Principal

Job Overview and Reporting Line:

We are looking for an experienced Principal (i.e., Principal Consultant) to join Tetra Tech’s growing Evaluation and Research (E&R) Practice based in London. You will be joining a dynamic and multidisciplinary team of MEL experts who are passionate about learning and accountability. We are looking for someone with a significant depth of experience in applying evaluation and research methodologies on a wide range of monitoring, evaluation, and research assignments. It is important that the candidate is experienced in leading business development from pre-positioning through to submission of the bid (including bid writing) across a wide range of thematic areas and different types of monitoring, evaluation and learning programmes.

This role will report to the Director of Evaluation and Research.

Main Duties:

• Direct and lead our project teams to deliver high quality monitoring, evaluation, research and learning activities that fully respond to our clients’ needs and requirements.
• Direct and lead bids and bid teams to help us win monitoring, evaluation, and research work across a wide range of sectors and contexts, especially in target areas focusing on girls’ education, climate change, biodiversity, humanitarian and stabilisation programming and policy.
• Support the continuous development and progression of our team, practice, and business as a whole as a line manager and senior technical expert.
• Lead and contribute to the development of our growth and development strategies for the E&R Practice, UK business and wider Tetra Tech globally.
• Line management responsibility for specific direct reports including annual setting of KPIs, conducting mid-year and end-of-year performance appraisals and regular supervision to ensure timely and effective feedback that helps them develop and progress on their career development pathways. This includes supporting learning and development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Contribute to developing the technical skills and expertise of the E&R Practice through mentoring, coaching, and regularly sharing knowledge and experiences.
• Taking a lead role (as required) in recruiting appropriate staff needed to grow the practice /business.
• Be an ambassador for Tetra Tech in the market; promote our interests and reputation.
• Protect our confidential information and intellectual property.
• Promote and ensure full compliance (including by team members /staff) with all statutory and company HSSE policies, standards, procedures, systems, and codes of conduct.
• Play an active role in your safety and the safety of others around you.

Aptitude and skills:

• Trusted client advisor – Act as a trusted advisor to our clients by leading the development and implementation of robust and useful technical solutions that meet their learning and accountability needs; and being ready to adapt these when situations and their needs change.
• Project leadership – Ability to lead, drive and influence diverse teams to deliver high quality work that fully responds to our clients’ requirements.
• Strong client relationship management skills are an essential competency to ensure that the way that we work fully meets client expectations and that deliverables are submitted on time, within budget and to the required quality.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, relationship management and communication skills to ensure that project partners and individual contractors /external consultants are effectively managed to deliver high quality inputs and outputs that meet the client’s expectations.
• Strong methodological knowledge and expertise in rigorously (and appropriately) applying robust monitoring, evaluation, research and learning approaches across a range of international development programmes, sectors, and contexts is essential.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills (i.e., clear, confident, articulate) are an essential requirement including proven experience in report writing and presentation skills.
• Strong commitment to delivering high quality analytical products.
• Demonstrated experience and ability in directing and leading competitive bids and bid teams to develop approaches and methodologies across monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning.
• Ability to lead the development of strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, suppliers, and consultants as part of the bid process including leading and managing complex negotiations.
• Strategic networking and partnerships – Take initiative and lead the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships and relationships with partners, clients, and external consultants.
• Strategy development – As a senior manager contribute to the development of the annual growth and development strategy and Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for the E&R Practice, the UK business as a whole and global growth /collaboration initiatives across Tetra Tech more widely.
• Commercial acumen – Ensure that projects that you direct, and lead are delivered to plan, to the required quality and within the approved budget – including:
•  Accountability for regular project financial reporting in liaison with the Project Manager.
• Ensuring financial targets are met throughout the Financial Year and intervening if this is not the case.
• Taking a proactive approach (in collaboration with other managers) to ensure that staff utilisation on bids and projects is as efficient as possible whilst maintaining a reasonable work-life balance.
• A working knowledge of a range of software applications and strong computer skills including Microsoft Windows Word, Excel, Office, Outlook, Project, and PowerPoint.
• Strong team player, able to work under limited supervision, take initiative and manage people effectively.
• Demonstrates high levels of initiative, problem solving and organisational agility i.e., ability to ‘think on your feet’.
• Able to plan for and meet reporting deadlines and being accountable for outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills with high attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task, juggle competing demands, prioritise work and delegate effectively.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognised tertiary institution in a relevant subject (e.g., social science, evaluation) is required.
• Relevant postgraduate qualification is an advantage.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:

Tetra Tech prides itself on a workplace culture that advances equality, diversity, and inclusion and ensures the workplace is free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, racism, and hate speech of any form regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, marriage, and civil partnerships. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for this role.

Think you have what it takes but are not sure you check every box? Research shows that while men apply to roles when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women often only apply when they meet every requirement. If you're passionate about what we're building, we look forward to hearing from you.

Disability Confident Employer:

Disability Confident is a UK government scheme that supports employers in creating and fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces. We have self-identified as registered disability confident participants.

Request An Accessible Format: 

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a vision of this document in a more accessible format. Please contact a member of the Human Resources department in the UK by emailing Disability.Confident@tetratech.com.

Safeguarding:  

Tetra Tech International Development has robust policies and guidelines which exemplify our commitment to safeguarding and technical excellence in gender equality. Our team of dedicated GEDSI advisers work closely with our staff and partners to ensure a context-specific and consistent approach is applied to all of our programmes to improve the livelihoods of the world’s most marginalised groups.

Region: United Kingdom and Europe Teams and Clients

Role Category: Headquarters Positions or Project Opportunities