Consulting Principal, Manufacturing & Automotive Consulting Practice

Title: Consulting Principal

(Manufacturing & Automotive exp.)

Designation: Associate Director level

(Hybrid - Minneapolis, MN or Chicago, IL)

About Us:

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. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at www.cognizant.com.

Cognizant Consulting:

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.

The Role:

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.

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

Qualifications:

• 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

Required Education: Bachelor's degree required; MBA or Master's degree strongly preferred

Work Authorization: Must be legally authorized to work in US without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Salary and Other Compensation:

Applications will be accepted until September 25th, 2026. The annual salary for this position is between $122,400.00 - $194,000.00 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

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

Benefits: 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.

Disclaimer: 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.

#CB #LI-Minneapolis #LI-Chicago

About Cognizant:

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. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.

Additional employment information

Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email CareersNA2@cognizant.com for roles based in the Americas or CareersIndia2@cognizant.com for roles based in India.