Industrial Engineer - Operations Analyst at Aaron Allen & Associates

Wayne State University; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global advisory firm is seeking an Industrial Engineer - Operations Analyst in Chicago. This high-exposure role involves working directly with the CEO on complex projects, requiring expert Excel and PowerPoint skills. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or a related field, and the ability to turn ambiguity into actionable insights. The position offers a hybrid work model and significant learning opportunities.

Qualifications

• Expert-level Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or a related field required.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to think logically.

Responsibilities

• Turn ambiguity into actionable insights and structured deliverables.
• Build sophisticated Excel models and PowerPoint presentations.
• Dissect operations, map processes, and identify gaps.
• Support due diligence for middle-market and upper-middle-market M&A and strategic initiatives for brands and operators.
• Collaborate with economists and data scientists to produce outputs meeting investment-banker quality.

Skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Data-driven decision-making

Process optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or related discipline

Job description

Industrial Engineer - Operations Analyst

Hybrid – Full Time

About the job

Industrial Engineer / Operations Analyst

Chicago, Dubai, Global Travel + Flexible/Remote

Aaron Allen & Associates is a boutique global advisory firm serving the restaurant, hospitality, and foodservice sectors on six continents. We partner with ambitious leaders — from middle-market investors to some of the largest and most prestigious brands on the planet — to drive growth, optimize performance, and shape transformation strategies at every stage of the business and investment lifecycle.

This is not a back-office role. It’s an immersive, high-exposure position where you’ll work directly with the CEO on complex, high-stakes projects that demand both analytical rigor and real-world practicality — from the dishroom to the boardroom.

What you’ll do:

• Turn ambiguity into actionable insights and chaos into clear, structured deliverables.
• Build sophisticated Excel models, pivot tables, and PowerPoint decks that frame opportunities and risks for multi-million and billion-dollar hospitality assets.
• Dissect operations, map processes, identify gaps, and quantify impact potential.
• Support due diligence for middle-market and upper-middle-market M&A, as well as strategic initiatives for emerging brands and global operators.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary experts — from economists to data scientists — to produce outputs that meet or exceed investment banker quality.

What makes this role different:

• Unprecedented exposure — direct access to top executives, investors, and boardrooms worldwide.
• Fast-track development — learn in months what takes years at Big Four or MBB firms.
• Variety & velocity — switch gears from a growth strategy in Riyadh to an operations redesign in Chicago, all in the same quarter.
• Meritocracy in action — prove yourself, and you’ll help shape your own role and trajectory.

You might be a fit if you:

• Have expert-level Excel and PowerPoint skills with an eye for clean, compelling visuals.
• Think in structured, logical steps and can translate complexity into clarity.
• Are curious, adaptable, and comfortable with high expectations.
• Thrive on problem-solving and can separate urgent from important.
• Are legally able to work and travel internationally.

A bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Industrial Engineering or a directly related discipline is required — this role calls for someone who has mastered the fundamentals of systems thinking, process optimization, and data-driven decision-making.

How to apply:

Send me a direct message telling me why this role stood out to you and why it makes sense for us to invest time in a direct conversation. Generic “I’m interested” messages will be ignored — show initiative, and you’ll get our attention. Also see www.aaronallen.com