Fabrication Operations Manager Jobs in Connecticut

Structural Steel Fabrication Operations

Location: Confidential | On-Site

Company Overview

A leading structural steel fabrication company is seeking an experienced Shop Manager to oversee daily fabrication operations and drive production excellence across a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This organization specializes in structural steel and miscellaneous metals fabrication for commercial and industrial construction projects and is committed to safety, quality, operational efficiency, and employee development.

 This is an opportunity for a proven fabrication leader to take ownership of shop operations, lead multiple departments, develop employees, and ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, and to the highest quality standards.

Position Summary

The Shop Manager is responsible for leading all fabrication operations within a structural steel manufacturing facility. This role oversees production personnel, coordinates workflow across multiple departments, supports quality and safety initiatives, and ensures projects progress efficiently from receiving through fabrication and shipment.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on leader with extensive structural steel fabrication experience, strong knowledge of welding and fabrication processes, and the ability to drive accountability, productivity, and continuous improvement throughout the operation.

This individual will work closely with Production Managers, Quality Control personnel, Project Managers, and senior leadership to ensure customer expectations, production schedules, and quality requirements are consistently achieved.

Key Responsibilities

Production Leadership & Shop Operations

• Lead and direct daily fabrication activities involving fitters, welders, material handlers, and production personnel.
• Coordinate workflow and manpower allocation across fabrication, receiving, beam processing, hardware, paint, shipping, and loading departments.
• Monitor production schedules, labor utilization, and fabrication progress to ensure projects remain on schedule.
• Establish priorities and resolve production bottlenecks to maximize throughput and efficiency.

Quality Management & Compliance

• Partner closely with Quality Control personnel to ensure fabricated products meet project specifications and company standards.
• Support and enforce compliance with AWS welding requirements, AISC fabrication standards, and internal quality procedures.
• Review shop drawings for constructability, fabrication accuracy, and production readiness.
• Assist in resolving quality concerns, non-conformances, and corrective actions.

Employee Development & Leadership

• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop fabrication personnel and future shop leaders.
• Conduct employee evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and performance feedback.
• Develop training programs focused on fabrication techniques, quality standards, safety practices, and productivity improvement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Safety & Risk Management

• Promote and enforce a safety-first culture throughout the facility.
• Conduct safety meetings, toolbox talks, and ongoing training programs.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA requirements and company safety policies.
• Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve fabrication workflows, productivity, quality, and labor efficiency.
• Utilize production metrics and KPIs to drive decision-making and operational performance.
• Recommend process improvements, equipment upgrades, and workflow enhancements.
• Support strategic initiatives related to growth, efficiency, and operational excellence.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Project Managers, Engineering, Quality, Estimating, and Operations teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Participate in production meetings and provide updates on manpower, production status, quality issues, and schedule risks.
• Maintain professional relationships with customers, inspectors, vendors, and internal stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of structural steel fabrication experience.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing fabrication personnel, supervisors, or production departments.
• Strong knowledge of structural steel fabrication processes including fitting, welding, cutting, assembly, and material handling.
• Ability to read and interpret shop drawings, structural drawings, and fabrication details.
• Experience managing production schedules, labor planning, and workflow coordination.
• Proven ability to lead large fabrication teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and employee development.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within an AISC Certified fabrication facility.
• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification or significant exposure to welding inspection    processes.
• Familiarity with AISC certification requirements and audit preparation.
• Experience utilizing fabrication management software such as Tekla EPM.
• Experience overseeing structural steel projects for commercial, industrial, infrastructure, or         institutional construction.

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