Executive Director - Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC)

Overview

Location: Arlington, TX

Salary Range:$148,100 - $208,500. The final offer will be commensurate with the candidate’s relevant experience and qualifications.

ORAU is conducting the search on behalf of The University of Texas Arlington for a permanent, full‑time Executive Director in Arlington, TX. 

The Executive Director of the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) serves as the chief executive of Texas's statewide manufacturing extension and modernization enterprise, providing strategic leadership for one of the nation's largest manufacturing assistance organizations. The Executive Director leads a statewide network of university, industry, research, and regional partners to help manufacturers improve competitiveness, productivity, workforce capability, operational excellence, and long-term growth through technical assistance, training, and strategic partnerships.

As the designated Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center Director, the Executive Director oversees federal program stewardship, organizational performance, and engagement with the national MEP network while cultivating relationships with economic development, workforce, and industry stakeholders. The Executive Director will guide TMAC's continued growth by advancing innovation, strengthening organizational capability, expanding strategic partnerships, and championing Texas manufacturers. This position requires a proven manufacturing leader with deep industry experience, a commitment to U.S. industrial competitiveness, and the ability to lead a complex, mission-driven organization that delivers measurable economic impact across Texas.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute TMAC’s statewide strategic vision and operating priorities to advance Texas manufacturing competitiveness and NIST MEP objectives.
• Lead annual operating planning, establish performance goals, monitor customer and financial outcomes, and diversify revenue through fee-for-service activities, grants, partnerships, and other funding opportunities.
• Grow TMAC's reach and value by strengthening relationships with manufacturers, industry associations, OEMs, suppliers, and ecosystem partners while overseeing statewide marketing, business development, and customer success initiatives.
• Serve as the designated NIST MEP Center Director, ensuring full compliance with cooperative agreement requirements, fiscal and reporting standards, audit readiness, and active participation in national MEP initiatives.
• Direct and strengthen the statewide network of regional partners by aligning strategies, building technical capability, promoting accountability, and ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality services and measurable customer impact.
• Ensure TMAC maintains leading capabilities in both foundational manufacturing disciplines and emerging technologies, continuously evolving service offerings to address the changing needs of Texas manufacturers.
• Develop and maintain productive partnerships with federal, state, local, academic, workforce, and economic development organizations, and support effective governance through collaboration with the Advisory Board and Business Operations Committee.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, fiscal controls, risk management, contract administration, and resource allocation to safeguard the organization's long-term financial health and mission.
• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing workforce while fostering a culture of leadership, collaboration, innovation, accountability, continuous improvement, and customer-focused results.
• Establish and monitor enterprise-wide performance metrics, ensure data integrity, evaluate organizational effectiveness, and provide transparent reporting on operational, financial, and customer outcomes to NIST, governance bodies, and institutional leadership.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or a related field. 
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience with enterprise-level responsibility for organizational performance, profit and loss (P&L), business operations, or strategic initiatives, including at least five years of experience managing or supporting federal or state-funded programs, grants, or cooperative agreements with demonstrated regulatory compliance and fiscal stewardship. 
• Significant knowledge and leadership experience with manufacturing environments, including plant operations, engineering, production, quality, supply chain, logistics, operational excellence, and factory digitalization. 
• Demonstrated expertise leading multi-site, multi-stakeholder, technically complex organizations, such as engineering, research and development, operations, or advanced manufacturing services, with a proven track record of delivering measurable operational, financial, workforce, customer, and organizational performance outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or additional training in advanced manufacturing, technology, finance, strategy, organizational transformation, workforce development, or a related field. 
• Experience with the MEP National Network, including operations, performance metrics, and cooperative agreement management. 
• Knowledge of emerging manufacturing technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), automation, robotics, cybersecurity, digital manufacturing, and Industry 4.0/5.0. 
• Demonstrated expertise in securing funding, ensuring fiscal compliance, and making strategic business decisions; building manufacturing ecosystems, industry partnerships, and multi-organizational collaborations; and leading organizational change, growth initiatives, and culture transformation within manufacturing or technology organizations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strategic planning, portfolio management, KPI development, performance management, and systems thinking in complex organizations. 
• Knowledge of manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, quality, supply chain, production planning, and digital manufacturing. 
• Working knowledge of AI/ML, automation, robotics, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and data analytics. 
• Leadership of complex, multi-site organizations; organizational transformation, change management, workforce development, and talent strategy. 
• Ability to influence, build partnerships, and align diverse stakeholders. 
• Financial management, budgeting, compliance, risk management, grants, contracts, and audit readiness. 
• Executive communication, public speaking, board relations, and knowledge of economic development and manufacturing. 
• Competitive strategy, customer value, ecosystem development, industry partnerships, and measurable business results.

Benefits Information: https://www.uta.edu/hr/employee-benefits