Principal Consultant

The Principal Consultant serves as a strategic partner to a select portfolio of key clients, acting as an extension of their marketing, consumer insights, innovation, strategy, and brand teams. This role provides thought leadership, designs and leads custom research initiatives, and delivers actionable recommendations that help clients make informed business decisions and accelerate growth.

As a senior individual contributor, the Principal Consultant has no direct line management responsibility but is expected to lead project teams, mentor colleagues, and contribute to the development and scalability of Mintel Consulting's capabilities and methodologies.

This is a Hybrid position based in Chicago.

Key Responsibilities:

Client Partnership & Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to assigned client accounts
• Build and maintain strong relationships with directors, vice presidents, and C-suite stakeholders
• Provide proactive guidance on consumer, category, brand, and market opportunities
• Act as the primary point of contact for client ideation, quality control, and project enhancement discussions
• Develop innovative consulting approaches that expand client relationships and increase engagement scope

Solution Architecture & Business Development

• Design comprehensive consulting solutions that address client objectives, challenges, and growth opportunities
• Lead the development of proposals and consulting engagements
• Partner closely with Commercial teams to identify opportunities for growth, retention, and expanded client impact
• Develop new methodologies and solutions that strengthen Mintel Consulting's market position and consulting capabilities

Research & Project Leadership

• Lead the full lifecycle of consulting engagements from opportunity identification and proposal development through execution and delivery
• Design and oversee custom qualitative and quantitative research programs
• Ensure projects are executed to established quality, timeline, and budget expectations
• Conduct and synthesize secondary research, market intelligence, and competitive analysis
• Translate complex data into clear business implications and strategic recommendations
• Monitor industry, consumer, category, and competitive developments to inform client strategies

Executive Communication & Presentation

• Deliver compelling presentations and facilitate strategic discussions with senior client stakeholders
• Develop concise, evidence-based narratives supported by meaningful insights
• Present actionable recommendations with clear business implications
• Effectively manage challenging discussions and respond to executive-level questions

Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead cross-functional project teams to consistently deliver high-quality consulting outcomes
• Mentor and support consultants and junior team members across the organization
• Share expertise, best practices, and methodologies to strengthen consulting capabilities
• Contribute to the development of scalable tools, frameworks, and consulting offerings

Qualifications:

Required Experience

• Minimum 15 years of professional experience in consulting, advertising, strategy, brand planning, consumer insights, competitive intelligence, or related fields
• Experience within a research, consulting, strategy, or agency environment
• Demonstrated success leading complex client engagements and strategic initiatives
• Proven ability to present recommendations to executive and C-suite audiences
• Experience developing commercial proposals and growing client relationships

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities
• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
• Advanced analytical and insight development skills
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Ability to translate high-level strategic concepts into practical recommendations
• Strong client relationship management and stakeholder influence skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively in fast-paced environments
• Demonstrated innovation in developing new products, services, methodologies, or ways of working

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets

The below reflects the range of base salary for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, skills, experience, and qualifications. The salary range for this role is: $96,000 USD to $120,000 USD.

Alongside salary, Mintel offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical/dental/vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, employer paid life and disability insurance, 401(k) with employer match and paid time off. We are invested in our employees' wellbeing which is why we also offer flexible working hours, ClassPass subsidy, mental health benefit through Modern Health, paid volunteer time off, paid birthday leave and paid parental leave.