Consulting Principal, Manufacturing

About the role

Cognizant is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating, and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build, and run more innovative and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant, a member of the NASDAQ-100, is ranked 195 on the Fortune 500 and is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world.

Within Cognizant is Cognizant Consulting, a global consulting organization delivering strategic and domain consulting through industry and technology expertise. With over 6,000 consultants worldwide, Cognizant offers high-value consulting services that improve business performance and operational productivity, lower operational expenses and enhance overall performance. Clients draw upon our deep industry expertise, program and change management capabilities, and analytical objectivity to help improve business productivity, drive technology-enabled business transformation and increase shareholder value. We provide a number of Business/IT Consulting Services including Business Strategy, IT Strategy & Roadmap Development, Process Re-Engineering & Transformation, Enterprise Architecture & Technology Selection, and Domain Solutions. The Cognizant Consulting team is a high performing organization that is continually expanding our client base and increasingly being recommended by analysts such as Forrester and Gartner.

Our Manufacturing & Logistics consulting practice is one of the most prominent and significant in the industry. And we are growing! We are looking for a senior leader to join us in a high-profile capacity as an Associate Director in our Consulting practice. This role will focus on industrial manufacturing, automotive and transportation strategies at the intersection of business and technology, helping lead the way as we continue to scale our business.

• Title: Consulting Principal (Manufacturing Exp.)
• Designation: Associate Director level
• Hybrid Minneapolis, MN or Chicago, IL
• Applications will be accepted until October 5th, 2026.

Salary, other compensation, and benefits are accurate as of the date of this posting and may be modified at any time, subject to applicable law.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work for any employer in the United States. The company is unable to provide employment-based immigration sponsorship for this position.

Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in Canada without requiring employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email CareersNA2@cognizant.com with your request and contact information.

We use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help us screen and assess applications more efficiently. Our team performs additional human review and ultimately decides who moves forward in our hiring process.

Unless otherwise stated, this job posting is for an open position on our team.

We ask that all candidates have basic English proficiency for company-wide communications purposes. For roles based in Quebec, professional English proficiency is required, as you'll deliver services to and collaborate with stakeholders outside the province who may not speak French.

Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization's unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world.

Responsibilities

Ideal candidate would be leading Consulting teams who will be responsible for:

• Strong program management expertise collaborate with clients, cross-functional Cognizant teams to deliver process improvements and help achieve client objectives
• Lead Business Transformation for clients across the manufacturing value chain help grow consulting footprint and revenue at the client
• Proven ability to sell, lead, and deliver consulting engagements while influencing senior executives and developing consulting teams
• Lead end-to-end consulting engagements, including strategy, operating model transformation, process optimization, and digital initiatives
• Ability to drive AI-led discussions and workshops helping clients navigate AI
• Expertise in serving manufacturing clients (Industrial / Process / Diversified) and ability to provide tailored solutions to address their specific needs
• Work with a diverse set of external and internal stakeholders clients, account leadership, service lines to support proposal development, solution shaping, and client presentations (including supporting large IT transformation deals)
• Manage client relationships, ensuring successful project delivery.
• Driving thought leadership agenda for the consulting practice including authoring white papers, workshops, webinars, etc.
• Lead and mentor consulting teams comprising consultants, analysts, and subject matter experts

Requirements

• Excellent customer facing capabilities, and an established track record for selling & delivering consulting engagements.
• Strong program management expertise
• A demonstrated ability to understand technology / architecture imperatives for consulting and IT transformation deals.
• Extensive experience working in manufacturing segment.
• Experience of working with C-level executives at the client organization.
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or Master's degree strongly preferred
• Basic English proficiency for company-wide communications purposes. For roles based in Quebec, professional English proficiency is required, as you'll deliver services to and collaborate with stakeholders outside the province who may not speak French.

Benefits

The annual salary for this position is between $122,400.00 $194,000.00 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

Eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program and stock awards, subject to applicable plan terms.

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Paid Holidays plus PTO, 401(k) with company contributions, Short-term/Long-term Disability, Paid Parental Leave, Employee Stock Purchase Plan.