Principal Consultant (Strategic Advisor)

Company: Aldridge
Location: Houston
Posted on: February 11, 2025

Job Description:

Who We Are: is a leading Managed Service Provider (MSP) offering scalable IT and cybersecurity solutions to fast-growing, small to mid-market businesses in the US. Founded in 1984, this private equity-backed company is a technology management consulting and outsourcing firm that provides best-fit solutions through a tailored approach and local relationships. With offices in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Seattle, the company's unwavering dedication, superior technical expertise, and keen understanding of business processes have transformed it into a trusted partner for its clients. With a strong reputation for delivering high-quality services, Aldridge is committed to helping its clients optimize their technology infrastructure and achieve their business goals.Principal Consultant:The Principal Consultant (PC) will be the key relationship holder for clients while delivering high-impact IT solutions and strategic guidance. The role involves overseeing complex projects, providing expert advice on IT infrastructure, cloud services, and cybersecurity, and ensuring the successful implementation of technology strategies that align with clients' business goals and the Aldridge technology catalog. The PC will collaborate closely with senior executives, work across Aldridge departments, and leverage deep industry knowledge to drive innovation and operational excellence. The ability to build strong client relationships and deliver measurable results will be critical to Aldridge's success and the success of our clients.Position Overview:As a Principal Consultant, you'll take ownership of fostering strong, successful relationships between Aldridge and our clients. By developing a deep understanding of each assigned client's business, you'll provide strategic technical guidance and alignment, driving retention and growth. Your efforts will demonstrate Aldridge's enduring value through the effective operation of IT.The ideal candidate will leverage their technical expertise to perform consultative selling to clients, recommending ways to maximize value from existing IT environments, address technical deficiencies that pose business risks, align clients with a solid security posture, and support clients in planning and budgeting for their future IT investments.Key Responsibilities:Client Relationships

• Own the relationship between Aldridge and the key executive or management contact for each assigned client and collaborate across Aldridge departments to always drive positive relationship health.
• Develop an understanding of each client's business goals, challenges, needs, and interests, compliance requirements, and technology in use.
• Act as the trusted advisor and consult to the client regarding adopting our solutions that align with their business and drive the best-fit technology investment that creates a win-win scenario for both Aldridge and the client.
• Lead the contract renewal process for each assigned client, looking for opportunities to grow our scope of work with such clients.
• Clearly explain to the client any risks or liabilities about the state of their technology and technology-related business decisions, and, where appropriate, document the client's decisions to manage Aldridge's risk and liability.
• Respond timely and accurately to all client communication that is within the scope of the role or connect the client to the appropriate resource, ensuring that the client's requests are met in a timely manner or properly communicate the expected timeline for meeting such requests.Consulting - Client Roadmaps and Budgeting
  • Gather and review feedback, assessment reports, evaluations, standards alignment, best practice alignment, and other relevant data associated with the client to maintain a full understanding of the state of their technology environment.
  • Complete and maintain an 18-month technology roadmap and IT budget for each client that guides clients toward selections and implementations that improve alignment with the clients' business and Aldridge's technology catalog.
  • Support the prioritization, management, forecasting, renewal, and delivery of Aldridge solutions to your assigned clients as well as provide general education on each of those solutions.
  • Drive the onboarding of newly acquired clients, building excellent first impressions and long-lasting relationships with all key decision makers.
  • Maintain accurate roadmap and opportunity records in internal Aldridge systems and accurately forecast implementations and recurring solution upgrade timelines to align resource availability to client requirements.Client Meetings
    • Schedule, prepare, and conduct client-facing meetings and presentations for each assigned client based on the cadence set by Aldridge.
    • Understand and provide the business requirements and business outcomes required and work with the appropriate Aldridge colleagues to scope, estimate, and contract before ultimately presenting such solutions to assigned clients.
    • Ensure that client meetings drive alignments to technology standards, help the client understand how such alignment improves business outcomes, report on roadmap progress, and outline next steps to continually drive technology initiatives forward.Technology Fluency
      • Maintain a full and working understanding of all technologies in the Aldridge technology catalog, each assigned client's alignment to those technologies, and use such knowledge to drive ongoing alignment.
      • Identify areas within the client portfolio where new technology solutions are needed by clients and present those ideas to the appropriate Aldridge teams for solution consideration.
      • Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in IT and security, sharing relevant insights with clients and colleagues.
      • Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall objectives of the department and organization.Qualifications:
        • Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
        • Minimum of 10 years of business experience; technical consulting and account management preferred.
        • Minimum of 5 years of hands-on IT or technical experience, ideally within a Managed Service Provider environment.
        • Strong business analysis skills: must be able to identify business goals, needs, and perceptions.
        • Strong data analysis skills: must have the necessary experience and knowledge to assess usage, costs, risks, and profitability used to identify client relationship trends.
        • Superior relationship skills: must demonstrate the ability to build and maintain lasting relationships with clients (internal and external) through consistent and proactive communication in high-pressure environments.
        • Proven consultative selling skills: must be able to validate and sell revenue opportunities through a solutions-selling approach and be comfortable recommending additional Aldridge solutions.
        • Exceptional attention to detail, with the ability to accurately report and present complex information under tight deadlines.
        • Outstanding customer service skills, with the ability to build lasting rapport and communicate effectively with clients in high-pressure situations.
        • Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities, with a knack for navigating challenging situations and finding mutually beneficial solutions.Hybrid Work Schedule:Optional work from home days are Mondays and Fridays. Required in-office days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Requires flexibility due to travel (up to 25%), client availability, or special events.Additional Requirements:
          • Physical ability to stand, walk or sit for extended periods.
          • Must be comfortable with periodically lifting 25 pounds.Aldridge Core Values:
            • Build Trust - We continuously earn the trust of our partners through genuine, transparent communication, and unflinching accountability.
            • Take Swift, Meaningful Action - When every second matters, we drill to the core question and act decisively.
            • Create Best-Fit Solutions - More --- better - We create the most value for the least added overhead and complexity.
            • Evolve & Improve - We know the power of a growth mindset. We do not let fear of failure stop us from finding new, and better ways to do things.Benefits:
              • Competitive Salary and Incentive Plan.
              • Generous Employer Contribution to Health Benefits Package.
              • 401(k) Matching.
              • 4 Weeks Paid Time Off per year, plus additional days for community service.
              • Ongoing Training and Professional Development Opportunities.
              • Free Snacks and Beverages!Aldridge is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our employees. All employment is based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
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Keywords: Aldridge, Houston , Principal Consultant (Strategic Advisor), Professions , Houston, Texas