Project Manager - Manufacturing Consultant

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-time Compensation: 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 integrated Factory Transformation organization, 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 Transformation to optimize people, processes, and performance
• Digital Transformation to create visibility through systems, data, automation, and analytics
• Approachable AI to deliver actionable intelligence directly to frontline teams

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

Our team members work 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 help them increase their competitive edge.

We seek like-minded individuals to 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 base salary will be commensurate with 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
• Maintain resource utilization against project budget and expected deliverables (scope)
• Compile and deliver clean, concise reports using standard Microsoft Office tools
• Collaborate with clients to determine appropriate KPIs to measure improvement activity
• Develop objective cost-benefit analysis to document and demonstrate clear ROI
• Monitor project performance, identify risks, and recommend countermeasures as necessary
• Monitor and positively influence Sr. Advisors to ensure alignment with FTE’s delivery standards
• Actively seek additional opportunities to support clients outside of the existing scope of work
• Maintain day-to-day client communications, and on-site activity, to ensure client satisfaction
• Actively engage as a Sr. Advisor in case delivery when project scope or staffing requires

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Lead Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement initiatives within manufacturing environments, using Lean methodologies and structured problem-solving to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and overall performance.
• Diagnose operational performance gaps through Gemba observation, KPI analysis, root-cause analysis, and frontline engagement, then translate findings into practical, sustainable improvement plans.
• Deliver measurable manufacturing results through improvements in areas such as throughput, lead time, OTD, quality, rework, inventory, labor productivity, cost, and capacity.

Business Development

• Positively promote FTE’s value proposition and services
• Actively identify opportunities for new or expansion of existing business
• Support FTE Case Managers and Principals in building out project approach, staffing, and translating customer pain points into new business opportunities
• Determine project 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 client casework
• Participate in annual business planning and internal project execution
• Participate in vetting of candidates seeking to join FTE’s Core Team or Advisory Network

Requirements

What You Bring:

• 10 – 20 years of diverse 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 managing projects, including project controls, budget, and resource planning
• Strong passion for coaching and mentoring others
• Strong leadership and management skills leading high-performance senior teams
• Passion for coaching and mentoring others

Desired Experience but not Required:

• Experience developing manufacturing strategy, utilizing lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and/or continuous improvement methodologies
• Proven experience in coaching problem-solving skills (quantitative, conceptual, analytical)
• Proven ability to deliver results through influential leadership vs. positional power

Attributes

• Possess the ability to lead senior project teams in a fast-paced and demanding environment
• Fosters teamwork and engagement with FTE and Client team members
• Proven active listening skills, seeking first to understand and then to be understood
• Passion for coaching others to use their knowledge and skills to overcome challenges
• Polished and seasoned presenter and facilitator, recognized by others as a strong communicator and collaborator

Education

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

Physical demands require computer work, standing, sitting in an office and manufacturing plant environment, walking manufacturing plant floor multiple times daily required

Benefits

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and offer a competitive wage and benefits package.