Principal Consultant (Commerce & Digital)

Principal Consultant (Commerce & Digital) London, England, United Kingdom Overview Principal Consultant needed to join our Consultancy team at VML Enterprise Solutions. We are seeking a visionary and distinguished Principal Consultant to influence and drive transformation at the highest levels of our consultancy. This role acts as a trusted advisor to C-suite global business leaders, shaping the future of our consultancy solutions on a global scale. You will mentor and lead clients and internal teams toward success, leveraging profound industry expertise and collaborative leadership to deliver impactful business outcomes while promoting a people-first culture across our Consultancy team and the wider Business Services department. What you’ll be doing You will have a distinguished consultancy background or executive leadership position, demonstrating profound expertise across multiple specialized sectors. Ideally, your experience spans at least 1-2 key industries, such as retail, FMCG/CPG, B2B, or automotive. To highlight the seniority and scope of this role, consider these responsibilities and engagements comparable to the following positions: Consultancy Director, Consulting Manager, Lead Consultant, Senior Strategy Consultant, Head of Digital, Digital Director, Management Consultant Key responsibilities Client Engagement & Relationship Management: Operate at C-suite level to engage and lead clients through complex transformational change across truly omni-channel ecosystems Tackle the biggest transformational business questions that lead our clients to global success across experience, technology and organisational change Lead cross-functional engagements, serving as the primary point of contact for senior client stakeholders across a number of our largest clients Build and nurture strong, trusted relationships with clients, understanding their business challenges and objectives Proactively identify and pursue opportunities to expand existing client relationships and generate new business Lead, mentor, and coach the more junior consultants, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment. Inspire and empower team members to take ownership, develop their skills, and reach their full potential Promote knowledge sharing and best practices across the team and wider organization Strategic Consulting & Solution Delivery: Leverage expertise in eCommerce and specialist sector knowledge (e.g., retail, FMCG/CPG, B2B, automotive) to provide strategic guidance and solutions to clients Confident communicator who can articulately ask questions and listen to get to the core of the client problem Bring clarity to ambiguous situations and independently overcome obstacles quickly Lateral thinker who assesses the client from a broader perspective Conduct thorough business analysis, identifying pain points, opportunities, and areas for improvement Deep understanding of technologies in digital ecosystems (eCommerce platforms, CMS, PIM, etc.) and agile delivery Develop and present proposals, roadmaps, and presentations that articulate value propositions Support the delivery function with business insights to keep the team focused on outcomes Identify and implement process improvements to enhance team efficiency, output quality, and client satisfaction Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices Contribute to the development and refinement of internal methodologies, frameworks, and tools What we want from you Extensive experience in management or consultancy roles within the e-Commerce domain In-depth specialist sector knowledge in at least 1-2 areas, ideally including retail, FMCG/CPG, B2B, or automotive Proven leadership skills with the ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills with senior stakeholders Strong understanding of digital ecosystems and technologies, including e-commerce platforms, CMS, PIM, and agile delivery methodologies Advanced problem-solving skills with the ability to analyse complex business problems and develop creative solutions Excellent communication and presentation skills for both technical and non-technical audiences Passion for client success and a commitment to exceeding expectations Willingness to travel to client sites within the UK and potentially within the EU What we can offer you We offer opportunities to work with leading brands and prioritise your career development. We empower you to make a difference, encourage authenticity, and respect individuality. Our benefits package includes a discretionary bonus scheme, training opportunities, competitive pension, medical insurance, life assurance, social events, holiday buy/sell options, family-friendly policies, retailer discounts, and more. Our personality and behaviours We believe we are what we do, not just what we say. Our values and behaviours bring the VML Enterprise Solutions culture to life: Connect Meaningfully Include Purposefully We look for people who go beyond and push our thinking to be better than yesterday. AT VML Enterprise Solutions Our division houses strategic consultants, creative and technical architects, and skilled developers who help leading organisations deliver outstanding digital experiences across all major routes to market worldwide. With over 4,200 experts in 55 centers across 34 countries, our capabilities span the entire buying journey from acquisition to loyalty, driving multi-channel growth. We work with brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, EY, Bosch, Unilever, Ford, DFS, Mercedes-Benz, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges, Shell and Tiffany & Co. We have built over 500 platforms and generate significant value for clients and partners such as Adobe, SAP, Salesforce, Shopify, Sitecore, BigCommerce, commerce tools, and Acquia. As we grow internationally, we’re looking for new people to join us on our journey to shape some of the best commerce solutions, services, and websites in the world. We believe that teamwork and creative bravery can thrive in any role. #LI-EMEA #LI-JS1 #LI-HYBRID WPP (VML Enterprise Solutions) is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a culture of respect where everyone belongs and has equal opportunities to progress. 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