Onsite Business Consultant Operations, Business Development, & Financial Performance

Business Operations Consultant/Project Director

Work directly with privately held, owner-led businesses to materially improve operational performance, financial controls, and long-term profitability.

What sets Cogent Analytics apart is also the defining expectation of this role: we are a client-centric, hands-on consulting firm, and our Project Directors operate as the owner's boots-on-the-ground co-owner and partner.

This is not a traditional consulting role built around recommendations and presentations. Our consultants work alongside business owners and their teams to implement change, improve performance, and deliver measurable results.

Because our consultants work on-site with clients across the country, this position requires 100% domestic travel.

Important Fit Note

This is not a traditional project management role. If your experience is primarily centered on project coordination, Agile/Scrum methodologies, workflow boards, timeline management, PMO leadership, or status reporting, this position is unlikely to align with your background.

Successful Project Directors typically bring experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Business ownership
• Operational leadership
• Consulting
• P&L management
• Organizational development
• Change management
• Process improvement
• Hands-on implementation

Role Summary

Business Consultant Project Directors work directly alongside business owners and leadership teams to install the operational, financial, organizational, and accountability systems required to run effectively and scale sustainably. Just as critical, they coach owners and stakeholders at every level to adopt new ways of thinking, operating, and leading, ensuring changes are understood, embraced, and sustained.

This is hands-on, on-site transformation work that demands a roll-up-your-sleeves mindset and active leadership, not project oversight.

The Business Consultant leads the client relationship from initial engagement through measurable outcomes, ensuring operational and financial improvement. Key responsibilities include driving financial performance, guiding organizational change, coaching ownership and employees, and managing the full lifecycle of the consulting engagement.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to succeed in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Deliver measurable and sustainable client results reflected in improved profitability, cash flow, operational efficiency, organizational effectiveness, and overall business performance.
• Assess business operations and identify opportunities to improve processes, financial controls, accountability systems, organizational structure, and operational performance.
• Develop, implement, train, and evaluate solutions that address client challenges and create lasting operational and financial improvements.
• Work directly with business owners and leadership teams to implement change and improve operational execution.
• Coach owners, managers, and employees through organizational change while building alignment and accountability.
• Lead consulting engagements from implementation through measurable outcomes while maintaining strong client relationships.
• Communicate clearly and consistently with the assigned Assistant Director or Senior Project Director throughout the engagement.
• Document project activities, recommendations, progress, and outcomes accurately and in a timely manner.

Other requirements:

• Ability and willingness to travel nationally to client sites (100% travel required; typical travel schedule is Sunday evening through Friday afternoon, approximately 46 weeks per year).
• Must possess a valid state-issued driver's license, maintain current automobile insurance, and be able to independently rent and operate a vehicle for business travel.
• Authorized to work in the United States.
• Minimum of five years of consulting, operational leadership, business ownership, or executive management experience with a demonstrated history of delivering measurable business results.
• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office, financial software, dashboards, CRM systems, and project management software.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience interpreting financial statements and using financial data to drive operational decisions.
• Experience managing budgets of $10 million or more preferred.
• Prior business ownership preferred.

Competencies required:

Problem Solving Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, develops alternative solutions, and uses sound judgment even when dealing with sensitive or emotional issues.

Change Management Communicates change effectively, builds consensus, monitors implementation, and evaluates results.

Leadership Demonstrates confidence, motivates others, inspires high performance, and accepts feedback.

Judgment Makes sound decisions, explains reasoning effectively, and earns trust through consistent and thoughtful decision-making.

Results Driven Maintains a strong commitment to achieving measurable results through prioritization, accountability, and disciplined execution.

People Oriented Demonstrates high emotional intelligence and builds strong relationships with clients, employees, and internal team members.

Conflict Management Approaches conflict with empathy, communicates differing perspectives professionally, and develops practical, forward-looking solutions.

Cultural expectations:

• We always put our clients first and choose the path that serves their best interests, even when it is not the easiest or most popular decision.
• We maintain the highest professional standards and operate with integrity and honesty in everything we do.
• We believe in collaboration among our administrative staff, leadership team, and Project Directors.
• We embrace the obligation to challenge the status quo and continuously seek better solutions.
• We value diverse perspectives and believe that sharing individual insights strengthens outcomes for both our clients and our organization.

$130,000 - $165,000 a year All new Project Directors begin on a 1099 contractor basis for a minimum of 90 days. This serves as a mutual evaluation period. Upon successful completion, you will have the opportunity for review to transition into a full-time W-2 employee role with comprehensive benefits. Compensation is based on billable client work, with significant earning potential tied directly to performance and project engagement. Travel is covered by the company.

Why Cogent Analytics?

Our clients do not hire us for theory. They hire us to help them solve problems, implement change, improve profitability, and build stronger businesses.

Successful Project Directors are equal parts consultant, coach, operator, teacher, and change agent. They are comfortable stepping into unfamiliar environments, earning the trust of business owners and employees, and leading organizations through meaningful transformation.

If you are energized by solving complex business problems, implementing lasting change, and making a measurable impact inside privately held businesses across a wide range of industries, we encourage you to apply.