Principal Consultant, Change Management (Project Leader) Top Secret Clearance Required

The Clearing•Arlington, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clearing is seeking a Project Leader at the Principal Consultant level to manage and support an anticipated client engagement/project within the Department of War. Principal Consultants at The Clearing are expected to lead complex, medium- to large-scale projects or portfolios, owning responsibility for overall project outcomes, client satisfaction, and their team’s experience. They are expected to demonstrate strong business development capabilities, driving both organic and net-new business growth. Principals actively contribute to building internal capacity by mentoring consultants at all levels and strengthening the firm’s consulting capabilities. Recognized as organizational leaders, Principals provide subject matter expertise and strategic guidance across engagements. Principals cultivate trusted client relationships and ensure project and portfolio growth align with The Clearing’s corporate strategy and annual priorities. Qualified candidates must have a Top Secret security clearance (or one that’s been active within the past two years) and be willing to work on-site at the client location in Arlington, VA.

Requirements

Active Top Secret Clearance (or active within the past two years)
Bachelor’s degree
8+ years of experience , including prior consulting/services firm experience
Proven success leading medium-scale, complex projects, including client relationship management, team leadership, and talent development responsibilities
Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated attention to detail, organization, and time management
Exceptional communication skills, including strong business writing and verbal communication; experience with strategic communications is a plus .
Flexible, adaptive mindset with the ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes, and often ambiguous client environments.
Ability to work onsite in Arlington, Virginia.
Willing and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance and/or favorable suitability determination by completing a federal background investigation to perform client work
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States, now and in the future, without the need for current or future visa sponsorship

Nice To Haves

Change management, strategic planning, program management, and/or organizational design experience
Strategic communications
PMP and/or Change Management certification (ex.: Prosci)

Responsibilities

Lead and manage a complex, medium-sized project, ensuring timely, on-budget delivery aligned with scope and quality expectations.
Own accountability for project outcomes, aligning work to client goals, offering strategic guidance, and building trust-based client relationships.
Oversee project financials, ensuring project financial targets are met or exceeded; guide team members managing task-level budgets to support company profitability.
Design and implement both short- and long-term project plans that align with client needs and strategic objectives.
Produce high-quality, client-facing deliverables, applying attention to detail, strong written communication, and project quality standards; provide content review and feedback using past experiences, expertise, and understanding of client environment to guide teammates.
Facilitate moderate- to high-complexity client meetings, effectively guiding discussions to achieve desired client and project outcomes.
Navigate challenging team or client dynamics, driving teams toward high performance by managing risk, adapting to change, and making critical course corrections.
Provide clear team direction and accountability, establishing performance standards, supporting goal setting, and actively managing team performance.
Lead high-impact proposals, serving as lead writer or proposal manager while mentoring junior staff in capture strategy and proposal development.
Drive market visibility, producing external-facing thought leadership (e.g., blogs, one-pagers) and engaging in strategic industry events.
Lead and support business growth efforts, generating and closing new business opportunities while managing the full capture, proposal, and contracting lifecycle.
Advance The Clearing’s methodologies and solutions, continuously improving offerings and developing scalable, high-demand solution packages across delivery, marketing, and sales.