At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex consulting engagements and deliver impactful solutions for clients.
- Company: Join Korn Ferry Consulting, a global leader in organisational strategy.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Contribute to thought leadership and continuous improvement within the firm.
- Why this job: Shape client strategies and lead high-performing teams in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in consulting, strong leadership skills, and commercial acumen required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
Our Consulting Line of Business spans 29 countries across EMEA, working across six major markets within our four main solution areas: Organizational Strategy, Total Reward, Leadership & Development, and Assessment & Succession. The Principal plays a senior role within Korn Ferry Consulting, accountable for leading complex, multi-workstream engagements and ensuring consistently high-quality delivery for UK&I clients. While many current programmes sit within Assessment & Succession and Leadership & Professional Development, this role is solution-agnostic. The emphasis is on engagement leadership, programme governance, and client delivery excellence, rather than deep specialism in a single solution area.
Role Overview
As a Principal, you will play a critical leadership role in Korn Ferry Consulting—accountable for leading complex client engagements, shaping solutions, and delivering measurable commercial outcomes. You will operate across solution areas, bringing together Korn Ferry’s full capabilities to design and deliver integrated solutions to client challenges. This role requires a balanced focus across delivery leadership and commercial contribution, with primary accountability anchored in successful engagement outcomes. Principals act as trusted advisors to senior clients, lead high-performing teams, and take ownership of delivery quality, impact, and profitability across their engagements. They operate within broader account teams, contributing to growth and client strategy without default ownership of accounts.
Key Responsibilities
- Engagement Leadership & Delivery
- Own the delivery of large, complex, multi-workstream engagements, with clear accountability for outcomes, quality, and commercial performance.
- Design and maintain clear programme governance, structure, and delivery cadence.
- Act as a senior escalation point, proactively managing risk, dependencies, and delivery challenges.
- Ensure engagement delivery aligns to client outcomes, quality standards, and commercial commitments.
- Client Leadership & Relationship Management
- Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders.
- Lead key client meetings and forums focused on delivery progress, risks, and decision-making.
- Shape client thinking by bringing insight, challenge, and integrated perspectives.
- Manage stakeholder expectations across complex, multi-workstream delivery environments.
- Represent Korn Ferry with credibility and confidence in complex client environments.
- Commercial & Financial Ownership
- Own engagement financials, including forecasting, revenue recognition, billing, and margin.
- Proactively manage scope changes and commercial risks.
- Balance delivery excellence with commercial outcomes and profitability.
- Identify and support follow-on and cross-solution opportunities through delivery insight.
- Lead or support proposal development, pricing, and commercial structuring.
- Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Matrix-lead and coordinate diverse high-performing delivery teams across Korn Ferry solutions.
- Coach and develop junior consultants, fostering growth, accountability, and inclusion.
- Provide quality assurance and oversight across engagement deliverables.
- Contribute to the development of delivery capability and consulting excellence across the firm.
- Continuous Improvement & Firm Contribution
- Contribute to the development of delivery best practices and engagement management capability.
- Share learning and insights across the Consulting community.
- Contribute to thought leadership, propositions, and go-to-market initiatives.
- Support market-facing activity (e.g. client events, publications, industry engagement).
- Support internal initiatives aimed at improving delivery excellence and client experience.
Skills and Competencies
- Advanced engagement management capability – Proven ability to lead large, complex programmes with structure and accountability.
- Strong client leadership skills – Credible and confident with senior stakeholders.
- Commercial acumen – Comfortable owning financial performance and managing risk.
- Structured problem-solving – Brings clarity and rigour to complex delivery environments.
- Inclusive leadership style – Builds trust, collaboration, and accountability.
- Resilience and adaptability – Thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous contexts.
- Technology literate – Fluent in Microsoft Office and comfortable using AI-enabled tools (e.g. Copilot, ChatGPT).
Experience & Qualifications
- Significant experience leading the delivery of complex consulting or professional services engagements.
- Proven track record of managing multi-disciplinary, matrixed teams.
- Experience owning engagement financials and commercial outcomes.
- Strong understanding of programme and project management disciplines.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
Principal, Organizational Consulting, London employer: Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry Consulting is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in London where innovation and collaboration thrive. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to lead complex engagements while developing your leadership skills alongside high-performing teams. The company fosters a culture of inclusivity and continuous improvement, ensuring that every team member contributes to meaningful client outcomes and enjoys a rewarding career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal, Organizational Consulting, London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the consulting world, especially those who work at Korn Ferry or similar firms. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s values and recent projects. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate how your experience aligns with their mission and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led complex engagements and delivered results. We want to hear about your journey and how you’ve tackled challenges head-on.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Korn Ferry.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal, Organizational Consulting, London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal role. Highlight your experience in leading complex engagements and managing client relationships, as these are key aspects of the job. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:In your application, emphasise your ability to lead high-performing teams and manage multi-workstream projects. Share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated challenges and delivered results, as this will resonate with us at StudySmarter.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where appropriate to make your achievements stand out. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! This ensures that your application goes directly to the right team and helps us keep track of all candidates efficiently. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Korn Ferry
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Korn Ferry's consulting services and recent projects. Understand their approach to Organizational Strategy, Total Reward, Leadership & Development, and Assessment & Succession. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. Prepare examples from your past where you've led complex engagements or high-performing teams. Highlight how you managed risks and ensured quality delivery, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Engage with Insight
During the interview, don’t just answer questions—engage in a dialogue. Bring insights and perspectives that challenge conventional thinking. Show them how you can shape client strategies and build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
✨Be Financially Savvy
Since the role involves owning engagement financials, be ready to discuss your experience with budgeting, forecasting, and managing commercial risks. Share specific examples of how you've balanced delivery excellence with profitability in previous roles.
