Kearney Strategic Operations Plan Principal

Job Description

As a Principal within Kearney’s Strategic Operations (SOP) practice, you will play a critical leadership role in advancing our supply chain planning (“Plan”) capabilities across industries. This is a high-impact role for a seasoned consulting leader with deep expertise in end-to-end planning who can engage senior executives, lead complex transformations, and drive measurable client impact.

You will partner with executive stakeholders to design and implement planning transformations that enhance responsiveness, resilience, and performance across the supply chain.

What you’ll do:

Client Leadership & Delivery

• Lead large, complex supply chain planning transformations from strategy through execution and value realization

• Serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite and senior supply chain leaders, particularly across planning functions

• Drive impact across core planning capabilities, including:

• Demand planning and forecasting

• Supply, materials & production planning

• Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) / Integrated Business Planning (IBP)

• Inventory strategy and optimization

• Advanced planning system selection, requirements development, blueprinting & implementation

• Lead cross-functional teams and independently manage high-impact engagement workstreams

• Translate complex analyses into clear, executive-ready insights and recommendations

Business Development & Practice Growth

• Originate and expand client relationships, with a strong focus on growing planning-related engagements

• Lead proposal development and actively contribute to senior-level client pitches

• Demonstrate a commercial mindset, identifying opportunities within existing accounts and new clients

• Support the continued growth and differentiation of Kearney’s SOP Planning offering

• Contribute to thought leadership across supply chain planning and digital planning topics

Program Leadership & Team Development

• Lead large-scale programs with end-to-end accountability for delivery and outcomes

• Mentor and develop team members while fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture

• Provide coaching across engagements to ensure quality, consistency, and impact

• Actively contribute to building the next generation of planning leaders within the practice

Who you are:

We believe this business is about making connections—between data, insights, strategies, and people. We are looking for leaders who are analytical, commercially minded, and collaborative, with the ability to challenge thinking and lead with confidence and authenticity.

We want to hear from you if you have:

• An MBA (preferred) and 10+ years of professional experience

• Principal-level experience within a top-tier or specialized consulting firm

• Deep expertise in end-to-end supply chain planning, including:

• Demand and supply planning

• S&OP / IBP

• Inventory management

• Planning transformation and operating model design

• Advanced planning system selection, blueprinting & implementation

• A strong track record of leading large-scale transformation programs and independently managing high-impact teams

• Demonstrated ability to generate business and support business development efforts

• Experience working with Fortune 500 clients, ideally within consumer-oriented or industrial sectors

• Exceptional consulting skills, including communication, analytics, leadership presence, and problem solving

• A collaborative mindset and alignment with Kearney’s values

• Preferred industry experience includes industrials, chemicals, healthcare/medical devices, or broader CPG sectors. Candidates should bring experience in manufacturing, engineered products, heavy equipment, energy-adjacent chemicals, or non-pharma healthcare, with exposure to large-scale operations and complex commercial environments.

What we can offer you:

• Competitive compensation and performance-based incentives

• Retirement and pension contributions

• Comprehensive medical coverage for employees and immediate family

• Non-partner equity-based awards (for Principals and above)