A natural match if you have experience in business consulting and improving operational performance. This role suits candidates with hands-on experience in owner-led businesses and a track record of delivering financial results, as it demands 100% domestic travel and collaboration with leadership and staff.
Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.
Original posting from Cogent Talent Solutions via Lever
Business Operations Consultant/Project Director
POSITION OVERVIEW
Work directly with privately held, owner-led businesses to improve operational performance, financial controls, and long-term profitability. Cogent Analytics primarily serves the following industries: contracting; manufacturing; wholesale and distribution; transportation and logistics; technology; and architecture and engineering.
Our Business Consultant Project Directors serve as the owner’s hands-on implementation partner, working on-site with leadership and employees to solve business problems and deliver measurable results. This role requires 100% domestic travel.
Assignments may include improving cash flow and margins, strengthening sales processes, increasing operational efficiency, establishing financial controls, and building management accountability. You will implement practical systems, coach owners and employees, and help teams sustain improvements after the engagement ends.
Success requires sound business judgment, financial acumen, and the ability to earn trust and lead change in businesses where resources may be limited, processes informal, and owners closely involved in daily operations.
Important Fit Note: If your background centers on project coordination, Agile/Scrum facilitation, workflow boards, timeline management, or status reporting, this role will not align with your experience.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Deliver quantifiable and sustainable value for clients that is reflected through the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, and quality of life. This is achieved through the successful development, implementation, training, and evaluation of solutions to client challenges.
Oversee the identification and communication of work to be completed on behalf of the client. Responsible for clear and concise communication with the assigned Assistant Director or Sr. Project Director.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Ability to travel onsite with clients (100% travel requirement).
Authorized to work in the United States.
Minimum of five years of consulting experience with a proven track record of delivering value for clients.
Administrative duties completed in a timely and accurate manner.
Ability to communicate in English, both written and verbal.
Valid state-issued driver’s license and current auto insurance.
Advanced computer skills (Microsoft Suite, financial software, dashboards, CRM’s, and PM software)
Proven fiduciary responsibility, successfully managing a budget of 10M+, preferred.
Prior business ownership preferred.
COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; develops alternative solutions; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
Change Management – Communicates changes effectively and builds broad consensus; monitors transition and evaluates results.
Leadership – Exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well; accepts feedback from others
Judgment – Displays willingness to make decisions; supports and explains reasoning for decisions. Gains trust of peers and leadership through sound decision-making.
Results Driven – Serious about committing and getting to results. Exemplifies this ability through sound decision-making, backed by logic, understanding contingency planning, with an attitude toward appropriate prioritization and effort.
People Oriented – Possess a high EQ and are readily able to connect and build relationships with clients, their staff, and Cogent team members.
Conflict Management – Empathetic and able to see all perspectives; graciously communicates differing points of view to build understanding; finds agreeable, forward-looking, and policy-aligned solutions to resolve conflicts others would see as irreconcilable.
CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS
Given the unique nature of the company and our strong focus on integrity and values, these cultural components of how we operate will be expected:
Cogent Analytics strives to always put our clients first, choosing to do what is in their best interest even if that choice may not be the easy or popular path.
Cogent Analytics maintains the highest professional standards and pledges to operate with integrity and honesty in all that we endeavor to do.
We believe in a collaborative environment between the administrative staff, Leadership (AD and MD), and Project Directors.
We understand and embrace the “Obligation to Challenge," realizing that the status quo can be improved upon based on our unique and diverse capabilities and insights.
We embrace diversity, realizing the benefit of working together and sharing individual exceptional insights with the group. Through these insights discovered in the pursuit of solving problems, we will improve results both for our clients and ourselves.
Compensation:
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.