Strategic Manufacturing Advisor

University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Comprehensive insurance options

Employee and dependent scholarship programs

Retirement plans with university match

Job summary

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is hiring a Strategic Manufacturing Advisor to engage manufacturing leaders in Lincoln, Nebraska. This role focuses on understanding business needs and delivering actionable solutions to improve operational performance. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills and at least 5 years of experience in manufacturing contexts. Enjoy scholarly perks, such as generous paid time off and comprehensive insurance options, all while making a significant impact in the manufacturing sector of Nebraska.

Qualifications

• 5 years experience in manufacturing support, leadership or consulting.
• Ability to translate findings into data driven recommendations.
• Valid driver’s license meeting University requirements.

Responsibilities

• Engage manufacturing owners through outreach to identify business needs.
• Assess strategic, operational, and technical challenges.
• Manage client relationships and revenue development pipelines.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication

Ability to engage owners/executive leadership

Experience in manufacturing strategy/operations

Leadership across functional teams

Analytical problem-solving skills

Education

Associate’s degree in engineering, manufacturing/industrial technology, business/management or related field

Tools

CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, Dynamics)

Job description

The Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership ( NMEP ) helps Nebraska manufacturers grow, evolve, and compete by delivering practical, results-driven expertise. The NMEP is part of the National Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, a federally supported network that enables access to best practices, specialized expertise, and shared resources across the country. Embedded within the University of Nebraska, NMEP leverages university research, talent, and technological capabilities to drive innovation. By combining national reach with local relationships and academic resources, NMEP partners with manufacturers to improve productivity, strengthen leadership and workforce capabilities, and adopt advanced technologies.

Strategic Manufacturing Advisor

you will:

• Engage manufacturing owners, CEOs, and presidents through direct outreach to identify business needs and demonstrate the return on investment of operational and strategic improvements.
• Assess complex strategic, operational, managerial, and technical challenges within manufacturing companies and develop solutions to improve business performance.
• Develop and present client proposals, negotiate scope and fees, and coordinate service delivery with University partners and service providers.
• Manage client relationships, revenue development pipeline, and fee-for-service projects and awarded grants.
• Serve as a statewide manufacturing industry expert and maintain partnerships with businesses, economic development organizations, state agencies, and industry associations.
• Lead workshops, events, and training sessions on manufacturing best practices, industry trends, and business improvement strategies.
• Develop strategies, programs, and service offerings to improve the performance and growth of the manufacturing sector across the state.
• Build partnerships and lead collaborative teams of University staff, partners, and industry professionals to deliver solutions to manufacturers.
• Mentor staff and support project managers and specialists to ensure successful service delivery and client outcomes.

In the UNL System, this position is categorized as a Business Development Specialist.

About Us

At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, we’re proud to be consistently recognized by Forbes as a top employer and recently earned the Lincoln Family Friendly Workplace certification. We are known for our welcoming, supportive environment, commitment to professional growth, and outstanding benefits. UNL isn’t just a workplace; it’s a place to build your career and make a meaningful impact in Nebraska.

When you join our team as a full-time, regular staff member, you’ll enjoy:

• Generous paid time off including vacation, sick leave, parental leave, and holidays
• Comprehensive insurance options including medical, dental, vision, and life coverage
• Employee and dependent scholarship programs to pursue higher education
• Retirement plans with university match

Learn more about working at UNL : https://go.unl.edu/aboutus

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://go.unl.edu/nondiscrimination

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in engineering, manufacturing/industrial technology, business/management, supply chain/operations, or a closely related field plus five (5) years of experience in one or more of the following within a manufacturing context:
• Manufacturing support, leadership or consulting, continuous improvement, advanced manufacturing, quality/lean, technology adoption or implementation experience or manufacturing business development or account management.
• Demonstrated ability to diagnose multidisciplinary problems (strategy, operations, technical) and translate findings into data driven recommendations and ROI /impact cases.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with the ability to engage owners/executive leadership, present proposals, and negotiate statements of work.
• Ability to track record leading across functional teams.
• Valid driver’s license with ability to meet University driver eligibility requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are preferred, but not required:

• Eight (8) years progressive experience in manufacturing strategy/operations (e.g., lean/continuous improvement, quality systems, advanced automation, Industry 4.0/IIoT, supply chain, workforce, or commercialization).
• Specialized experience in one or more of the following relevant manufacturing domains:
• Leadership & Business Systems (strategy, supply chain, organizational culture, management systems),
• Productivity & Operational Excellence (lean/continuous improvement, quality systems, process improvement), or
• Technology & Innovation (Industry 4.0, automation, engineering, testing).
• Experience owning a CRM (e.g., Salesforce, Dynamics) to build/maintain a revenue development pipeline, drive follow-ups, and report of KPIs.
• Experience with grant funded projects, university partnerships, applied research environments, or collaborative extension/outreach models.