About the practice
Adfactors PR's manufacturing & engineering practice works with industrial conglomerates, engineering companies, defence suppliers, infrastructure builders, and advanced manufacturing firms. The sector demands advisors who understand operational complexity, supply chain dynamics, labour relations, and the interplay between industrial reputation and export or regulatory outcomes.
The role
We are looking for a senior advisor with genuine standing in the manufacturing and engineering ecosystem — someone who can walk into a plant head's office or a CEO's boardroom and immediately add value. The role demands commercial confidence, sector fluency, and the ability to design and lead communications strategies for issues that are often as operational as they are reputational.
Candidate backgrounds we consider
We welcome candidates from across the following professional paths:
- Public relations / corporate communications with industrial or B2B focus
- Management consulting with operations or industrial strategy exposure
- Business journalism covering manufacturing, trade, or infrastructure
- Corporate affairs or government relations within the sector
What you will do
- Own and grow a portfolio of manufacturing and engineering client mandates — with full P&L accountability
- Price engagements to reflect the value of strategic counsel, not activity — and build proposals that win
- Proven ability to engage in strategic negotiations, advise on high-stakes executive communication, and consistently deliver client outcomes that go beyond the brief — building the kind of trust that retains mandates and deepens relationships
- Advise clients on reputation issues linked to operational incidents, supply chain failures, labour disruptions, export controls, and regulatory scrutiny
- Lead communications strategy for major milestones: regulatory approvals, plant launches, workforce restructuring, M&A integration
- Maintain senior relationships with client CEOs, operations heads, and board members — on a structured, regular cadence
- Develop early warning protocols for reputational risk in complex operating environments
- Contribute to Adfactors PR's intellectual positioning in industrial and infrastructure advisory
- Build and mentor a team with sector-specific research and advisory capability
- Design and lead pitches for new mandates — combining sharp sector insight with credible capability demonstration
What you bring
- Understanding of industrial sector dynamics — supply chains, manufacturing economics, regulatory compliance, and workforce relations
- Crisis and issues management experience in B2B or industrial contexts
- Commercial discipline — P&L management, engagement pricing, margin awareness, and client retention
- Executive presence in industrial boardrooms — able to challenge and advise, not just report
- Strong research and analytical capability to support advisory positions and pitch materials
Experience
12 to 18 years in communications, consulting, or corporate affairs with meaningful exposure to manufacturing, industrial, or engineering sector clients.
