Kearney Summer Associate 2027

Job Description

As a Summer Associate at Kearney , you will work alongside a dedicated and diverse set of people for 10 weeks and contribute to consulting project teams as we offer honest advice and practical guidance to our clients.

With the freedom to be yourself and recognition for what you bring to the table, put your purpose into action over the summer and join us as we help build a future that works for everyone, everywhere-as a Kearney Original.

What to expect

• Gain unique hands-on experiences as you broaden your knowledge and experience in an open, agile, and collaborative environment.
• Ensure the success of project workstreams by completing tasks such as gathering and analyzing data and conducting competitor assessment studies.
• Support in the creation of recommendations and implement co-created solutions for clients across a range of industries and service practices.
• Take advantage of structured on-the-job learning and development opportunities, including a dedicated mentor who will provide guidance throughout your internship.

Who you are

After nearly 100 years, we know this business is fundamentally about making connections-between facts, figures, insights, strategies, tools, technologies, and above all, people. That's why we look for collaborative, insightful, and inquisitive problem-solvers who do not accept the first thing in front of them and who are always unapologetically themselves.

We want to hear from you if you are:

• Ready to share your ideas and contribute as soon as you join a team
• Analytically inclined and enjoy solving problems
• Able to prioritize and are a doer by nature
• Experienced in your chosen field
• In your first year of your MBA
• Fluent in English

Read more about how you can make your mark, your way at Kearney.com/careers .

Practice Preferences

You are eligible to apply for the practices below. During your application, you will have the option to pick your ranking of the practices.

Communications, Media, and Technology (CMT) : The telecommunications, media, and technology practices combine high-impact service offerings to boost the competitiveness of our clients, working with them along the entire value chain - from strategy, product development, customer interaction, and digital enablement to operations, procurement, large-scale cost programs, transformation, and supply chain.

Consumer Industry and Retail Practice (CIRP) : Today's consumer industries retail market presents extraordinary opportunities for companies to transform their operations and gain unprecedented competitive advantage and market share.

Digital & Analytics (D&A) : As technological shifts continue to disrupt industry, our clients face challenges that demand pragmatism, innovation, and a relentless focus on results. Our recently combined Digital and Analytics practice is uniquely positioned to address these challenges by helping clients think better, build better, and scale better. In doing so, we aim to become the leading digital, data, AI, and analytics firm for strategic operations, the trusted partner for CEOs, COOs, CIOs, CDOs, and CTOs for their most important digital and technology-driven transformations, and the consultants of choice in an AI-enabled world.

Energy & Processes (EPI) : Energy and Process Industries is a dynamic and growing practice that powers every industry and sector. We partner with practices across the firm to build compelling perspectives and offerings to our clients and work on cutting-edge projects that directly impact our way of life. Candidates with a strong interest or background in Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Utilities, Metals & Mining, or ESG/Sustainability should consider this role.

General Practice (GP) : Generalist role with no practice alignment. The Associate role is our post-MBA level consulting position and will work across industries and functions without specializing. All consultants are expected to specialize by the manager level.

Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice (HLS) : The HLS practice teams with companies across biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, distributors and pharmacies, payers and providers, and consumer health to address their strategic and operational issues.

Mobility, Defense, and Advanced Industries (MDI) : The automotive, aerospace and defense, transportation, travel, industrial products, and infrastructure practice integrates all the capabilities of the end-to-end mobility value chain. From innovative product design to complex engineering infrastructure, our industries represent the backbone of the global economy.

Private Equity and Principal Investors (PEPI) : Consultants who join the PEPI team will work throughout the entire end to end M&A cycle: deal strategy and screening support, diligence (commercial, operational, ESG, IT), pre and post close planning and execution, divestitures (from TSA creation through the entire carve out process), CXO corporate transformation and strategy. Candidates with a strong interest in mergers & acquisitions, transformation, and corporate strategy should consider this role. Those aligned to PEPI must be based in our Chicago or New York offices.

Product Excellence and Renewal Lab (PERLab) : PERLab combines world-class product design, consumer insight, and Kearney's operational expertise to help companies build, improve, and renew products across their portfolios and throughout the product lifecycle. Working across the Industrial, Consumer, and Electronics sectors, PERLab helps clients translate market and consumer needs into stronger product strategies, innovative and cost-effective designs, efficient manufacturing and supply chains, and scalable operating models. Our work helps clients improve profitability, reduce complexity, drive growth, and advance sustainability goals. PERLab internship offers will be for the Chicago, IL office.

Strategy, Growth & Organization Transformation (SG&OT) : The SG&OT practice deals with a vast number of topics ranging from the structure of organizations, the processes they run, and how they engage their people, focusing on general and administrative (G&A) processes such as finance, accounting, and human resources.

Strategic Operations (SOP) : Consultants who join the Strategic Operations team will work across industries. Candidates with a strong interest or background in operations (plan, make, source or deliver) should consider this role. Strategic Operations associates will have the chance to work across all four towers: production, plan, source and distribute.

Apply now

Submit your application via our website before Tuesday, December 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT.

Domestic Interview Process

Candidates interested in North American offices (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.) will have virtual Round 1 and Round 2 interviews in January 2027. If you are invited to Round 1 interviews, you will receive a notice from a Kearney recruiter with exact dates to schedule your interview.

International Process

Select international offices from the Asia Pacific, EMEA, and Latin American units will be recruiting from US schools. Candidates interested in international Associate opportunities should apply to this job posting and indicate your top two office(s) of interest. International offices actively seeking candidates for Associate positions are subject to change but currently include:

Americas

Sao Paulo (Brazil)

Asia Pacific- must speak local languages

Tokyo (Japan)

Southeast Asia- must speak local languages

Singapore

Jakarta (Indonesia)

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

Bangkok (Thailand)

Manila (Philippines)

Europe- must speak local languages

Lisbon (Portugal)

Madrid (Spain)

Middle East

Dubai (UAE)

The Summer Associate base salary will be $16,000.00 USD per month, less required and authorized withholdings and deductions, payable in accordance with Kearney's payroll practices. For Canada-based roles, the Summer Associate base salary will be C$7,653.85 CAD, paid on a bi-weekly basis, less required and authorized withholdings and deductions, payable in accordance with Kearney's payroll practices. For Mexico-based roles, the Summer Associate base salary will be $265,700.00 MXN per month, less required and authorized withholdings and deductions, payable in accordance with Kearney's payroll practices. This position has been classified as exempt under applicable wage and hour law. Accordingly, you will not be eligible for overtime pay. Because this is a temporary internship position, you are not eligible to participate in Kearney's employee benefit plans or programs, including health and welfare and retirement plans. You are eligible for sick leave, paid time off, and relocation assistance, if applicable, as described separately. Kearney reviews compensation regularly and may adjust compensation from time to time to reflect market conditions and business needs.

Equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination

Kearney prides itself on providing a culture where our employees belong and thrive equally, which means our people feel comfort, confidence, and joy as they do great things for our firm, our colleagues, and our clients. That's why Kearney is committed to building a diverse workforce and inclusive environment. Kearney is an equal opportunity employer; we recruit, hire, train, promote, develop, and provide other conditions of employment without regard to a person's gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences consistent with applicable laws. This includes providing reasonable accommodation for disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. We encourage everyone to apply, including those who may not feel historically represented in consulting.