Nace Inspection Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

The Soft Craft Lead is responsible for leading and coordinating daily activities for soft craft personnel performing insulation, painting, sandblasting, fireproofing, coatings, floor covering, refractory support, and other specialty craft work within an industrial facility. The Soft Craft Lead provides field supervision, ensures work is performed safely and efficiently, and serves as the primary liaison between the Soft Craft Foreman/Superintendent and craft personnel.

The Soft Craft Lead is responsible for maintaining productivity, quality, safety, and schedule compliance while ensuring all work meets company, client, and regulatory standards.

Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Supervision

• Lead daily work activities of assigned soft craft crews.
• Assign daily work based on project priorities and schedules.
• Monitor employee productivity, workmanship, and attendance.
• Mentor and train craft personnel on proper work methods and safe work practices.
• Coordinate manpower, equipment, and material requirements with supervision.
• Provide direction and technical support to craft employees.
• Conduct daily pre-job meetings and toolbox safety talks.

Project Execution

• Coordinate installation, maintenance, repair, and removal of:
  • Industrial insulation
  • Industrial coatings and painting
  • Sandblasting
  • Fireproofing
  • Protective coatings
  • Weatherproofing
  • Refractory support activities
• Read and interpret drawings, specifications, work packages, and project schedules.
• Monitor work progress and communicate schedule updates to supervision.
• Ensure work is completed according to project specifications and quality standards.
• Identify and resolve field issues affecting productivity or quality.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all company, client, and OSHA regulations.
• Conduct routine jobsite safety inspections.
• Ensure employees properly utilize personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Verify compliance with:
  • Hot Work Permits
  • Confined Space Entry
  • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
  • Fall Protection
  • Respiratory Protection
• Report unsafe conditions, incidents, and near misses immediately.
• Participate in incident investigations and corrective actions.

Quality Control

• Inspect completed work for compliance with project specifications.
• Verify proper application of coatings, insulation, and specialty materials.
• Maintain quality documentation and inspection records.
• Coordinate with Quality Control personnel to resolve deficiencies.

Materials & Equipment

• Coordinate material deliveries and staging.
• Monitor inventory of consumables and specialty materials.
• Ensure proper care and maintenance of tools and equipment.
• Report equipment maintenance needs promptly.

Communication

• Communicate daily work progress to the Soft Craft Foreman or Superintendent.
• Coordinate activities with Operations, Maintenance, Mechanical, Electrical, and other craft disciplines.
• Participate in planning meetings and schedule reviews.
• Maintain accurate daily reports and workforce documentat

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 5 years of industrial soft craft experience.
• Minimum 2 years of leadership experience as a Lead, Working Foreman, or equivalent.
• Experience in one or more of the following:
  • Petrochemical
  • Chemical Manufacturing
  • Refining
  • Oil & Gas
  • LNG
  • Power Generation
  • Pulp & Paper
  • Heavy Industrial Construction

Required Knowledge & Skills

• Strong knowledge of industrial insulation systems.
• Experience with industrial coatings and protective painting.
• Knowledge of abrasive blasting procedures.
• Familiarity with fireproofing systems and applications.
• Ability to read blueprints, drawings, and project specifications.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to coordinate multiple work activities simultaneously.
• Knowledge of OSHA safety standards.
• Basic computer skills including Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to prepare daily reports and communicate project status.

Preferred Qualifications

• NCCER Certification in applicable craft.
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction or General Industry Certification.
• First Aid/CPR Certification.
• Respiratory Protection Training.
• Coating inspection or NACE certification is a plus.
• Experience supporting industrial maintenance, outages, and turnarounds.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, climb stairs, ladders, and scaffolding for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work at heights, in confined spaces, and in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to wear required PPE, including:
  • Hard Hat
  • Safety Glasses
  • Steel-Toe Boots
  • FR Clothing (as required)
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Hearing Protection
  • Fall Protection Equipment

Work Environment

The Soft Craft Lead works in active industrial facilities, including refineries, petrochemical plants, chemical plants, power plants, manufacturing facilities, and turnaround projects. The role requires frequent field supervision in both indoor and outdoor environments and may involve extended work hours, weekends, holidays, and outage schedules.

Key Competencies

• Leadership & Team Development
• Safety Leadership
• Industrial Coatings & Insulation Knowledge
• Planning & Organization
• Quality Assurance
• Productivity Management
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Customer Focus
• Time Management
• Decision Making
• Continuous Improvement

Preferred Industry Experience

• Petrochemical
• Chemical Manufacturing
• Refining
• Oil & Gas
• LNG
• Power Generation
• Pulp & Paper
• Steel Mills
• Heavy Industrial Construction
• Industrial Maintenance
• Turnarounds and Capital Projects