Senior Manager/ Principal Consultant

Wave Search; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Wave Search Limited actively seeks Senior Managers and Principal Consultants with deep manufacturing expertise to lead complex transformation programs for major industrial clients. You will blend management consulting with hands-on manufacturing operations leadership to boost safety, reliability and productivity.

You will advise senior leaders on strategy, identify improvement opportunities, and drive value through end-to-end delivery across plant floors and executive suites, with travel across

Qualifications

• Deep manufacturing or industrial operations expertise.
• Experience leading large-scale operational transformation programs.
• Knowledge of Lean, continuous improvement, asset reliability, productivity, safety, or sustainability
• Strong executive stakeholder management and commercial skills
• Ability to engage effectively from the boardroom to the plant floor
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field
• Willingness to travel across the USA and internationally

Responsibilities

• Advise senior leaders on manufacturing strategy, operational excellence, safety, reliability, and performance
• Identify operational risks, performance gaps, and improvement opportunities
• Deliver improvements across production, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and frontline operations
• Strengthen management systems, operating models, and organizational capabilities
• Lead client and consulting teams while ensuring high-quality delivery
• Support proposals, account development, and new business opportunities

Skills

Manufacturing expertise

Lean & continuous improvement

Executive stakeholder management

Boardroom to plant floor communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering/Operations/Business

Job description

Senior Manager / Principal Consultant – Manufacturing

Location: USA

Working model: Hybrid, with regular business travel

Salary: $140,000–$200,000 base, plus bonus and benefits

Join a purpose-led global consultancy that helps organizations protect lives, improve operational performance, and build more sustainable and resilient businesses.

We are seeking experienced Senior Managers and Principal Consultants with deep manufacturing expertise to lead complex transformation programs for major industrial clients. You will combine management consulting skills with practical knowledge of manufacturing operations, helping leadership teams improve safety, productivity, reliability, cost performance, and organizational effectiveness. This is a senior, client-facing position for someone who can move confidently between the boardroom and the plant floor—turning strategic priorities into practical, measurable, and sustainable operational improvements.

Key responsibilities

• Advise senior leaders on manufacturing strategy, operational excellence, safety, reliability, and performance
• Identify operational risks, performance gaps, and improvement opportunities
• Deliver improvements across production, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and frontline operations
• Strengthen management systems, operating models, and organizational capabilities
• Lead client and consulting teams while ensuring high-quality delivery
• Support proposals, account development, and new business opportunities

Experience required

• Deep manufacturing or industrial operations expertise
• Experience leading large-scale operational transformation programs
• Knowledge of Lean, continuous improvement, asset reliability, productivity, safety, or sustainability
• Strong executive stakeholder management and commercial skills
• Ability to engage effectively from the boardroom to the plant floor
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field
• Willingness to travel across the USA and internationally

You will work on high-impact assignments where the outcomes extend beyond recommendations. Your work will help clients improve safety, strengthen operational resilience, deliver better performance, and create lasting organizational capability. The organization offers a collaborative and inclusive culture, meaningful client work, significant professional autonomy, and opportunities to shape both client relationships and the continued growth of its manufacturing consulting practice.