Senior Director, Advanced Manufacturing Cluster

Job Description Summary

The Senior Director, Advanced Manufacturing Cluster (Cluster Leader) wakes up every morning focused on one mission: maximizing the regional economic performance, global competitiveness, resilience, and growth of the Advanced Manufacturing Cluster. The Cluster Leader is the public face, strategic architect, enterprise advocate, and execution champion for the cluster.

Operating within EnterpriseKC’s (EKC) business-led Operating System for Economic Development, the Cluster Leader applies the Cylinder Model and Vision-to-Value discipline to translate enterprise demand and regional assets into aligned action, measurable enterprise growth, innovation, commercialization, and high-value, high-opportunity employment. The role closes the Regional Execution Gap by connecting manufacturers’ needs with workforce, research, investment, infrastructure, technology, and economic development resources.

The Cluster Leader works directly with manufacturers, suppliers, the Advanced Manufacturing Cluster Brain Trust (CBT), EKC Pillar Leaders, universities, the Critical Materials Crossroads (CMC) team and other economic development partners. The CBT provides enterprise-led strategic direction and prioritization; the Cluster Leader organizes the evidence, enables informed decisions, coordinates implementation through the appropriate Pillar teams, and owns follow-through and performance visibility.

A particular priority is translating plant-level and shared industry challenges into two complementary solution paths: near-term, practical improvements delivered with manufacturers and qualified partners; and longer-term, high-value research, technology development, and commercialization opportunities for regional universities and innovation partners. The objective is not activity for its own sake, but demonstrable regional economic value.

Job Description

Ownership

• Develop, maintain, and execute the Advanced Manufacturing Cluster vision, enterprise-led strategy, prioritized portfolio, engagement plan, and measurable implementation roadmap.

• Own systematic engagement and trusted relationships with manufacturers, suppliers, Gazelles, startups, and relevant industry stakeholders; faithfully represent the voice of the enterprise.

• Maintain an accurate, confidential, decision-ready picture of cluster enterprises, assets, growth inhibitors, opportunities, workforce requirements, and competitive dynamics in DataSphere and approved EKC systems.

• Organize and support an effective CBT: member recruitment, executive engagement, strategic agendas, documented decisions, accountable action items, and followthrough.

• Orchestrate work across the eight Cylinder Pillars without displacing functional Pillar ownership; clarify the responsible leader, partners, deliverables, milestones, and proof of value for each initiative.

• Own the quality and timely publication of the semiannual Cluster Profile, cluster-specific thought leadership, strategic project portfolio, and weekly Progress, Problems, Plans (P3) reports.

• Ensure every material initiative has a credible business case, expected regional value, success measures, resource requirements, accountable owner, and periodic performance review.

Key Responsibilities

Cluster Strategy, Intelligence & Leadership

• Develop an evidence-based assessment of cluster size, enterprise concentration, revenue, employment, productivity, segments, suppliers, competitive position, assets, gaps, and emerging opportunities.

• Work with the CBT to define a differentiated cluster vision, strategic objectives, priority initiatives, and a rolling execution roadmap with clear decision and proof gates.

• Monitor advanced manufacturing trends—including industrial AI, robotics, automation, additive manufacturing, digital twins, industrial IoT, cybersecurity for operational technology, reshoring, and resilient supply chains—and translate implications into regional action.

• Partner with Pillar 1 to communicate a credible manufacturing value proposition that attracts enterprises, skilled talent, capital, and national recognition.

Enterprise Engagement, Competitiveness & Growth

• Conduct structured executive and plant-level interviews to identify universal cluster barriers and acute enterprise-specific challenges in productivity, quality, costs, talent, capital, technology, suppliers, and capacity.

• Segment and prioritize retention, expansion, supplier development, startup/Gazelle acceleration, and strategic recruitment opportunities based on economic impact and feasibility.

• Convert recurring challenges into coordinated, time-bound solutions and referrals; distinguish immediate operational improvements from systemic regional interventions.

• Coordinate with Pillar 5 and economic development partners on business retention, expansion, targeted recruitment, and the growth of regional supplier networks.

Customized Talent Supply Chains & Experiential Learning

• With Pillar 2 and manufacturers, validate the advanced manufacturing workforce taxonomy, work roles, KSAAT requirements, current vacancies, and three- and fiveyear talent demand forecasts.

• Translate employer specifications into actionable requirements for Pillar 3, education and workforce providers, including apprenticeships, incumbent-worker upskilling, industry credentials, and employer-validated assessments.

• Work with Pillar 7 to champion practical demonstrations of workforce readiness through manufacturing-relevant xRange simulations, labs, work-based projects, and other experiential learning; use TalentSphere to improve talent-to-opportunity connections.

• With Pillar 3 Support pathways for high school and postsecondary students, transitioning military, rural workers, career changers, and underserved or underemployed talent without compromising employer-defined standards.

Innovation, Commercialization & Critical Materials

• Translate manufacturers’ technical problem sets into structured research and commercialization opportunities with Pillar 4, regional universities, laboratories, entrepreneurs, and industry partners.

• Advance prototype, pilot, technology-validation, IP licensing, and commercialization pathways; leverage IdeaSphere and relevant xRange capabilities where appropriate.

• Coordinate manufacturing opportunities with Critical Materials Crossroads and adjacent clusters, including critical-materials processing, component manufacturing, supply-chain security, and advanced production.

• Support collaborative federal and private research proposals and track the conversion of research into pilots, licenses, products, startups, investment, and regional employment.

