Managing Director - Digital Transformation

Location: North America (travel-based)
Employment Type: Full-Time | Salary + Performance Bonus

About Us

At Factory Advisors, we partner with industrial and manufacturing organizations to drive operational excellence, unlock sustainable growth, and achieve measurable outcomes. We don’t just consult—we embed, lead, and deliver.

Our team brings decades of experience into complex factory and operational settings across North America. From the shop floor to the boardroom, we help clients boost revenue, reduce costs, and build cultures of continuous improvement—through strategies rooted in people, process, and performance.

If you're a strategic thinker who thrives on solving tough problems in dynamic environments—and you're eager to break free from virtual fatigue to engage directly with clients—FTE offers a unique opportunity to make your mark.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a seasoned Managing Director to lead Digital Transformation efforts at the intersection of strategy, technology, and execution. This role is ideal for a consulting leader who combines deep operational expertise with a strong understanding of digital solutions and a passion for working hands-on with clients.

As part of the integrated Factory Advisors and GrayMatter organization, Factory Transformation, you will shape and deliver high-impact engagements that connect system-level intelligence with human-level enablement across the industrial sector.

You will play a pivotal role in expanding our Digital Transformation capabilities while reinforcing our differentiated approach:

• Digital Transformation drives insight through systems, data, and advanced analytics
• Approachable AI delivers that insight to the people who need it—on the shop floor, in real time

Together, these capabilities close the gap between insight and action.

From business development and engagement leadership to capability building and internal strategy, you will have end-to-end ownership and influence.

This full-time role requires up to 75% travel and offers a pay-for-performance bonus structure aligned with individual and firm-wide success.

What You'll Do

Business Development

• Serve as both strategist and operator—originating and closing Digital Transformation opportunities while guiding the full lifecycle of client relationships
• Identify, develop, and close opportunities across digital domains (MES/MOM, IIoT, data & analytics, AI/ML, automation, enterprise integration)
• Position and sell integrated solutions that combine Digital Transformation and Approachable AI to drive measurable business outcomes
• Educate clients on the distinction and synergy between:
• System-level AI (data, dashboards, predictive insights)
• Human-level AI (real-time, operator-facing guidance)
• Generate and qualify leads, develop proposals, craft SOWs, and negotiate contracts with senior decision-makers
• Design and execute go-to-market strategies aligned with GrayMatter’s digital capabilities and Factory Advisors’ operational expertise
• Own and manage sales and opportunity pipeline meeting requisite margin targets
• Expand existing accounts by embedding digital solutions into operational and continuous improvement initiatives
• Facilitates and works collaboratively across the full spectrum of offerings to bring the complement of capabilities to address our clients’ needs
• Build market credibility through thought leadership in Industry 4.0+, Smart Manufacturing, and Connected Worker solutions
• Stay ahead of emerging technologies and translate trends into actionable commercial strategies

Case Management

• Own revenue targets and manage profitability across a digital portfolio
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams delivering end-to-end Digital Transformation engagements
• Serve as executive sponsor and engagement lead—scoping, staffing, and ensuring high-quality delivery
• Facilitate strategic working sessions with C-suite and operational leaders to define digital roadmaps and transformation strategies
• Bridge business needs and technical execution—translating operational challenges into scalable digital solutions
• Ensure solutions drive measurable impact, including improved uptime, reduced variability, faster decision-making, and workforce enablement
• Integrate Digital Transformation initiatives with Approachable AI where appropriate to ensure insights are actionable at the point of work
• Oversee implementation and adoption—ensuring solutions are not only deployed but used effectively across the organization
• Build long-term client partnerships by consistently delivering value and trusted advisory services

  Firm Building

• Help define and scale the Digital Transformation capability within Factory Transformation
• Reinforce and evangelize the firm’s differentiated approach: connecting data-driven insight with front-line execution
• Build and mentor a high-performing team across consulting, engineering, and digital disciplines
• Develop reusable tools, frameworks, and playbooks that integrate:
• Operational excellence
• Digital enablement
• Connected worker solutions (Approachable AI)
• Partner through the broader GrayMatter teams to align offerings, delivery models, and innovation pipelines
• Lead or contribute to firm-level initiatives including strategic planning, recruiting, and capability development
• Support internal training to ensure teams can clearly articulate and deliver both Digital Transformation and Approachable AI solutions
• Help shape the future of the integrated business—driving culture, innovation, and growth

Requirements

• Proven management consulting or professional services experience required
• 5+ years of business development experience, including net new client acquisition and account expansion
• 10+ years of leadership experience across Digital Transformation, manufacturing operations, or industrial technology
• Deep knowledge of Industry 4.0 technologies (MES/MOM, IIoT, data platforms, AI/ML, automation systems), OT Security and Industrial Automation
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, Lean principles, and performance improvement
• Experience leading large-scale transformation programs from strategy through implementation
• Demonstrated ability to connect data-driven insights to real-world operational behavior and outcomes
• Ability to engage across all organizational levels—from shop floor to executive leadership
• Strong project leadership, change management, and stakeholder alignment capabilities
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to build trust across technical and non-technical teams
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and executive presentation skills
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced technical degree preferred

Bonus Points if You Have

• Experience working with system integrators or industrial technology providers
• Familiarity with platforms such as Ignition, Rockwell, Siemens, AVEVA, or similar
• Experience integrating operational data with enterprise systems (ERP, PLM, etc.)
• Experience with connected worker technologies or operator-facing digital tools
• Demonstrated success driving adoption of digital solutions at the front line
• Proven ability to influence outcomes without formal authority
• Familiarity with CRM tools