Retail management Jobs in Chicago, IL

Management Consulting Manager

Alvarez & Marsal | Consumer and Retail Group (CRG)

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is a global consulting firm with over 10,000 entrepreneurial, action and results-oriented professionals in over 40 countries. We take a hands-on approach to solving our clients' problems and assisting them in reaching their potential. Our culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who positively impact our clients and shape our industry. The collaborative environment and engaging workguided by A&M's core values of integrity, quality, objectivity, fun, personal reward, and inclusive diversityare why our people love working at A&M.

Established over six years ago, A&Ms Consumer & Retail Group is a vertically focused management consulting practice that continues to experience high growth.

CRG was formed to disrupt the consulting industry we are faster, more experienced, and generate more impact than traditional firms. We are a mix of top-tier consultants and operational experts that help us bring the right combination of analytical rigor overlayed with business judgement to help build practical and real solutions.

The work we do:

• Growth Strategy & Implementation
• Large Scale Transformation
• M&A, Carve-out and Post-Merger Integration
• Operations
• Merchandising & Assortment Optimization
• Interim Leadership
• Digital & Analytics / IT Strategy
• Program Management Office
• Channel Optimization

Join Us! Alvarez & Marsals Consumer and Retail Group actively engages and recruits exceptional talent from colleges and universities across the U.S. Our lean team structure allows MBA Graduates an opportunity to become quickly immersed as a consultant in a meaningful way, putting your academic and career experiences immediately to work. Manager roles are available for students pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with graduation dates between December 2026 through July of 2027. Our full-time class starts in September 2027.

We are seeking:

• Impact-makers with sharp functional expertise and a passion for transforming consumer and retail (consulting experience a plus, not a must)
• Strategic, entrepreneurial minds fueled by curiosity and bold ideas
• Agile leaders who thrive in high-pressure, fast-paced environmentsdelivering results, inspiring teams, and keeping the humor alive

CRG New Hires:

• Receive Training: Participate in onboarding bootcamp and training to develop quantitative and qualitative skills
• Experience Client Projects: Collaborate with CRG consulting teams on high-impact projects, while getting exposure to clients and senior leadership
• Gain Mentorship: CRG has an apprenticeship model on project teams alongside 1-on-1 coaching with a mentor
• Develop and Expand Network: Participate in events during the summer to foster networking and engagement within CRG and greater A&M

Desired Professional Experience: Consulting projects or experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Consumer or Retail Experience (Management, Finance, Transformation, Corporate Development)
• Merchandising & Category Management
• Sales & Marketing effectiveness, processes, incentives
• Distribution & Logistics, Network Modeling
• Manufacturing and Contract Manufacturing
• Direct & Indirect Procurement
• SG&A cost reduction
• M&A: Divestitures/Carve-Outs and Integration
• Information Technology and Digital Improvements

Skills and Abilities:

• Lead and deliver time-sensitive projects from plan to finish with precision
• Crack complex problems using sharp analytical thinking and actionable insights
• Partner directly with clients to implement strategic and operational solutions
• Communicate with clarity, adapting to any audience and situation
• Navigate ambiguity and turn data, perspectives, and facts into powerful recommendations
• Manage teams, timelines, and workstreams under pressurealways on time and on quality
• Think creatively to solve challenges, build tools, and streamline processes
• Build trust by understanding client culture, politics, and stakeholder priorities
• Bring high energy, adaptability, and resilience to thrive in dynamic environments

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree from a top university including an MBA Degree
• 35 years business experience; at least 1 year in consumer/retail, consulting, or corporate roles with a financial/operational focus
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Access
• Strong technical and data skills with comfort tackling complexity
• Proven leadership managing complex projects and workstreams
• Change championable to build the case for change and adapt problem-solving in real time
• Sharp synthesizer of complex analysis into clear, high-impact takeaways
• Innovative mindset for developing new tools, methods, and approaches
• Commercial instincts with proposal development experience
• Expert at crafting clear, concise, and visually compelling client-ready documents and presentations
• Willing to travel up to 70% (MondayFriday).

The salary for a Manager is $175,000 annually, dependent on several variables including but not limited to education, experience, skills, and geography. In addition, A&M offers a discretionary bonus program which is based on a number of factors, including individual and firm performance. Please ask your recruiter for details.

Full-time Positions and Part-time Positions Over 30 hours:

Regular employees working 30 or more hours per week are also entitled to participate in Alvarez & Marsal Holdings fringe benefits consisting of healthcare plans, flexible spending and savings accounts, life, AD&D, and disability coverages at rates determined from time to time as well as a 401(k)-retirement plan. Provided the eligibility requirements are met, employees will also receive a discretionary contribution to their 401(k) from Alvarez & Marsal. Additionally, employees are eligible for paid time off including vacation, personal days, seventy-two (72) hours of sick time (prorated for part time employees), ten federal holidays, one floating holiday, and parental leave. The amount of vacation and personal days available varies based on tenure and role type. Click here for more information regarding A&Ms benefits programs.

Who will you be working with?

We are not a typical consulting firm. We are a group of entrepreneurial professionals who embody the A&M Core Values inclusive diversity, integrity, quality, objectivity, fun and personal reward while delivering a tailored and scalable approach to working with private equity, hedge fund, and corporate clients. We present you with opportunities, not a playbook, and we reward you based on performance, not your tenure.

How will you grow and be supported?

As a demonstration of A&Ms strong commitment to its people, we offer benefits to support your career, personal and professional developments. This includes performance-based career progression and promotion process, high quality practice-wide training programs, a global mobility program, rotation opportunities in other practice areas, employee resource groups, and a health and wellness program. Click here to learn about our commitment to your well-being.

A&M recognizes that our people fuel our growth, and you and your team will be provided with the best available training and development resources, as well as networking opportunities. Click here to learn more about why A&M is a great place to work.