Associate Package Consultant – Microsoft 2027

IBM; United States; On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM's Associate Package Consultant in Chicago, IL, United States, joins a global team helping clients adopt cloud, AI, and data-driven transformations. You'll support selection, implementation, and ongoing support of enterprise applications while growing your technical and consultative toolkit.

From day one you'll collaborate with clients, complete structured learning, and pursue industry certifications as you contribute to business value.

Qualifications

• Passion for understanding emerging technologies and applying innovative solutions to client problems.
• Strong problem-solving capabilities with data-driven recommendations.
• Ability to manage dynamic workloads in an agile environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication to expose and defend points to business leaders.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on enterprise-wide data integrations with project teams.
• Develop analytics approaches to support business decisions.
• Collaborate with client personnel and IBM teams to define requirements and design solutions.
• Participate in design activities from requirements to implementation.
• Gain knowledge across multiple platforms, processes, or architectures.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Willingness to travel up to 100%

Adaptability

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Introduction

Come forge the future like an IBMer Ready to think boldly, work with some of the world’s most recognized brands, and kick-start your career? Welcome to the IBM’s Associate Program for university hires.

From day one, you’ll collaborate with global clients and contribute to projects that help organizations solve their toughest challenges across digital transformation, cloud strategy, AI adoption, and process redesign – working alongside a global cohort of diverse, ambitious peers. As an Associate, you’ll have access to industry-recognized certifications, digital badges, and a minimum of 40 hours of structured learning per year on IBM’s AI-driven learning platform – supported by coaches, mentors, and thriving professional communities across practices. IBM’s culture of internal mobility means you’ll have the freedom to explore new technologies, industries, and career paths as your interests evolve.

To give yourself the best opportunity for success, we advise applying only to roles that align with your skills and experience, rather than applying broadly across all entry-level positions. You’ll receive a status update email for each application, so be sure to check your IBM Careers account regularly – it’s the best way to get a centralized view of which roles you have active applications against.

Your Role and Responsibilities

As an Associate Package Consultant at IBM, you will help us usher clients into a new age of future-looking technology. You’ll be assisting clients in the selection, implementation, and support of applications, methodology, and tools. You’ll be trained up to perform as an expert on existing and/or new applications specialized around things like Cloud, DevOp, Enterprise Applications, and Mobile. You will help our clients integrate enterprise-wide data for improved performance and efficiency. Leveraging a growth mindset, you’re ready and willing to deliver business value, wherever needed.

In your role, you may be responsible for:

• Working with project teams to advise clients on enterprise-wide data integrations.
• Creating ways to better assess analytics, better supporting business decision making.
• Working as a team member with client personnel and other IBM teams to identify functional requirements and subsequently working with or in some instances leading others in the identification, justification, and design of the client’s solution.
• Participating in a wide range of design activities, from requirements analysis through systems, application and/or process design specification and implementation.
• Gaining knowledge across multiple platforms, processes, or architectures.

These positions are anticipated to start in 2027.

Required Education

• High School Diploma/GED

Preferred Education

• Bachelor’s Degree

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

• Passion for understanding the applications of emerging technologies, and ability to adapt modern approaches and innovative solutions to client problems.
• Strong problem-solving capabilities, including the desire to take ambiguous problems and deliver creative and well-structured solutions; as well as applying deep analytical skills to ensure recommendations are informed by data and insights.
• A high-level resilience with the ability to manage dynamic workloads in an agile environment.
• Powerful communication skills, successfully applying verbal and written communications to expose and defend points of view to business leaders and team members.
• Willingness to travel up to 100%

Preferred Technical and Professional Experience

• Preferred Majors: Computer Science, MIS/IT, Computer Engineering, Data Science, SW Engineering, or related fields.
• Exposure to or experience working with cloud native application methodologies and tools is a plus.
• Exposure to multiple programming technologies (e.g. Javascript, HTML, XML, SQL) is a plus.
• Preferred Certifications: Azure Foundational (Cloud or AI Associate); Associate, Professional, or Specialty (Aspirational) in-progress certifications are fine.
• Skills/Tech: Programming fundamentals (.NET/ASP.NET, C#, Java, Python, or JavaScript/TypeScript); SQL Basics; networking basics, Terraform/CloudFormation, Linux fundamentals.
• Exposure to cloud and AI concepts such as Azure services, data platforms, security, and AI models through coursework, labs, internships, or personal projects, with a willingness to keep learning.
• Exposure to tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar AI assistants to research, write, analyze, and improve productivity, while applying critical thinking and validation.

About Business Unit

IBM Consulting is IBM’s consulting and global professional services business, with market leading capabilities in business and technology transformation. With deep expertise in many industries, we offer strategy, experience, technology, and operations services to many of the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Our people are focused on accelerating our clients’ businesses through the power of collaboration. We believe in the power of technology responsibly used to help people, partners and the planet.

Your Life @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that dedication to our clients’ success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment every day, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on‑going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team‑focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions every day is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can‑do attitude, and always striving for an outcome‑focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

About IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason, and science, we can improve business, society, and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Other Relevant Job Details

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

• Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well‑being
• Financial programs such as 401(k), cash balance pension plan, the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long‑term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance‑based salary incentive programs
• Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law
• Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI‑driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry‑recognized certifications to achieve their career goals
• Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 21 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full‑time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job‑related skills, experience, and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part‑time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro‑rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

Locations: Chicago, Illinois, United States