Project Manager - Manufacturing Consultant

Socket.dev; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Factory Advisors is seeking a Project Manager - Manufacturing Operations Consultant to lead client engagements on the factory floor. You will oversee projects, manage resources, and deliver measurable ROI through operational and digital transformation initiatives.

This role requires 10–20 years of senior operations or manufacturing leadership, strong coaching and stakeholder management, and willingness to travel up to 90% with 4–5 days onsite per week.

Qualifications

• 10–20 years of diverse management experience in manufacturing or operations.
• Experience managing projects, including budget and resource planning.
• Strong passion for coaching and mentoring others.
• Proven leadership of senior teams and driving results.
• Commitment to coaching others to solve problems.

Responsibilities

• Client-facing project oversight and leadership.
• Maintain resource utilization against project budget and scope.
• Compile and deliver concise reports using Microsoft Office tools.
• Collaborate with clients to determine KPI measures for improvement.
• Develop cost‑benefit analyses to demonstrate ROI.
• Monitor project performance, identify risks, and propose countermeasures.
• Influence Sr. Advisors to align with delivery standards.
• Identify opportunities to expand services beyond scope.
• Maintain day-to-day client communications and on-site activity.
• Engage as a Sr. Advisor in case delivery when staffing requires.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Coaching

Stakeholder management

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Business

MBA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Export Control & Client Compliance Notice:

This position supports an engagement with client-specific security and export control requirements.Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders), visa holders, and other non-U.S. citizens are not eligible for this position.

Factory Advisors is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role.

Project Manager - Manufacturing Operations Consultant (this is not an IT Project Manager)

Company: Factory Advisors
Location: USA
Employment Type: Full-timeCompensation: Base + Bonus (pay-for-performance structure)
Travel Requirement: Up to 90%; 4-5 days per week onsite, minimum 18 days per month (onsite client work, conferences)

At Factory Advisors, we partner with industrial and manufacturing organizations to transform operations, unlock sustainable growth, and achieve measurable business outcomes. We don't just consult—we embed with our clients, lead change, and deliver lasting results.

As part of the integratedFactory Transformationorganization, combining Factory Advisors and GrayMatter, we help manufacturers connect operational excellence, digital technologies, and workforce enablement into one transformation strategy.

Our differentiated approach combines:

• Operational Transformationto optimize people, processes, and performance
• Digital Transformationto create visibility through systems, data, automation, and analytics
• Approachable AIto deliver actionable intelligence directly to frontline teams

Together, these capabilities help manufacturers close the gap between strategy and execution.

Our team memberswork on-site with our clients, and unlike big box firms that like to coach from the sidelines, we “get on the field” with our clients to helpthemincreasetheircompetitiveedge.

We seek like-minded individualsto work with our clients across North America.Base salary ranges from $100,000 USD to $135,000 USD with bonus potential up to 50% of base salary. The basesalary will becommensuratewith relevant experience and expertise.

About Us

Factory Advisors is not your average boardroom consultant; we help manufacturing and operational organizations unlock higher performance, boosting revenue, reducing costs, and driving compliance through people-first strategies. We believe in rolling up our sleeves and working on the factory floor with leaders who care about measurable outcomes and want solutions that show up in daily execution. Our clients are decision-makers at the top of their industry segments within manufacturing, and they trust us to deliver lasting impact.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Case Management

• Client-facing project oversight and leadership
• Maintainresourceutilizationagainst project budget and expected deliverables (scope)
• Compile and deliver clean, concisereportsusing standard MicrosoftOfficetools
• Collaborate with clients to determineappropriate KPIsto measure improvementactivity
• Developobjectivecost-benefit analysisto document anddemonstrateclearROI
• Monitorproject performance,identifyrisks, and recommend countermeasures as necessary
• Monitor and positively influence Sr. Advisors to ensure alignmentwithFTE’sdelivery standards
• Actively seekadditionalopportunities to support clients outside of the existing scope of work
• Maintain day-to-dayclient communications,and on-site activity,to ensure clientsatisfaction
• Actively engage as a Sr. Advisor in case delivery when project scope or staffingrequires

Business Development

• Positively promoteFTE’s valuepropositionand services

• Activelyidentifyopportunities for new or expansion of existing business

• Support FTE Case ManagersandPrincipals in buildingout project approach, staffing, andtranslatingcustomer pain points intonew business opportunities

• Determineproject loading (how much) and staffing models(who) to support this approach

Internal Firm Building

• Continuously work to develop, document, and improve FTE business processes and our approach and output for clientcasework

• Participate in annualbusinessplanning and internal projectexecution

• Participate in vettingofcandidatesseekingto join FTE’s Core Team or Advisory Network

What You Bring:

• 10 – 20yearsofdiverse work experience as a manager within one or more of the following disciplines:Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Factory Operations, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain,or Quality Engineering
• Experience managingprojects,including project controls, budget, and resource planning
• Strong passion for coaching and mentoringothers
• Strong leadership and management skillsleadinghigh-performance senior teams
• Passionfor coaching and mentoring others

Desired Experience but not Required:

• Experience developingmanufacturing strategy,utilizinglean manufacturing,Six Sigma, and/orcontinuous improvementmethodologies

• Proven experience incoachingproblem-solving skills (quantitative, conceptual, analytical)

• Proven ability to deliverresults through influential leadershipvs.positional power

Attributes

• Possess the ability to lead senior project teams in a fast-pacedand demandingenvironment
• Fosters teamwork and engagementwith FTE and Clientteammembers
• Provenative listening skills,seekingfirst to understand and then to be understood
• Passion for coaching others to use their knowledge andskillsto overcome challenges
• Polished and seasoned presenterand facilitator, recognized by others as a strong communicator and collaborator

Education

• Bachelor’s degree isrequired, or equivalent years of work experience; MBA is preferred

Physical demands require computer work, standing, sitting in anofficeand manufacturing plant environment, walking manufacturing plant floor multiple times dailyrequired

We arecommitted to diversity and inclusionandoffer a competitive wage and benefits package.