MBA Summer Consultant, Consumer & Retail Group

Alvarez & Marsal Deutschland GmbH; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Alvarez & Marsal Deutschland GmbH is offering MBASummer Consultant internships in the Chicago area. The 10-week program targets MBA students graduating between December 2027 and July 2028 and provides hands-on client experience across Growth Strategy, Transformations, M&A, and Analytics.

Ideal candidates are curious problem-solvers with an analytical mindset who can lead work streams, communicate clearly, and collaborate effectively. Travel up to ~70% Monday–Friday is expected.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree from a top university; MBA currently pursuing.
• 3–5 years in consumer/retail-related business or consulting (preferred).
• Advanced proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access; strong data acumen.

Skills

Analytical Mindset

Self-Starter

Collaborative & Persuasive

Clear Communicator

Adaptable & Creative

Problem-Solving

Leadership

Business Development

Communication

Travel

Education

Undergraduate degree from a top university; MBA currently pursuing

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Access

Job description

Description

Alvarez & Marsal | Consumer and Retail Group (CRG)

Position: MBASummer Consultant

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is a global consulting firm with over 10,000 entrepreneurial, action and results-oriented professionals in over 40 countries. We take a hands-on approach to solving our clients’ problems and assisting them in reaching their potential. Our culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who positively impact our clients and shape our industry. The collaborative environment and engaging work—guided by A&M's core values of Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward, and Inclusive Diversity—are why our people love working at A&M.

Established over six years ago, A&M’s Consumer & Retail Group is a vertically focused management consulting practice that continues to experience high growth.

CRG was formed to disrupt the consulting industry – we are faster, more experienced, and generate more impact than traditional firms. We are a mix of top-tier consultants and operational experts that help us bring the right combination of analytical rigor overlayed with business judgement to help build practical and real solutions.

The work we do:

• Growth Strategy & Implementation
• Large Scale Transformation
• M&A, Carve-out and Post-Merger Integration
• Operations
• Merchandising & Assortment Optimization
• Interim Leadership
• Digital & Analytics / IT Strategy
• Program Management Office
• Channel Optimization

Manager Summer Consultant Internships are available for students pursuing an MBA degree with graduation dates between December 2027 through July of 2028.

We’re looking for curious, driven problem-solvers with a passion for consumer and retail. You thrive on complex challenges, think in structured, data-backed ways, and adapt quickly in fast-moving environments.

• Analytical Mindset: Breaks down problems, builds hypotheses, and backs them with data.
• Self-Starter: Owns the work, stays resilient, and leans into the unknown.
• Collaborative & Persuasive: Builds trust, listens well, and influences through logic and presence.
• Clear Communicator: Makes ideas land—calmly, confidently, and to the point.
• Adaptable & Creative: Learns fast, juggles priorities, and keeps a sense of humor along the way.

Bring your ideas, energy, and curiosity— we’ll bring the opportunities.

The Internship Experience:

In just 10 weeks, our interns dive into the CRG Consultant experience - building real-world skills and a powerful consulting toolkit for long-term career success.

CRG Interns:

• Receive Training: 1 Week of onboarding bootcamp and training to develop quantitative and qualitative skills
• Experience Client Projects: Interns spend the bulk of their summer collaborating with CRG consulting teams on high-impact projects, while getting exposure to clients and senior leadership
• Gain Mentorship: CRG has an apprenticeship model on project teams alongside 1-on-1 coaching through the summer with a mentor
• Develop and Expand Network: Interns participate in events during the summer to foster networking and engagement within CRG and greater A&M

Desired Professional Experience:

Consulting projects or engagement in one or more of the following areas:

• Retail / Consumer Industry Experience
• Merchandising & Category Management
• Sales & Marketing effectiveness, processes, incentives
• Distribution & Logistics, Network Modeling
• Manufacturing and Contract ManufacturingDirect & Indirect Procurement
• SG&A cost reduction
• M&A: Divestitures/Carve-Outs and Integration
• Information Technology and Digital Improvements

Qualifications

• Education: Undergraduate degree from a top university; currently pursuing an MBA
• Experience: 3–5 years in consumer/retail-related business or consulting (professional services or corporate roles with financial/operational focus preferred)
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access; strong technical acumen with comfort handling complex data
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead and manage complex work streams and projects; build and drive the case for change
• Problem-Solving: Can independently structure problem-solving approaches and adapt quickly to shifting priorities
• Analytical Skills: Synthesize complex analyses into actionable insights with attention to detail
• Innovation: Creative in developing new tools, methodologies, and approaches
• Business Development: Experience in proposal development with strong commercial instincts and interest
• Communication: Advanced written communication skills; able to create client-ready documents and presentations with minimal direction
• Travel: Willingness to travel up to ~70% Monday–Friday

The Intern Salary is a monthly base of $14,583.33. Interns are not eligible to participate in Alvarez & Marsal’s fringe benefits programs. Click here for more information regarding A&M’s benefits programs.

Who will you be working with?

We are not a typical consulting firm. We are a group of entrepreneurial professionals who embody the A&M Core Values – inclusive diversity, integrity, quality, objectivity, fun and personal reward while delivering a tailored and scalable approach to working with private equity, hedge fund, and corporate clients. We present you with opportunities, not a playbook, and we reward you based on performance, not your tenure.

How will you grow and be supported?

As a demonstration of A&M’s strong commitment to its people, we offer benefits to support your career, personal and professional developments. This includes performance-based career progression and promotion process, high quality practice-wide training programs, a global mobility program, rotation opportunities in other practice areas, employee resource groups, and a health and wellness program. Click here to learn about our commitment to your well-being.

A&M recognizes that our people fuel our growth, and you and your team will be provided with the best available training and development resources, as well as networking opportunities. Click here to learn more about why A&M is a great place to work.