Manufacturing Advisory Senior Associate

RSM is seeking a dynamic and solutions-oriented Senior Associate to join our growing Manufacturing Industry Advisory Practice. This role is ideal for a candidate with experience in demand planning, supply planning, inventory strategy, procurement, manufacturing, quality management or logistics. You will help mid-market clients solve complex challenges by delivering data-driven insights, operational improvements, and innovative strategies across the end-to-end supply chain.

We are looking for a strong problem solver who can analyze data, identify root causes, and design practical solutions that drive measurable impact. You will work directly with clients and cross-functional teams to refine supply chain operations, enhance resilience, and unlock growth opportunities. This role offers the entrepreneurial environment of a fast-growing consulting practice combined with the resources and expertise of the leading middle market advisory firm.

The ideal candidate will have experience leading at least one of the following performance improvement initiatives:

• Transactional Advisory: Manufacturing Plant Consolidations, Product Line Transfers, IOT/Manufacturing 4.0,
• Operating Model Design: Process Transformations, Cost Takeout, Scale For Growth, Plant Layout, Production Flow
• Business Process Improvement, Lean Six Sigma, Management Operating Systems
• Quality Management
• Logistics and Distribution, Warehousing, Network Optimization, Transportation
• Sales & Operations Planning, Inventory Management, Demand Planning
• Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Vendor Management
• Scenario Modeling and Data Analytics
• Customer Experience, Profit Analytics, Pricing
• ERP, CRM, WMS, TMS, QMS
• Business Visualization, Big Data and Statistical Analysis
• Enterprise AI Enablement

Responsibilities:

• Provide analysis and industry insight during client engagements to recommend and deliver innovative solutions to clients through data analysis, opinions, observations, interviews, facilitated workshops and rigorous project management
• Identify business drivers and prioritize personal work efforts quicky to maximize productivity in engagements
• Propose, develop, and implement solutions to complex client initiatives to achieve the desired future state
• Communicate effectively both internally with the engagement team and externally with client employees, C-suite executives and/or private equity partners to maintain excellent client relationships
• Support management in business development, networking, proposals, and marketing content
• Support management with engagement economics such as proposal budgeting and pricing, margin management, billing, risk management, etc.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required
• Senior Associate: minimum 2 years of professional consulting experience or relevant industry experience
• Excellent critical thinking skills and ability to solve complex business problems through fact gathering, business process mapping and data analysis
• Ability to deal effectively with ambiguity
• Excellent verbal and written communication, project management, and organization skills
• Client service and relationship building skills
• Must be a team player; demonstrate attention to detail and problem-solving skills; able to effectively work independently and in a team environment
• Willingness and ability to travel 50%+

Preferred Qualifications:

• APICS Certifications (CPIM, CSCP)
• Digital tool experience (eg. PowerBI, Alteryx, SQL, Python)
• Project Management Certification (PMP)
• Lean Six Sigma Certification
• AI-driven process automation experience (including demand forecasting, optimization) and GenAI based solutions