Principal Consultant (Market Intelligence, CPG) in City of London

Mintel’s Consulting team is responsible for the development and delivery of high-value bespoke solutions for some of the world’s biggest consumer-facing brands. The team brings together data experts, experienced researchers, marketing experts, trend gurus, facilitators and innovators to create insights that help our clients make better strategic marketing decisions. We’re creative thinkers, grounded in commercial reality, and united by our passion for understanding consumers, market dynamics and product innovation.

As a Principal Consultant, you will play a pivotal role in designing, selling and delivering custom research projects, spending around 75% of your time on business development or billable project work. You’ll work closely with our lead client partners and senior account directors to proactively identify new high-value opportunities among our strategic client accounts, turning them into compelling, innovative proposals. You’ll also manage project delivery, stakeholders and ensure projects are delivered on time and to budget. While this role does not have direct line management responsibilities, you’ll be regarded as a leader across Mintel, leading individual project teams to ensure high-quality work and acting as a coach and mentor to other team members. You’ll also play a major role in raising awareness of Mintel’s Consulting offering in the broader marketplace, creating insightful, strategic and engaging proactive content that showcases the best of Mintel’s thinking.

Responsibilities

• Take a lead role in growing the team’s revenue and margins by identifying, designing and converting high-value research proposals.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through effective communication and understanding of client objectives.
• Work with account directors and lead client partners to identify, develop and convert commercial opportunities among key clients.
• Lead end-to-end research projects, from design and methodology selection to analysis and presentation of findings.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure project timelines, deliverables, and objectives are met.
• Manage project resources and client expectations to protect project margins.
• Translate research findings into strategic recommendations that contribute to clients’ business goals.
• Provide thought leadership on industry trends, consumer behaviour, and market dynamics.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including data analysts, project teams and business development, to ensure seamless project execution.
• Mentor junior team members, fostering a collaborative and growth‑oriented work environment.
• Delegate effectively to protect project margins and create development opportunities for other team members.

Qualifications

• Commercially‑mindset: Proven track record of identifying and converting high‑value research projects, growing average order values and managing projects to protect margins.
• Project management: Able to manage multiple projects, delivering high‑quality research while meeting deadlines.
• Storyteller: Lateral thinker, intuitive dot‑connector, experienced at weaving compelling narratives through data across a range of categories.
• Data‑driven: Solid familiarity with research methodologies, knowledge of when and how to apply them, expertise working with complex data sets, and strong data‑analysis skills.
• Naturally curious: Drawn to knowing the “why?” and the “what’s next?” behind consumer, market and innovation trends.
• Great communicator: Able to build engaging presentations, delivered with confidence and authority, and adapt communication style to suit different audiences.
• Collaborator: Proud of the team you are part of, cultivates professional relationships with colleagues, and constantly finds innovative ways to create an exceptional work environment.
• Experience in the CPG sector and the innovation process: Direct experience of the CPG innovation process, either client‑side or agency‑side, is a major advantage.

Benefits

• Culture that supports true collaboration while embracing remote working with a company‑wide hybrid working week.
• Flexible working hours (start between 7:00 am and 11:00 am).
• Blended home/office approach to work.
• Personal development approach encouraging individuals to grow and share what they have learned.
• Social events within the department and across the company.
• Home‑office allowance, as the working model is a blend of home and office.
• Generous holiday allowance with the opportunity to buy back additional holiday.
• A day off to celebrate your birthday.
• Giving back: each employee receives 2 days per year to donate to a worthwhile cause.
• Open‑plan office with breakout areas, coffee machines, pool table and table tennis.