Material Preparation Production Lead – Heavy Fabrication

Vickerstock; Derry/Londonderry; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Vickerstock, acting in partnership with a leading engineering and manufacturing organisation, seeks a Production Manager – Material Preparation to lead the day-to-day operation of the Material Preparation Department in a heavy engineering environment.

You will oversee material flow, production planning, team performance and productivity, ensuring components are delivered efficiently to the wider fabrication operation.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in material handling in heavy engineering or fabrication.
• Experience supervising a material handling team.
• Strong knowledge of quality standards and inspection processes.
• Experience with production planning and workflow management.
• Proven track record of meeting targets in fast-paced environments.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specs.

Responsibilities

• Produce and maintain steel nesting layouts to support material procurement and production, maximising material utilisation and minimising waste
• Plan, organise and prioritise the daily workload of the Material Preparation team in line with production priorities and delivery requirements
• Determine the most efficient routing of materials through internal processing equipment and approved subcontractors
• Manage subcontracted material processing activities, ensuring components are delivered on time and to the required quality standards
• Oversee steel inventory management, including incoming materials, stock location control and material traceability
• Ensure the correct steel is allocated and consumed against the correct job, minimising stock discrepancies and misallocation
• Coordinate the preparation, staging and supply of materials and components to support fabrication activities
• Maintain accurate production schedules and material tracking systems to provide clear visibility of stock and job progress
• Ensure material preparation equipment is maintained in safe and operational condition, coordinating maintenance, inspections and repairs where required
• Identify material shortages, capacity constraints and operational risks, escalating issues where necessary
• Ensure nesting data, stock records, batch documentation and preparation paperwork are completed accurately
• Take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the Material Preparation department
• Ensure activities are completed in line with drawings, specifications and company procedures
• Supervise, motivate and support the team to achieve production targets
• Allocate work based on skills, qualifications and workload capacity
• Support performance management, coaching and development of team members
• Assist with onboarding and training of new employees
• Ensure products meet required quality standards and customer specifications
• Support investigations into quality issues and implement corrective actions
• Promote high standards of Health & Safety, PPE usage and safe systems of work
• Ensure machinery, cranes and lifting equipment are operated by trained and authorised personnel
• Maintain strong housekeeping and environmental standards across the department

Skills

Material handling

Leadership

Production planning

Quality inspection

Engineering drawings

Communication

Health & Safety

Job description

Vickerstock, acting in partnership with a leading engineering and manufacturing organisation, seeks a Production Manager – Material Preparation to lead the day-to-day operation of the Material Preparation Department in a heavy engineering environment.

You will oversee material flow, production planning, team performance and productivity, ensuring components are delivered efficiently to the wider fabrication operation.