Job Description

Manager, Digital Manufacturing

Role overview

Kelaca is looking for a Manager, Digital Manufacturing for their client partner located in Danville, VA. This is an onsite leadership role focused on digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, automation, robotics, industrial connectivity and smart manufacturing. The role combines technical depth with program leadership, stakeholder engagement and practical delivery, helping manufacturers and partners turn emerging technologies into useful demonstrations, training experiences and implementation pathways.

The position sits at the center of an Industry 4.0 lab environment and is designed for someone who can move comfortably between strategy and execution. Success depends on keeping the lab relevant, advising stakeholders on practical technology adoption, and translating complex manufacturing concepts into clear, applied value for manufacturers, educators, workforce partners and other external audiences.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the lead technical subject-matter expert across digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, automation, robotics, industrial connectivity and related emerging technologies.
• Lead the vision, development and ongoing relevance of the Industry 4.0 Lab so demonstrations remain current, practical and aligned with industry needs.
• Design and deliver hands-on training, workshops, educational programs and experiential learning for manufacturers, educators, workforce partners and students.
• Partner with manufacturers to identify opportunities for automation, process improvement, modernisation and digital transformation.
• Support optimization and applied technology projects through technical consultation, evaluation of emerging solutions and practical implementation strategies.
• Develop demonstrations, presentations, tours and technology showcases for industry leaders, educators, government stakeholders and other visitors.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with manufacturers, technology providers, educational institutions, workforce organizations, economic development partners and government agencies.
• Contribute technical expertise and support to grants, contracts, strategic initiatives, program reporting and impact tracking while managing multiple priorities effectively.
• Represent the company at conferences, technical committees, industry associations, and professional organizations.
• Track, analyze, and communicate program outcomes, project metrics, and impact data..

What success looks like

• The Industry 4.0 Lab remains credible, current and useful as a destination for learning, collaboration and applied innovation.
• Manufacturers and partners gain clearer, more practical pathways for adopting advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Training, demonstrations and advisory support convert technical concepts into real operational understanding and action.
• Stakeholder relationships lead to strong engagement across industry, education, workforce and public-sector partners.
• Multiple initiatives are delivered with consistency, clear follow-through and measurable program outcomes.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Deep knowledge of digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0 concepts, with the judgement to connect emerging technologies to real manufacturing use cases rather than treating them as standalone tools.
• Strong capability in automation systems and robotics, including the ability to assess where automation can improve performance, reliability, throughput or labor effectiveness within a manufacturing setting.
• Advanced understanding of industrial controls, process control and Allen-Bradley PLC systems, with enough hands-on credibility to support programming, troubleshooting and technology discussions with technical stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of industrial networking and connected manufacturing systems, especially where equipment, controls and data flow need to work together in a smart manufacturing environment.
• Experience with smart manufacturing technologies and technology integration, including turning technical possibilities into demonstrations, workshops and practical implementation strategies.
• Applied experience in process optimization, helping manufacturers evaluate where modernization and digital tools can improve operations in realistic, measurable ways.
• Experience designing and delivering hands-on training or experiential learning that makes complex topics accessible to mixed technical and non-technical audiences.
• The ability to communicate clearly with manufacturers, partners and senior stakeholders while maintaining technical accuracy and commercial relevance.

Capabilities and behavior indicators

• Communication and executive presence: able to represent complex manufacturing topics with clarity and credibility in client-facing, partner-facing and public settings.
• Ownership and initiative: proactively seeks out and evaluates emerging technologies, identifies and prioritizes opportunities worth pursuing, and independently moves ideas into action while staying accountable for outcomes.
• Collaboration and relationship management: effective at working across manufacturers, educators, technology partners, workforce organizations and government stakeholders with a low-ego, practical style.
• Influence and judgement: able to build buy-in for modernization priorities, guide trade-offs and help stakeholders move from interest to action.
• Resilience and adaptability: maintains focus and momentum in a fast-moving environment where technologies evolve, priorities shift and several deliverables run at once.

Operating environment

This is an onsite role based in Danville, VA, with a typical day-shift pattern. The environment blends lab leadership, external engagement and program execution. The role regularly moves between demonstration planning, technical problem-solving, training delivery, stakeholder conversations and outcome tracking.

It is well suited to someone who can work consultatively and independently, balance long-term development with immediate requests, and engage confidently with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Travel and physical requirements

The role includes periodic travel in support of partner engagement, industry activity and related program needs. The work also involves active participation in lab, workshop and manufacturing-adjacent settings, including demonstrations, tours and hands-on sessions, so the successful candidate should be comfortable moving through practical technical environments as part of day-to-day delivery.

Employee value proposition

This role offers the opportunity to shape a visible Industry 4.0 platform and help translate advanced manufacturing concepts into practical impact. It combines technical leadership with external influence, giving the successful candidate scope to work directly with manufacturers, contribute to strategic initiatives, support workforce development and help strengthen applied innovation in a regionally significant setting.