Principal Consultant (Melbourne)

Who Are Q5?  

We are an international award-winning consulting firm that helps organisations be the best they can be.  Q5 are trusted advisors to the world’s most high performing organisations.  Our consultants help foster good "organisational health" so that high performing organisations can remain at the top of their game, and those who are struggling can take action and improve. 

Organisational health is complex, therefore each Q5 intervention is unique. So whether an organisation has a strategic conundrum, market opportunity or operational gripe, we work with them to make things better.  This includes helping organisations clarify their purpose or strategic direction, designing new ‘fit-for-purpose’ organisational structures or processes, or cultivating a healthy culture of high performance. 

Why join now

We are in an exciting period of growth across both our Melbourne and Sydney offices. Our growing team provides multiple avenues to progress and rewards those with an entrepreneurial spirit to try new things and build from the ground up.

What this role offers  

As a Principal Consultant, you will have:

• Exposure to senior leaders at Australia’s top tier organisations

• Access world leading practitioners, methods, and tools across our global network

• Real responsibility and growth opportunities, not just support work

• The opportunity to shape and drive a growing Australian business

• A strong development and progression path

• Support from a collaborative, flat, non-ego culture

What you’ll do

There are three core focus areas that we use when thinking about consulting at Q5:

Project Delivery

• Mobilising and managing project teams; creating an environment of high performance where all members know their role, can develop as part of the team and know their wellbeing is valued

• Proactively managing stakeholder relationships with the client, establishing credibility and ensuring they have a truly positive experience working with Q5

• Bringing your experience and insight to bear on difficult client problems to inform delivery of tailored solutions that meet their needs

• Identifying and executing mitigations to project risk whilst potentially managing multiple projects

• Managing the commercials of projects, ensuring the budget and resources remain in-scope

Business Development

• Shaping winning responses to client briefs and RfPs; defining the strategy, leading proposal teams and mobilising them to deliver compelling, high-quality submissions

• Bringing insight and credibility to bids through deep experience, strengthening value propositions and differentiating Q5 in the market

• Providing rigorous peer review and challenge to proposals, elevating quality across single engagements and complex programmes

• Defining the right commercial and resourcing model for each opportunity, balancing client impact with sustainable growth

Practice Management

• Mentoring and stretching Consultants and Senior Consultants; creating an environment of high performance, honest feedback and accelerated development

• Championing onboarding and integration through active participation in the Buddy system, ensuring new joiners thrive from day one

• Strengthening the Q5 ecosystem by developing new propositions, delivering capability-building initiatives and leading internal communities and committees

Requirements:
What you’ll bring

• Significant experience leading projects and teams in a consulting environment (typically 5–8+ years), ideally with Organisational Design expertise

• Strong academic foundations, with a Bachelor’s degree or above

• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills; able to engage senior stakeholders and lead complex workshops with clarity and impact

• Commercial and delivery credibility; comfortable shaping work, leading teams and driving outcomes

• Intellectual curiosity and sharp problem-solving ability; able to navigate ambiguity and adapt at pace

• Confidence and presence with senior clients; building trusted, lasting relationships quickly

• A passion for developing others; mentoring with care, challenge and a learning mindset

• Drive, resilience and a hands-on approach; stepping up when it matters most

• A collaborative, people-first mindset; bringing others with you and caring deeply about client and team success

• Experience across relevant sectors or Q5 offerings, and familiarity with digital collaboration tools, is advantageous

Benefits:
Finance

• Health allowance which is flexible for you to use for your chosen mental and physical health needs

• Salary packaging for super, additional leave and leasing of eligible electric vehicles

Career

• Q5 Mentoring Scheme to ensure the development, care and support of each individual is a focus throughout the year

• Thrive in a culture of continuous learning, backed by diverse project opportunities, sector expertise and investment in your professional growth

Health & Wellbeing

• 5 weeks annual leave with the option to purchase an additional week

• Employee Assistance Program

• Wellbeing Program

Family & Lifestyle

• Generous Paid Parental Leave