As Principal you will lead and grow Control Risks’ Europe & CIS Geopolitical & Country Risk (GCR) practice, providing strategic direction, client leadership, and operational excellence as part of a global team of over 100 analysts and consultants. The role combines practice leadership with hands-on delivery of complex advisory engagements for senior decision-makers at multinational companies and other major clients. Ideally you will be based in Berlin but we will also consider applicants based in London.

Key responsibilities include:

Leadership of the GCR Europe & CIS Practice

• Lead the strategy, growth, and performance of the Europe & CIS GCR practice, ensuring revenue, profitability, and delivery targets are achieved.
• Oversee complex, high-value consulting engagements, including cross-service line and multi-regional projects involving senior client stakeholders.

• Support analytical leadership on political, regulatory, and security developments across the region.
• Drive innovation through the development and rollout of new products, services, and solutions.

People Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor the Europe & CIS team through effective performance management, coaching, and role-modelling collaborative leadership and wellbeing.

Business Development

• Meet personal and team sales origination targets through client engagement, thought leadership, conference participation, and development of integrated solutions.
• Build and maintain senior client relationships, strengthen market positioning, and identify new opportunities across existing and prospective clients.

Business Management

• Manage the practice efficiently, maintaining financial discipline, target margins, and robust operational oversight.

Brand & Market Presence

• Represent Control Risks externally through media, conferences, thought leadership, and social media engagement.

Risk Management

• Protect the firm's reputation by ensuring appropriate risk assessment, governance, and escalation of potential issues.

• Master’s degree or equivalent (in relevant subject matter).
• Minimum of 10 years of full-time professional experience in winning and delivering political risk intelligence and advisory consulting on highly regulated, policy-sensitive sectors, such as energy, infrastructure, defence, telecoms, healthcare/life sciences, financial services and/or digital technologies.
• Access to a large network of reliable, credible sources in European policy communities, think tanks, ministries, security agencies and from the business community.
• Excellent communication, listening and negotiation skills in English and preferably at least one other European language, ideally German.
• Experience in public speaking, including larger audiences (100+)
• Advanced analytical and report writing skills in English (and preferably one other European language).
• Excellent knowledge and demonstrated experience in applying methodologies for political risk analysis (i.e. threat assessments, risk assessments, scenario development and planning); ability to develop bespoke methodologies.
• Excellent knowledge of risk management frameworks and understanding of how private businesses manage both strategic and operational risks in practice.
• Demonstrable experience selling consulting services to international clients.
• Strong project management skills & demonstrable ability to multi-task and manage multiple commitments under time pressure.
• Demonstrable commercial acumen when planning and pricing projects.
• Willingness to travel for work.