Manufacturing Technology Consultant

First Focus; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Up to $100k OTE

Flexible working arrangements

Learning and development support

Company car option

Team culture and mentoring

Job summary

First Focus in Melbourne is seeking an experienced sales consultant to lead strategic conversations with manufacturing leaders, translating AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and managed services into measurable business outcomes.

You will own the end-to-end sales cycle, qualify opportunities, write proposals, and collaborate with delivery teams to ensure successful implementations and lasting client relationships. The role emphasizes deep manufacturing understanding and commercial acumen.

Qualifications

• You have at least five years in consultative B2B sales or technology consulting with exposure to manufacturing.
• You have sold into manufacturing or worked in manufacturing/industrial environments.
• You have experience with managed services, cybersecurity, cloud, ERP, infrastructure or OT.
• You can confidently engage with C-level and IT decision-makers.
• You quantify opportunities with strong discovery and qualification skills.
• You produce clear, commercial proposals and translate services into outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial conversations from qualification through proposal and close.
• Own the client relationship and sales process, coordinating with technical specialists as needed.
• Develop clear business cases and translate First Focus’s offerings into outcomes.
• Write commercially credible proposals and ensure smooth handovers into delivery.
• Collaborate with delivery teams to ensure successful implementations and ongoing value.

Skills

Consultative B2B sales

Solution consulting

Technology sales

Relationship management

Discovery skills

Tools

ERP systems

Cloud platforms

Cybersecurity tools

Job description

You know manufacturing. Not just that factories are full of expensive machinery, production schedules rarely go exactly to plan, and the words "the system is down" can make an Operations Manager's blood pressure rise faster than a Friday afternoon production deadline.

You know manufacturing. Not just that factories are full of expensive machinery, production schedules rarely go exactly to plan, and the words "the system is down" can make an Operations Manager's blood pressure rise faster than a Friday afternoon production deadline.

You understand how manufacturing businesses actually operate, how business owners and operations leaders think, how technology decisions get made, and why reliability matters more than the cheapest quote.

Maybe you've sold manufacturing technology. Maybe you've worked in manufacturing IT. Maybe you've helped manufacturers modernise production systems, cybersecurity, ERP platforms, infrastructure or cloud environments.

Whatever your path, you know that manufacturing businesses don't buy technology for technology's sake. They buy outcomes.

What You'll Be Doing

You’ll work with small and mid‑sized manufacturing businesses, typically between 20 and 250 users, who are reviewing their technology strategy, cybersecurity, AI roadmap or existing IT partner.

AI is rapidly changing manufacturing.

Business owners and operations leaders want to know how Microsoft Copilot, secure AI assistants and automation can improve production planning, inventory management, reporting, supply chain visibility and productivity without compromising operational reliability, data security or business continuity.

You’ll help manufacturers move beyond AI curiosity into practical, secure and commercially sensible adoption.

You’ll lead the commercial conversation from qualification through to proposal and close. That means understanding how the business operates, where technology is creating friction, how decisions are made, who needs to be involved and what success looks like.

You’ll work closely with technical specialists, solution architects and delivery teams, but you’ll own the client relationship and sales process. You’ll be expected to quickly develop a strong understanding of First Focus’s AI, cybersecurity, cloud and managed services offerings, confidently lead technical and commercial conversations, and translate these services into outcomes that resonate with business owners, operations leaders and manufacturing executives. You’ll be expected to quickly master the key technical talking points and confidently lead client conversations independently, bringing in technical specialists for genuinely complex requirements rather than routine discussions.

You’ll write clear, commercially credible proposals that explain the business case for change, while ensuring smooth handovers into implementation because a successful sale doesn’t end with a signature.

And in manufacturing, a successful implementation means a lot more than everyone being able to log into their laptops on Monday morning.

About You

You understand that selling into manufacturing businesses is different.

Trust is earned. Reliability matters. Downtime matters. Relationships matter.

You know how to have commercial conversations with professionals who expect you to understand their business before talking about yours.

You understand that when production stops, the consequences aren’t just technical. They can mean missed deadlines, lost revenue, disrupted supply chains and some fairly unhappy customers.

You’re also naturally curious about AI and already using it to improve the way you work, whether that’s research, writing, preparation, productivity or client engagement.

