Principal Consultant - Data and AI

About the Role

This role is situated in Adelaide, Australia, with hybrid working arrangements. The position is a permanent full-time opportunity offering an annual salary between $190,000 and $210,000 plus superannuation. The consultancy firm has experienced notable growth over the past two years and is seeking further expansion, providing an excellent chance to shape and grow the data and AI practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead client engagements from initial planning and scoping through contracting to execution.
• Deliver comprehensive advisory and technical services across data architecture, modelling, engineering, tailored to client needs.
• Address business challenges, delivering solutions that go beyond purely technical outputs.
• Provide informed advice on architectural design and vendor selection by evaluating various technologies objectively.
• Develop and implement robust business solutions that enhance value and business performance.
• Manage project scope and ensure high-quality delivery in your areas of responsibility.
• Design, build, and maintain complex data engineering systems for data acquisition and preparation.
• Participate in projects including board reporting automation, AI-driven self-service analytics, and real-time industrial data platforms.
• Stay up to date with emerging trends in technology, industry standards, and methodology.
• Conduct quality reviews of technical work, including peer reviews.
• Engage with senior stakeholders, including executives, communicating complex technical concepts clearly to varied audiences.
• Lead medium to large projects encompassing teams of four or more for durations exceeding five months.
• Mentor and coach junior staff members effectively.
• Support business development efforts by cultivating client relationships and contributing to expanding the Adelaide market presence.
• Assist in proposal generation, developing marketing collateral, and refining internal processes.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Extensive experience of 7 to 10 years in data-related roles, particularly leading data and analytics initiatives.
• Proven expertise in data architecture, data modelling, and data engineering.
• Hands-on experience with Snowflake is essential.
• Tertiary education in an IT-related discipline or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong ability to interpret business requirements into data warehouse, business intelligence, and analytics solutions.
• Demonstrated success delivering projects in client-facing roles.
• Capable of operating as a versatile professional rather than a narrow specialist.
• Strong commercial awareness and aptitude for discussing business impacts, not just technological aspects.
• Experienced in managing stakeholders confidently within large enterprise contexts.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Desirable Skills

• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS and Microsoft Azure.
• Experience using Databricks.
• Background in data science.
• Consulting experience preferred, though accomplished enterprise professionals will be considered.
• Understanding of AI-driven methodologies and their practical limitations.
• Experience working within complex, large-scale organizations.
• Willingness to relocate considered due to challenging Adelaide market conditions.

Success Criteria

Early success involves establishing trust with Adelaide clients and internal teams, taking full ownership of contractual project deliveries, and influencing how vendor and architectural choices are presented. Long-term, the ideal candidate will seamlessly navigate between architecture, delivery, advisory roles, nurture junior consultants, and actively contribute to expanding the Adelaide business footprint.