Managing Consultant
Location: Hybrid, UK with an Aldwych Office
Salary: £70,000-100,000 depending on level and experience, plus bonus schemes.
About Aria
Aria Intelligent Solutions partners with the world’s leading retailers and FMCG brands to deliver measurable commercial impact. We combine deep industry expertise with advanced AI and analytics to help clients transform how they plan, trade, and grow.
Our Consulting practice leads transformation across merchandising, demand forecasting, and supply chain, by shaping strategy, operating models, and AI-driven solutions that help FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 businesses grow.
About the Role
As a Managing Consultant, you will lead complex client engagements and set the strategic direction for delivery. You will operate as a senior trusted advisor, shaping transformation roadmaps, influencing executive stakeholders, and ensuring that Aria’s AI and consulting capabilities are translated into measurable business value.
You will be accountable for delivery quality, team leadership, and commercial performance across your portfolio, while actively contributing to account growth and new opportunities.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Problem Solving
* Lead high-complexity programmes and define strategic frameworks for our retail and FMCG clients, using your experience in consulting and industry.
* Integrate cross-functional commercial, operational, and customer insight to shape major business decisions.
* Design operating models and transformation roadmaps that embed AI and automation to deliver business value.
* Steer innovation and process excellence across engagements, setting standards for analytical depth and clarity.
Client Leadership & Influence
* Act as a trusted advisor to senior and executive stakeholders, constructively challenging and shaping strategic direction.
* Lead multi-stakeholder environments with authority, aligning competing priorities and driving sustainable change.
* Create and deliver executive-level presentations and business cases that influence beyond the immediate programme scope.
* Inspire innovative thinking across client teams through persuasive narratives and structured insight.
AI & Technology-Enabled Transformation
* Identify, prioritise, and shape AI and data use cases aligned to commercial outcomes.
* Translate business needs into structured requirements and collaborate closely with product and data science teams.
* Lead the deployment of AI-enabled solutions, ensuring adoption, scalability, and measurable performance improvement.
* Define how technology, automation, and AI should be leveraged strategically across client environments.
Commercial Ownership & Growth
* Lead development of strategic accounts, expanding scope and deepening long-term partnerships.
* Shape and close proposals, contributing directly to revenue growth and margin performance.
* Expand Aria’s brand presence through industry visibility, partnerships, and professional networks.
* Contribute to Aria’s service evolution and thought leadership.
Team Leadership & Capability Building
* Line manage and develop Senior Consultants and Consultants, supporting their growth in strategic thinking, client leadership, and programme delivery.
* Provide clear direction and constructive challenge to help teams produce high-quality, impactful work.
* Foster a high-performing, values-led environment that encourages collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
* Contribute actively to Aria’s Consulting leadership, shaping internal initiatives and strengthening our consulting capability.
Skills & Experience
Experience
* 8+ years in retail or FMCG consulting, or a combination of consulting and industry leadership.
* Demonstrated leadership of complex, multi-workstream transformation programmes.
* Proven success influencing senior and executive-level stakeholders.
* Experience shaping and deploying AI or technology-enabled transformation initiatives.
Commercial & Strategic Capability
* Strong commercial acumen with a track record of expanding accounts or securing new opportunities.
* Recognised subject matter expertise in at least one domain (e.g. Merchandising, Demand Planning, Retail Strategy, Change, AI Enablement) with knowledge of market best practice.
Technology & Delivery
* Strong understanding of retail systems landscape and latest market trends.
* Experience leading business transformation programmes with pragmatic risk management and/or large-scale technical deliveries.
Leadership & Influence
* Exceptional communication skills with presence at executive level.
* High emotional intelligence, and demonstrated ability to mentor and develop high-performing teams.
* Strong external network and visible industry engagement.
Benefits & Perks
Comprehensive private medical coverage: Access private medical with Vitality healthcare to keep you and your family thriving.
Active Rewards: Earn points with Vitality to gain access to dozens of amazing benefits including cinema tickets, free coffees, gym discounts and more!
25 days annual leave: Recharge with 25 days of vacation each year, plus
additional loyalty days earned over time.
Personal charity day: Take an extra paid day off each year to support a
cause close to your heart, reflecting Aria’s dedication to making a difference We also match donations!
Champion Health Wellbeing App: Stay on top of your wellness with
unlimited access to the Champion Health app, offering personalised tools
for physical and mental wellbeing.
Professional and wellness seminars: Grow and thrive with expert-led seminars, designed to inspire and support your professional and
personal development.
Wellbeing days: Step back when life feels overwhelming with paid WellbeingDays: Dedicated time to reset and recharge during those moments when it
all feels like too much.
Why Aria
At Aria, Managing Consultants work closely with clients and our AI specialists to shape practical, high-impact solutions. You will play a central role in guiding complex engagements, developing people, and helping evolve how we deliver consulting and AI together.
This role offers the opportunity to shape client outcomes, develop people, and contribute to the continued evolution of our consulting capability.
At Aria, we’re not just building a team but fostering a community that values health, purpose, and balance. Join us and experience the difference.