Digital Manufacturing Adviser
While professional experience and qualifications are key for this role, make sure to check you have the preferable soft skills before applying if required.
Location: Home based with travel across Essex and the East of England
Salary: From £52,000 (dependent on experience) plus an attractive benefits package
About the Role
We are growing our regional manufacturing support capability and are looking for experienced manufacturing professionals to work with a varied portfolio of businesses across the East of England.
This role is ideal for someone with a strong understanding of modern manufacturing environments who is motivated by helping organisations improve productivity, strengthen operational capability and confidently adopt digital technologies and innovative ways of working.
As a Digital Manufacturing Adviser, you will act as a trusted partner to senior manufacturing leaders, helping them assess their current position, develop their digital capability and implement practical, value-driven improvements that deliver measurable results.
What You Will Do
You will build and maintain strong relationships with manufacturing businesses across the region, spending time on site to understand their operations, culture, challenges and growth ambitions.
You will deliver structured business diagnostics and digital capability reviews, producing clear, commercially focused recommendations. This will include advising on process improvement approaches that enhance efficiency, quality and operational resilience, while supporting leadership teams to improve digital awareness and capability across their organisations.
You will guide businesses in making informed decisions about the adoption of new technologies and innovation, offering balanced advice on systems, data-led decision-making and practical implementation. You will also support organisations through change, helping leaders engage their teams and embed new ways of working effectively.
In addition, you will facilitate workshops, explore potential grant opportunities and lead strategic discussions focused on innovation and future readiness. You will connect businesses to specialist expertise and funding where appropriate, and contribute to wider regional engagement activities that strengthen collaboration across the manufacturing community.
About You
You will combine hands-on manufacturing experience with strong advisory skills and a genuine interest in digital transformation and innovation.
You are likely to have worked within a manufacturing environment, with experience in operational leadership, continuous improvement or cross-functional collaboration. You may have played a role in introducing new systems, technologies or process improvements, or in supporting organisations to improve performance and innovation capability. Experience contributing to change programmes requiring clear communication and cultural alignment would be advantageous.
You will demonstrate a solid understanding of manufacturing operations and continuous improvement principles, alongside good digital awareness, including familiarity with manufacturing systems and business software. You will be comfortable explaining technology concepts in practical, commercial terms and understand how to approach organisational change in a way that supports long-term success.
You will be confident engaging with business owners, senior managers and operational teams, with strong written and verbal communication skills. Excellent IT skills, effective planning and organisational capability are essential, as is the ability to manage multiple business relationships in a digitally enabled working environment.
A degree or equivalent professional experience in manufacturing, engineering, business or a related discipline would be beneficial, together with evidence of ongoing professional development.
About Us
Oxford Innovation Advice is a specialist business support organisation dedicated to helping ambitious companies innovate, grow and improve performance. We work in partnership with public and private sector organisations to deliver high-quality advisory services that strengthen regional economies and build long-term business resilience.
Our team works directly with businesses across a wide range of sectors, providing practical support in growth strategy, operational improvement, innovation and effective technology adoption. We combine commercial insight with hands-on experience to ensure our advice is practical, relevant and outcome focused.
Part of the wider SQW Group, we are committed to professionalism, collaboration and delivering measurable impact for the businesses and communities we serve. xsngvjr
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.