leadership
- Collaborative and able to work across teams and disciplines
- Gets energy from working with ideas and making them land in practice
You’ll thrive if you have:
- Ability to translate a strong intellectual framework into clear, compelling client propositions
- Strong commercial capability, including leading client conversations and converting work
- Ability to move fluently between conceptual thinking and commercial application
- Excellent facilitation skills with senior teams
- Ability to translate ideas about AI into clear leadership action
- ~8+ years’ experience in strategy consulting, leadership consulting, or programme design
- Experience taking a proposition to market and growing it
- Proven track record of winning work through senior relationships
- 1‑2 years’ experience working in AI, technology or innovation
- Experience working closely with senior leadership teams and delivering high quality workshops/advisory
ABOUT US
We believe a better future is possible, and how we get there begins with leaders. The choices they make will determine the years to come. Through transformative leadership programmes, advisory support and powerful cross‑sector collaboration, we help leaders reimagine what responsible leadership looks like - and make it real in their organisations. Our work blends world‑class faculty insight with deep organisational partnership. We support leaders to lead with purpose, respond to complexity and shift culture in service of long‑term impact. And through our growing Fellowship of over 1,500 changemakers, we help build a movement of leadership that is courageous, collaborative and fit for the future. Responsible leadership is the courageous and creative use of power to shape a better future. It is a choice, and we help leaders choose it.
BENEFITS
We know our greatest strength is our people. We want every one of us to feel supported in their health, in wellbeing, and in building a secure future. When you join, you are enrolled on our Health Insurance, we have a working from home set up, generous training and development budget, an abundance of library books to borrow, you’ll be enrolled onto our people’s pension scheme and more. Our benefits are here to reflect our values in action: to help you thrive at work, protect what matters outside it, and feel confident through the twists and turns of your personal and professional journey.
HOW TO APPLY
We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. We want to make this process as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any access needs or specific requirements, please get in touch with fran.carver@forward.institute. Applications for this role are closing on Monday 25th May. You must have the right to work in the UK.
Principal - AI & Leadership employer: Forward Institute
The Forward Institute is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of leadership transformation in a fast-paced, high-impact environment. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and diverse perspectives, employees are empowered to drive meaningful change while enjoying competitive benefits such as private health insurance and generous holiday allowances. Join a supportive team that values your contributions and fosters professional growth, all while working towards a mission that aligns with your values and ambitions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal - AI & Leadership
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like Forward Institute!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Principal - AI & Leadership position at Forward Institute via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal - AI & Leadership
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at Forward Institute.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to Forward Institute’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forward Institute
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to Forward Institute. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at Forward Institute. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to Forward Institute.
