Principal Consultant

Location: London (Hybrid – 2 days a week in the office)

Salary: £50-60k a year (based on experience)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 26hrs to 37.5hrs a week (0.7FTE to 1.0 FTE)

Are you an experienced consultant with an interest in the UK impact sector, looking to work on fulfilling, exciting and varied projects? Join our consultancy team to support a wide range of clients (charities, foundations, philanthropists, social enterprises, corporates, and the public sector) to be as impactful as possible. You’ll be part of a fun, values-driven interdisciplinary team of wide specialisms and expertise, who combine innovative consultancy with research and thought leadership.

We are looking for someone who can develop relationships and lead a wide range of projects, which might include developing strategies or theories of change, researching funding flows, supporting grant-making, or delivering evaluations and learning partnerships. The role offers a unique combination of working on a wide range of social impact topics, developing new business, and collaborating with inspiring multi-disciplinary colleagues.

Our organisation: NPC is the think tank and consultancy for the impact sector. We work to increase the positive impact of the sector, to improve people’s lives, make communities stronger and the planet healthier. We help organisations improve what they do, we influence policy and sector behaviour, and we support innovation to strengthen and grow the impact economy

This role: The Principal Consultant role offers a great mix of consultancy and thought leadership development:

• You will design and sponsor innovative research and consultancy projects, manage senior client and funder relationships, ensure high-quality delivery, and develop skills and capacity of NPC’s (senior) consultants.
• You will build out NPC’s external profile, developing external relationships, convening and collaborating with people through events, partnerships, training and other sector-facing activities.
• You will develop new ideas and contribute to NPC’s thought leadership, for example around best practices in (adaptive) strategy, user involvement, grant-making, innovation, measurement and learning.
• You will be responsible for developing business and raising funds to meet financial targets.

The attributes we are looking for include:

Essential

• A keen interest in the impact economy
• Relevant experience in a similar (external or inhouse) consultancy role or from the impact economy
• A strong inner drive, able to kick-start new ideas, generate business and develop client and funder relationships
• Intellectual curiosity and creativity, and showing a genuine passion for and awareness of the impact economy
• Excellent research, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent client and project management skills
• High quality standards with an attention to detail
• Structured thinking and the ability to cut through complexity
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills: the ability to develop and deliver compelling presentations, to be robust and influential in discussions, and to write in a clear and engaging manner.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the impact consulting market in the UK
• A track record of successfully scoping and sponsoring consultancy and research projects, including managing and developing project teams

The diversity of work and topics, autonomy, intellectual stimulation and supportive culture make this a special role. But we understand nobody has everything in the job description. What’s more important to us is a real enthusiasm for the job, and we are committed to supporting and developing you through informal and formal learning and training.

As an equal opportunity employer, we particularly welcome applications from people who identify as being from racially minoritised and/or working class backgrounds, groups currently underrepresented in our team. We are also a level 2 Disability Confident employer. Find out more about our approach to DEI in our Recruitment FAQs.

Hybrid working, hours and benefits

Contract: permanent

We are based in London and have regular in person meetings. There is a requirement for at least two days in the office (one of the days being a Wednesday, the other a Tuesday or Thursday), but we are open to applicants who wish to work on a part-time basis, at least 26 hours per week, and agree hybrid arrangements. We also offer a range of competitive benefits.

Salary: £50,000 – £60,000 per annum, pro rata, depending on experience.

Take a look at the more detailed job description.

How to apply

Those interested in applying are invited to join a briefing call at 1pm on 13th August 2026 to get a better sense of the role and working at NPC. All potential applicants will remain anonymous during this call. Anyone who would like to attend this call should email [email removed - click apply for more details] – you are welcome to submit questions in advance via email.

You can apply by sending:

• a cover letter that highlights your motivation and the attributes that you believe that you would bring to this role (max 1 page)
• your CV
• a completed equal opportunities form

to [email removed - click apply for more details] before 9am on 1st September 2026 quoting Reference DE:02 in the subject line.

We plan to hold interviews in September. The role is available immediately, with the start date to be agreed with the successful candidate.

Please note that we are unable to accept applications from those without the right to work in the UK, as we currently do not offer visa sponsorship for this role.