Solutions Consultant - IPS

About the Role

The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (CIS) is recruiting a Solutions Consultant to serve the Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Program (TMEP) in the greater Nashville and Upper Cumberland area. The role entails engaging new and existing customers through referrals and industry contacts via calls, visits, and other communication methods to assess problems and opportunities that may require CIS services.

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business administration, or related discipline.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of eight years’ experience in a manufacturing environment or an industrial sales environment.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Understanding of manufacturing, economic development, and market trends.
  • Ability to effectively listen to customers, assess customer needs, and translate needs into appropriate action plans.
  • Strong business development skills and ability to effectively represent a broad range of CIS services to manufacturers, economic developers, and other partners.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to communicate with all levels of personnel.
  • Strong presentation skills, computer skills, problem‑solving skills, and project management skills.
  • Must be willing to travel extensively within the assigned Middle Tennessee and Upper Cumberland regions, with occasional travel to other parts of the state and the U.S.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license.

• Education:
  • Advanced degree in engineering, business administration, or related discipline.
• Experience:
  • More than eight years’ experience in a manufacturing environment, including leadership roles, along with industrial sales experience and/or manufacturing consulting experience.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Working knowledge of industrial sales practices including account management and B2B consultative selling.
  • Insights into manufacturing improvement solutions such as Quality Management Systems, Continuous Improvement processes, Workforce development, Supply Chain resiliency, and Technology adoption.
  • Proficiency in analyzing operational challenges and recommending process improvements.
  • Ability to leverage industry events to establish manufacturing connections within the assigned region.

This mobile assignment serves manufacturers and partners located across the greater Nashville area from Stewart, Humphries and Dickson counties in the western part of the region eastward to include Davidson, Sumner, Williamson, Wilson counties along with counties in the Upper Cumberland region including White, Putnam and Cumberland counties of Tennessee. Ideally the candidate will live within the assigned region. County assignments may be subject to change based on market dynamics.

• Find more information on UT Benefits.

To express interest, submit an application with the following attachments. Completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before March 14, 2026.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

• Cultivating manufacturing customers
• Developing and managing customer projects
• Consistently engaging clients to ensure long‑term success and positive economic impact of delivered services
• Developing partnerships with professional associations and economic development organizations, and conducting marketing outreach along with some administrative duties
• Attend conferences, meetings, and other events to represent CIS and network with partner organizations and other stakeholders
• Deliver presentations at various meetings of chambers of commerce and other local organizations
• Serve as the primary CIS contact for customers and stakeholder groups in the assigned region
• Engage new and existing customers through customer calls, visits, and other communication methods to assess problems and opportunities that may require CIS services