The Manufacturing Institute is the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers. The MI’s mission is to inspire, educate and empower the manufacturing workforce of today and tomorrow. The MI’s diverse initiatives support all American workers, including emerging workers, women, veterans and students, through skilled training programs, community building and career growth.
Manufacturing Institute
Job Description
Job Title: Director, Development, FAME USA
Division: Manufacturing Institute
Reports To: National Director, FAME USA
FLSA Status/Level: Exempt/Professional
Location: Remote
Who We Are: The Manufacturing Institute (MI) aims to build and strengthen the manufacturing workforce for individual opportunity, community prosperity, and a competitive manufacturing industry for the future. Through our vision to ensure a manufacturing workforce resilient to the challenges and prepared for the opportunities of the 21st century, the MI’s initiatives support all American workers through skilled training programs, community building and career growth. As the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with resources necessary to solve the industry’s toughest challenges.
The MI’s Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME USA) is a signature initiative of the MI, supported by a dedicated team.
FAME is a distinct model of skills training used to develop the next generation of technicians for advanced manufacturing. The Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program is the flagship training program of this model and is used by hundreds of manufacturers across the country to develop global-best multiskilled technicians; a Process Technician program is currently being piloted to expand training opportunities into new specialties. The FAME USA network is currently comprised of nearly four dozen chapters across 17 states; chapters have employers, colleges, and community organizations all supporting the program locally. Additional geographies are seeking to launch chapters each year, with the network having experienced phenomenal growth over the past four years.
Position Overview: The Manufacturing Institute (MI) is seeking a professional to serve as Director, Development, FAME USA, a key supporting role within the FAME USA team. This position will support the development of new chapters nationwide, responding to employer interest and advancing targeted outreach as part of the team’s strategic growth plan. Additionally, this role will play a critical role coordinating, supporting, and deploying new development initiatives.
This is a dynamic, high-impact position that requires initiative, follow-through, a collaborative spirit and strong professionalism. You will work closely with the National Director of FAME USA, the FAME USA team, external stakeholders, and local champions to support the launch of FAME chapters. A successful candidate will embrace a continuous improvement mindset and thrive in a fast-paced environment that values ownership, responsiveness, and teamwork. You’ll be joining a larger MI team of entrepreneurial problem-solvers designing, enhancing, and managing national-scale solutions while nurturing successful partnerships that attract and prepare for the next generation manufacturing workforce.
Join the MI Team and Make an Impact in the Following Ways: The Director, Development, FAME USA, will support the growth targets of FAME, particularly through the development and management of strategic relationships and program initiatives directed at chapter development.
You will be a representative of MI’s FAME USA team and often the initial point of contact for stakeholders that will ultimately coalesce with your support to become FAME chapters. In this role, you will support developing chapters using various systems, best practices, and related resources to promote successful scaling of the FAME model. This role will work very closely with the National Director of FAME USA in planning and executing convenings, webinars and related interactions with strategic partners to further programmatic initiatives that expand the FAME USA network.
In addition to the above, this position plays an important role by:
- Identifying, developing and executing timely deliverables to stakeholders to support the development of new chapters
- Helping design and refine program collateral, toolkits, and onboarding materials for new and prospective chapters
- Tracking and reporting key data to inform FAME USA’s chapter development progress and decision-making
- Collaborating with MI and local stakeholders to provide targeted support that strengthens chapter launch and sustainability
- Establishing early expectations and guiding partners to meet FAME Quality Assurance requirements before chapter launch
- Supporting other programs and related activities as needed.
This description is representative of the position and is not intended to limit or preclude other responsibilities and tasks that may be associated with or added to the position.
We are looking for Ambitious team players who meet the Following Criteria:
- Experience working with the FAME model is preferred but not required.
- Experience in manufacturing is preferred but not required.
- A bachelor’s degree is preferred but equivalent work experience is welcome.
- Seven or more years of work experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Building and supporting training models for industry
- Experience with coalition creation and management
- Workforce development
- Membership association
- Experience using CRM software.
- A willingness to learn new skills, tools, and processes: you will be performing multiple tasks using a variety of software applications for a variety of projects for a variety of stakeholders—both internal and external.
- A “continuous improvement” mindset.
And finally, it’s important that you have…
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Relationships are everything. You’ll help build, strengthen, and sometimes repair them with tact and professionalism.
- Experience with Microsoft Office tools—particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.
- Flexibility to travel approximately 25% of the time—typically 2–4 overnight trips per month, depending on the development pipeline.
- A team-first attitude with a service-oriented mindset. This work is collaborative and mission-driven, and success is built on trust and responsiveness.
Bonus Qualifications:
- Familiarity with apprenticeship or earn-and-learn models
- Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder workgroups
- Comfort with ambiguity and a problem-solving mindset—this is a high-growth, evolving initiative
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Salary & Benefits
- $103,000 - $113,000 annually. This salary range represents a good faith estimate of the lowest to the highest salary for this position. The final salary offered will be based on qualifications and experience.
- Competitive annual performance-based bonus eligibility
- Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, disability, flexible spending accounts, SmarTrip, and 401(k) with employer match.
- Paid vacation and sick leave, complimentary on-site gym access, healthy snacks, and professional development support.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Manufacturing Institute is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate everyone’s uniqueness here at the MI. We provide equal opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
We also consider qualified applicants with conviction histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. At the MI, we believe in Second Chances! The MI is committed to offering equal employment opportunities to ALL. We only require that you have the qualifications, talent and passion to be successful in your role.
The MI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at humanresources@nam.org
About NAM
The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States and one of the nation’s most influential advocates for manufacturing. Join a spirited, dynamic team passionate about keeping the U.S. the world leader in manufacturing.
Get involved. Make an impact. Join the MI team.
Learn more at
https://careers.nam.org/
The MI is an equal opportunity employer.
