Associate Consultant

Integrated Project Management Company•Chicago, IL

2d•$60,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This role within IPM’s Strategy Realization Office (SRO) is designed to develop strong project management, consulting, and technology-enabled execution capabilities in preparation for future client-facing engagements. The selected candidate will spend approximately 6 to 12 months working internally in the SRO with experienced IPM consultants and leaders, learning IPM’s methodologies, tools, and delivery standards. During this period, the individual will contribute to internal initiatives that advance strategic priorities, operational improvements, and capability building. Following successful completion of the development period, the candidate will transition into a client-facing Associate Consultant role. Rotation length depends on experience, performance, and client demand. IPM is a values-driven consulting firm that advises on and executes complex, strategically critical initiatives. It partners with organizations across industries to turn strategy into actionable plans and sustainable results, working alongside client teams from strategy through implementation. The position offers exposure to IPM’s service offerings, industry focus areas, and Centers of Excellence. The role requires four days per week in IPM’s Burr Ridge office initially, tapering to three days per week. The stated salary range is $60,000–$85,000, with the actual offer based on experience, skills, qualifications, and market and business considerations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, technology, or a related field.
0–3 years of professional experience or demonstrated exposure to project-based work, consulting, operations, analytics, or technology-enabled roles.
Strong interest in developing a career in consulting, project management, strategy realization, or technology-enabled execution.
Ability to learn quickly, adapt to new situations, and apply feedback in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences.
Relationship-building skills, including establishing credibility, collaborating effectively, and building trust with teammates, leaders, and stakeholders at varying organizational levels.
Comfort working independently and as part of a highly collaborative team.
Curiosity and aptitude for leveraging technology, including emerging AI-enabled tools, to improve efficiency, analysis, communication, and project execution.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with project management, collaboration, data, or AI-enabled productivity tools; this is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

Support the planning and execution of internal strategic initiatives, programs, and projects aligned with IPM priorities.
Learn and apply IPM’s project management and consulting frameworks, standards, and best practices.
Develop foundational project management skills, including scope definition, schedule development, risk and issue management, and stakeholder communication.
Partner with experienced IPM consultants to observe and support client-style delivery approaches, problem solving, and decision-making.
Contribute to project artifacts, work plans, analyses, and executive-level communications.
Present status updates to develop presentation skills and executive presence.
Use project management, collaboration, and digital workflow tools, such as Smartsheet, MS Project, and emerging AI-enabled platforms, to support planning, execution, and insight generation.
Apply data, analytics, and AI-enabled tools to improve visibility, efficiency, and decision-making across internal initiatives and projects.
Explore and pilot tools, technologies, and AI use cases to enhance IPM’s internal ways of working and client delivery approaches.
Build consulting skills, including structured problem solving, hypothesis-driven thinking, and professional communication.
Prepare for future client engagements by gaining exposure to IPM’s service offerings, industry focus areas, and Centers of Excellence.
After successfully completing the development period, transition into a client-facing Associate Consultant role.

Benefits

100% employer-paid health coverage for employees and 85% paid health coverage for dependents.
401(k) matching.
Performance bonus.
Relocation assistance.
Tuition reimbursement.
Paid vacation, holiday, personal, and sick time.
Training, mentorship, and experiential learning as part of professional development.
Culture-building and team-building events, both regional and company-wide.
Exposure to a wide variety of projects, clients, industries, challenges, and project types.
A collaborative work environment alongside experienced consultants, managers, and Centers of Excellence.
Employee involvement in community improvement projects through the company’s philanthropic efforts, including Project Mercy.