Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 25058

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Kathleen Rich

(406) 994 – 4507

kathleen.rich@montana.edu

Classification Title Facilities Professional

Working Title Business Advisor

Brief Position Overview

Help Montana manufacturers succeed! The Business Advisor helps Montana Manufacturing Extension Center ( MMEC ) support that mission by providing growth, innovation, efficiency, compliance, and managerial assistance. This position is based in Great Falls, and all interested individuals are encouraged to apply.

Position Number 4C4321

Department MT Mfg Extension Center MMEC

Division College of Engineering

Appointment Type Professional

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

FLSA Exempt

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible Eligible

Salary Salary range of $90,000 to $105,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

Contract Type LOA

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

At the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center ( MMEC ), our mission is to grow Montana’s economy by helping manufacturers succeed. We accomplish this by providing growth, innovation, efficiency, compliance, and managerial assistance to Montana manufacturers for a fee. MMEC is an outreach of the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering at Montana State University, and a part of the NIST MEP National Network. Field Offices are located in Bozeman, Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Kalispell, Missoula and Sidney, and serve the entire state. This position is based in Great Falls, working independently from an office co-located with one of our partner agencies. The territory will include the entire State of Montana.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Deliver growth, innovation, efficiency, compliance, and managerial consulting services to Montana manufacturers.

• Proactively develop relationships with prospective and existing clients, assess clients’ needs, determine strategies, and create action plans resulting in written proposals for contracted services with manufacturers.

• Write and review reports, track and report project progress, and develop and manage third party delivery experts.

• Oversee projects through their successful completion, prepare end-of-project survey tools and effectively assist clients in completing post-project surveys that result in significant economic impact.

• Develop and present appropriate educational materials at public training workshops and seminars.

• Write articles for MMEC’s newsletter and other publications.

  Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated experience with progressively increasing levels of responsibility in improving manufacturing operations.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or business from an accredited university or college.

• Demonstrated success in persuading superiors, colleagues, subordinates, or customers of the value of a project and then leading and managing these projects to successful conclusions.

  Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Ten plus years of demonstrated experience improving manufacturing operations with progressively increasing levels of responsibility.

• Demonstrated knowledge in these areas: manufacturing systems design, analysis, and continuous improvement; manufacturing processes and equipment; lean manufacturing concepts; quality management systems; Six Sigma concepts; theory of constraints; waste reduction; plant management; supply chain optimization; workforce development; and product design as it relates to manufacturing.

• Master’s degree in engineering from an accredited engineering program or master’s degree in business from an accredited business school.

• Relevant licensing or industry recognized certifications.

• Experience in implementing automation, Industry 4.0, additive manufacturing, smart manufacturing, internet of things, big data, robotics, cobots, and visual controls in a manufacturing environment.

  The Successful Candidate Will

• Be able to showcase your abilities and the abilities of team members to the owners and managers of manufacturing facilities within your region and throughout the State of Montana.

• Work as a productive member of a team of professionals that seeks to advance manufacturing in the State of Montana.

• Possess the ability to identify manufacturing, business and engineering problems and then formulate multiple solutions for solving them.

• Be a self-starter who can work independently to identify, problem solve, plan, organize, manage, and execute projects.

• Have excellent human relations skills, evidence of good judgment, flexibility, and innovativeness to respond to the needs of many clients.

• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills, including public presentations.

  Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

The position will be based in Great Falls, Montana, and the location is not negotiable. Continuation of employment is contingent upon availability of funding.

Position requires frequent travel by rental car or own vehicle throughout the State of Montana. Overnight stays are required for quarterly staff and board meetings, national conferences, and periodic trainings.

Must possess currently, or be eligible to obtain, a valid State of Montana Driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record (less than 12 points) or have other reliable means of transportation. Must have access to a vehicle to use for work (mileage will be reimbursed) and have minimum vehicle liability insurance. Do NOT send a copy of the driver’s license.

The successful candidate will be asked to provide any relevant manufacturing certifications.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? No

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search.

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on September 9, 2024; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.