Associate Consultant, Operational Excellence, Manufacturing

IPM Integrated Project Management Company; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% employer-paid health benefits

401(k) matching

Business development incentives

Performance bonus

Job summary

A leading project management firm is seeking individuals for a dynamic role focusing on leading improvement strategies and initiatives across various manufacturing contexts. The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering field, possess strong analytical and leadership skills, and thrive in both individual and team-based environments. This position offers a competitive salary range of $95,000 to $105,000, along with comprehensive benefits in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• 3-6 years of professional experience, preferably in manufacturing.
• Experience working on the production floor.
• Comfortable functioning as either an individual consultant or as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Development and management of improvement strategies.
• Performance of assessments to identify root causes of problems.
• Management of projects within established scope, schedule, and budget.

Skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering discipline

Tools

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

APICS certifications

Project Management certification

Job description

For more than three decades, premier organizations have trusted IPM to help ensure the successful execution of their strategic portfolios and critically important initiatives. With 90 percent repeat business and a Net Promoter Score in the world‑class category, IPM has a reputation that is second to none.

IPM is also a certified “Great Place to Work” company and has been named to the Great Place to Work list of “Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services”.

Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Boston, Parsippany, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Los Angeles and San Francisco, IPM has led more than 5,000 projects for over 500 clients in the United States and across continents. Our clientele ranges from Fortune 100 companies to startups.

Our Consultants are full‑time employees. They are our most important asset and the competitive advantage that sets us apart from the rest.

Within Operational Excellence, IPM partners with clients across a variety of manufacturing industries. At each new engagement, you’ll leverage the continual exposure and experiences from working in a variety of clients and project types. You’ll collaborate with highly talented IPM colleagues who will share their skills and experiences with you. You’ll need to solve complex problems, as our clients don’t come to us when their business is running smoothly and their challenges are simple. Our clients’ issues include:

• Manufacturing Improvements – (enterprise & local transformations, cost reductions, OEE improvements, targeted assessments such as capacity analysis or operational diligence)
• Supply Chain Optimization – (planning and production scheduling, sales, inventory & operations management (SIOP), network redesign, service level (OTIF) improvements)
• Capital Expansion – capacity or technology improvements (vertical start‑Up, operational readiness, consolidation, relocation)

In these areas it is important that you can demonstrate the ability to identify and test hypotheses, contribute ideas and insights, as well as deliver immediate and tangible improvements in business performance. Our consultants have a reputation for partnering with our clients and their teams to deliver real changes, as well as lasting benefits while exceeding expectations.

JOB DESCRIPTION

In this role your focus will be:

• Development, management, and leadership of improvement strategies and initiatives
• Performance of assessments utilizing analytical skills to identify root causes of problems and associated financial opportunities that lead to implementation roadmaps
• Collection and analysis of data as well as the gathering and documentation of client requirements (product workflows, OEE waterfalls), collaborating with the client team to define solutions
• Management of projects within established scope, schedule, and budget while meeting and exceeding IPM project management standards
• Establishment and leadership of high-performance project teams, serving as the project advocate within the client organization. Lead, coordinate, facilitate, and motivate all associated project resources to gain alignment on project goals and deliverables
• Creation and presentation of both executive-level and detailed updates throughout an engagement and within a final project readout deck
• Development and documentation of high-level strategies for achieving specific objectives or activities (hierarchical strategy, process flow, Final Project Summary, etc.).
• Applying consultative skills to identify and prioritize opportunities based on best practices to address client-specific needs, leveraging IPM’s professional assessment
• Daily project leadership with production, quality, maintenance, safety, supply chain, sanitation, and other key stakeholders.
• Professional communication with a broad spectrum of audiences from line operators to senior level executives.

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate for this position should have the following skills and experience:

• A Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering discipline, with a preference for industrial engineering, operations management, supply chain management or analytics
• 3‑6 years of professional experience, with at least 3 years working on the production floor as well as at least 2 of those years with a proven track record of delivering successful projects in manufacturing
• Be well versed in operational excellence methodologies, be passionate about clients, and dedicated to delivering high-quality solutions (Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and APICS certifications are a plus)
• Have demonstrated flexibility and the willingness to tailor your approach specifically based on IPM’s methodologies and clients’ needs
• Be comfortable functioning as either an individual consultant or in a team‑based role on a broader engagement, with a focus on delivery and implementation.
• Have the ability to lead multiple activities and resources while maintaining a focus on quality (Project Management certification is a plus)
• Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills to effectively communicate and build relationships with a broad spectrum of audiences at all organizational levels. Translating technical concepts into broadly understood terms is an essential skill.

If you think you can work with high caliber colleagues on complex and high‑profile projects, we’d like to hear from you. In return we’ll provide you the opportunities, support, and training to develop your career to the fullest of your capabilities; it’s not just what you’ve done that’s interesting to us – it’s what you are capable of achieving.

Why IPM

• Diverse projects: we take on a wide variety of project work, ensuring significant exposure to many clients and a broad range of opportunities to grow your professional experience
• Collaborative work environment: we have a well‑structured system to bring support from managers, internal teams, and our Centers of Excellence (CoE), which serve as a resource for specific service and industry knowledge, tools, and best practices
• Family with engaging culture: we believe in protecting our greatest asset, our people, with a culture that nurtures a caring environment with a transparent communication approach, culture‑building and team‑building events, both regional and companywide
• Professional development: we care about your training and development. You’ll get a thorough onboarding to ensure you’re prepared, and we’ll create the bandwidth you need to further your career at IPM. You are IPM’s future; we only promote from within
• Comprehensive compensation and benefits program: including 100% employer‑paid health, 401(k) matching, business development incentives, and performance bonus amongst many other elements. Salary range - $95,000 - $105,000.
• Passion for the greater good: we are steadfast in our devotion to the communities we serve and in actively promoting employee involvement in community improvement projects. We’ve created Project Mercy to channel and maximize our philanthropic efforts every quarter.

Disclaimer: Where a specific pay range is noted, it is a good faith estimate at the time of this posting. The actual salary offered will be based on experience, skills, qualifications, and market / business considerations.

IPM is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment.

IPM’s hybrid work environment requires a minimum of three days in the office. The specific days are flexible and may vary depending on project schedules and meetings. On‑site locations may also vary. In addition, we follow our clients’ guidance on on‑site requirements, so the minimum number of days in the office may increase depending on the client and project assignment.