Collaboration, Infrastructure & Investment

• With Pillar 6, align chambers, EDOs, state and local partners, trade groups, industry associations, and public agencies around complementary responsibilities and shared deliverables.

• Identify manufacturing infrastructure and capital gaps, including facilities, testing environments, equipment, utilities, logistics, and digital enablement; translate requirements to Pillar 7 for solution design.

• Develop investment-ready prospectuses and business cases with explicit cost, benefit, funding sources, economic return, and implementation accountability.

• Facilitate productive partnerships across manufacturers, suppliers, academia, investors, government, and other EKC clusters while preserving each partner’s authority and mission.

Performance Intelligence, Governance & Execution

• With Pillar 8, maintain trustworthy data, dashboards, baselines, and performance trends in DataSphere; protect enterprise-confidential and competitively sensitive information.

• Lead recurring CBT strategy and performance reviews; maintain decision logs, action owners, milestones, risks, and escalations; report progress through weekly P3 updates.

• Distinguish leading measures of engagement and execution from lagging measures of enterprise growth and regional prosperity; improve initiatives based on results and stakeholder feedback.

• Represent EKC professionally at manufacturing industry, academic, investor, and regional events, with a focus on meaningful partnerships and measurable outcomes.

• Maintain professional integrity, confidentiality, information security, and compliance with EKC policies and commitments.

General Responsibilities:

• Respond promptly to enterprise and internal stakeholders, document decisions accurately, and close commitments reliably.

• Lead, coach, and coordinate Cluster Operatives and project contributors; create clarity of ownership and foster a collaborative, accountable working culture.

• Continuously update industry knowledge, regional intelligence, competitive benchmarks, and EKC methods and platforms.

• Prepare and deliver concise executive briefings, Cluster Profiles twice annually, cluster-specific Thought Docs as needed, and weekly P3 reports.

Expected Outcomes:

• Widespread regional adoption of EKC’s digital architecture including the TalentSphere and xRange.

• Manufacturers report improved access to coordinated solutions, stronger competitiveness, greater resilience, and greater confidence in regional collaboration.

• Validated employer requirements inform talent production, experiential learning, and measurable improvements in workforce readiness and hiring outcomes.

• More industry problems advance into research partnerships, demonstrations, commercialization, and locally retained innovation and investment.

• The cluster demonstrates sustained gains in economic output, quality employment, enterprise growth, and startup/Gazelle activity against established baselines.

• Within three years, the region demonstrates credible progress toward national recognition as an Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, supported by external evidence rather than branding alone.

Key Metrics:

• Economic outcomes: Cluster Gross Enterprise Product (CGEP) / regional gross enterprise product attributable to the cluster; Cluster Enterprise Employment Index (CEEI); enterprise count and growth; high-value jobs; expansion and capital investment.

• Enterprise execution: number and quality of engaged enterprises; documented growth inhibitors; prioritized initiatives launched/completed; time to resolution; manufacturer satisfaction; attributable outcomes.

• Talent: employer-validated roles and demand forecasts; curriculum alignments; experiential-learning completions; demonstrated competencies; placements, retention, and time-to-fill where measurable.

• Innovation: enterprise problem sets; research collaborations; prototype/pilot conversions; licenses, new products, startups/Gazelles; federal/private research and follow-on investment.

• Ecosystem and governance: CBT participation and action closure; partner commitments fulfilled; initiative ROI and proof-gate achievement; regional and national recognition.

• All metrics require defined baselines, data ownership, measurement frequency, and appropriate attribution; review leading indicators regularly and publish lagging trends at least semiannually.

Attributes:

• Mission-Driven — grounds decisions in EKC’s purpose and measurable regional prosperity.

• Builder Mentality — connects systems and stakeholders to create durable, useful solutions.

• Scenario-Driven Problem Solver — anticipates interdependencies, identifies root causes, and tests practical options.

• Navigates Complexity — maintains clarity and effectiveness amid ambiguity, competing priorities, and change.

• Curious & Relentless Learner — continuously learns manufacturing technology, markets, and stakeholder needs.

• Bias for Action & Results — initiates, follows through, closes loops, and delivers outcomes.

• Translational Communicator — explains technical, strategic, and economic concepts across industry, academia, and civic audiences.

• Collaborative & Humble — builds trust, invites challenge, shares credit, and prioritizes collective results.

• Precision & Craftsmanship — produces accurate analyses, disciplined execution, and high-quality deliverables.

• Rises to the Moment — leads calmly and accountably when decisions, risks, or opportunities are consequential.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong executive-level knowledge of advanced manufacturing operations, competitiveness, technology adoption, supplier ecosystems, and industry economics; credible relationships with manufacturing leaders.

• Demonstrated strategic planning, enterprise development, consultative discovery, portfolio execution, and cross-organizational leadership skills.

• Ability to convert complex enterprise requirements into prioritized business cases, accountable workstreams, measurable outcomes, and clear executive communications.

• Working understanding of manufacturing workforce roles, KSAAT frameworks, demand forecasting, experiential learning, research commercialization, and capital/infrastructure requirements.

• Strong analytical and data literacy, including KPI definition, interpretation of economic impact, scenario analysis, and disciplined use of DataSphere or comparable tools.

• Ability to influence without direct authority, convene senior executives, facilitate a CBT, negotiate alignment, and coach collaborative teams.

• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, listening, facilitation, organizational, and time-management skills; ability to handle multiple concurrent priorities.

• Comfort with digital platforms, AI-enabled workflows, spreadsheets, presentations, collaboration, and project-management tools.

• Availability for regional travel and occasional work outside standard business hours as enterprise and stakeholder commitments require.