You’ll probably be a great fit if you have:

• At least five years’ experience in consultative B2B sales, solution consulting or technology consulting, with sustained exposure to the manufacturing industry
• Demonstrated depth of experience selling into manufacturing businesses or working directly within manufacturing, industrial or production environments. You’ll understand manufacturing workflows, operational systems and decision‑making processes, and be able to explain technology decisions you’ve personally influenced and the outcomes delivered
• Experience with managed services, manufacturing technology, cybersecurity, cloud, AI, ERP systems, infrastructure or operational technology
• Confidence engaging with Managing Directors, Business Owners, CEOs, CFOs, COOs, Operations Managers, Production Managers and IT decision‑makers
• Strong discovery skills and the discipline to qualify opportunities properly
• Excellent written communication and proposal development skills
• Strong technical aptitude and the ability to quickly become confident discussing AI, cybersecurity, cloud and managed services independently, including the key capabilities, risks and business outcomes, without routinely relying on technical specialists to lead client conversations
• High commercial standards and the expectation that your remuneration reflects the value you create

Experience with manufacturing technologies, manufacturing execution and production management platforms would be highly regarded, but isn’t essential.

An understanding of operational technology (OT), industrial networks, production environments or the challenges of connecting factory‑floor systems with business IT would also be valuable.

You don’t need to know how to repair a CNC machine. But understanding why an unexpected production outage is a bigger problem than someone’s Outlook calendar refusing to synchronise would certainly help.

This role probably isn’t the right fit if your experience has been primarily lead generation, transactional product sales or heavily supported enterprise sales where large bid teams carry most of the commercial process.

We’re specifically looking for someone who understands the manufacturing industry, not simply a generalist technology consultant looking for a new market to sell into.

What Great Looks Like

Within six months you’ll be confidently leading strategic and technical conversations with business owners, Managing Directors and manufacturing leaders, independently communicating the value of First Focus’s services, converting qualified opportunities into long‑term managed services clients and becoming a trusted advisor to manufacturers navigating AI and technology change.

You’ll build credibility because you understand the commercial realities of manufacturing.

You’ll earn trust internally because you qualify thoroughly, sell accurately and hand over opportunities that delivery teams genuinely enjoy implementing.

Most importantly, you’ll help Australian manufacturers embrace AI safely, improve cybersecurity, modernise infrastructure, reduce operational risk and create better experiences for their employees and customers.

You will understand that technology should support production, not become another reason production stops.

What You’ll Get

• A competitive base salary between $150,000-$200,000 base excluding superannuation, plus up to $100k OTE
• A strong pipeline of qualified opportunities, supported by an established marketing engine
• Flexible working arrangements that support genuine work‑life balance
• Free access to Uprise, including 1:1 coaching with qualified psychologists or counsellors
• Never Stop Growing: 10 paid study days per year, paid exam fees and pay rises for certifications (conditions apply)
• Weekly internal training sessions and access to our learning library
• Our FastTrack mentoring program to support your development
• Our MAD (Making a Difference) Council, supporting equality, charity and environmental initiatives
• The option of a Tesla company car (conditions apply)
• Regular social events and a genuinely supportive team culture

Why First Focus

Manufacturing businesses don’t need another IT supplier.

They need a technology partner who understands operational reliability, cyber risk, business continuity and how manufacturing businesses actually work.

First Focus is Australia’s leading managed AI and IT services provider, with more than 350 specialists across Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.

We’re helping Australian businesses use AI in practical, secure and commercially valuable ways. Behind every conversation you’ll have is deep technical capability across managed AI, managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud, Microsoft technologies, modern workplace and business technology.

You’ll have genuine delivery capability behind you, a trusted brand in the market and a marketing engine generating qualified demand.

You won’t spend your days cold calling from a spreadsheet.

You’ll spend them helping manufacturers that already know they need to modernise, making smart technology decisions that improve productivity, reduce risk, strengthen business continuity and create lasting client relationships.

Our First Focus values include Be the Solution, which fits this role particularly well. We believe in taking ownership, solving problems and following through, rather than selling technology and leaving someone else to deal with the consequences.

Because when a manufacturer’s systems stop working, "have you tried turning it off and on again?" isn’t always the commercially sensible answer.

Learn more about First Focus and our values at https://www.firstfocus.com.au/about-us/.

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity: First Focus welcomes applications from Neurodiverse candidates. We recommend & appreciate disclosure along with the application so that a copy of our Neurodiversity Statement can be provided outlining the flexible options we can offer to best showcase your skills.

AI in Recruitment

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