Heavy Lift Manager

Keel; Meggett (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Benefit Package

401K Match

Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off

Certification Sponsorship

Job summary

Keel in South Carolina is seeking a Heavy Lift Manager to supervise all heavy lift, rigging, crane, and drydock operations across government ship repair and commercial fabrication projects. You will ensure safe, efficient, and timely execution of lifts, rotations, and barge load-outs, coordinating with riggers, crane operators, and safety teams.

Responsibilities include crew leadership, lift planning, equipment documentation, and compliance with OSHA, NAVSEA, and ASME B30 standards.

Qualifications

• High School diploma required.
• 7+ years in heavy rigging, crane operations, drydocking, and complex fabrication moves.
• Experience in Government Ship Repair, DOD contracting, or commercial marine environments preferred.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA, NAVSEA, ASME B30 standards and rigging/crane/drydock safety regulations.
• Supervisory experience managing crews in high-risk environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead crews including riggers, crane operators, and drydock personnel.
• Enforce safety protocols and ensure compliance with applicable standards.
• Review drawings, lift plans, and docking strategies for modular construction and large assemblies.
• Approve engineered lift plans and coordinate critical lift packages.
• Plan heavy lifts, docking/undocking, and barge load-outs to minimize delays.
• Maintain certifications and inspection records for lifting equipment.

Skills

Crew leadership

Safety management

Lift planning

Reading drawings

Project coordination

Education

High School diploma

Tools

Lift planning software

Job description

Description

Built on Experience. Built for Skill. Built for You.

Keel was formed by bringing together three industry leaders combining generations of hands‑on expertise in steel fabrication, shipbuilding, aerospace, and defense manufacturing.

That means when you join Keel, you’re joining a team backed by decades of proven craftsmanship and real‑world results.

We build ships, defense systems, aerospace components, and heavy steel structures that serve critical missions — and we do it with pride.

Your Mission:

The Heavy Lift Manager is responsible for supervising and coordinating all heavy lift, rigging, crane, and drydocking operations across government ship repair, DOD, and commercial fabrication projects. This role ensures the safe, efficient, and timely execution of heavy lifts, rotations, transfers, dockings, undockings, and barge load‑outs for waterfront transport. The Heavy Lift Manager works closely with riggers, signalmen, crane operators, drydock personnel, and safety teams to maintain compliance with NAVSEA, OSHA, and ASME standards.

Explore the Depth of the Role:

Crew Leadership & Oversight

• Supervise crews including riggers, crane operators, heavy equipment operators, and drydock personnel.
• Assign personnel to tasks, approve rigging and docking methods, and ensure all team members are properly trained and certified.
• Promote safety culture by reinforcing teamwork, accountability, and adherence to protocols.
• Direct operations including crane activities, rigging methods, lift planning, drydock sequencing, and barge load‑outs.

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce strict safety protocols and oversee job hazard analyses (JHAs).
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, NAVSEA, ASME B30 standards, load charts, engineered lift plans, and critical lift packages.
• Investigate incidents or near misses, implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Collaborate with safety teams, engineers, and project managers to align safety with project schedules.

Technical & Planning Responsibilities

• Review drawings, vessel plans, and lift/docking strategies for modular construction, large assemblies, and marine movements.
• Approve engineered lift plans and coordinate critical lift packages.
• Plan heavy lifts including lifting, flipping, docking, undocking, and setting large fabricated structures and vessels.
• Coordinate vessel scheduling, dock occupancy, hull stability, and barge loading to minimize project delays.

Equipment & Documentation

• Maintain certifications, inspections, and documentation for cranes, rigging equipment, and drydock systems.
• Oversee preventative maintenance activities to ensure reliability and readiness.
• Ensure inspections are completed and documented for all lifting and docking equipment.

Project & Operational Management

• Manage heavy lift and drydock activities across government and commercial projects.
• Direct barge load‑outs for fabricated products requiring waterfront transport.
• Support project schedules by coordinating with engineering and project management teams.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Mission Readiness:

• High School diploma required.
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in heavy rigging, crane operations, drydocking, and complex fabrication moves.
• Experience in Government Ship Repair, DOD contracting, or commercial marine/industrial environments preferred.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA, NAVSEA, ASME B30 standards, and rigging/crane/drydock safety regulations.
• Supervisory experience managing crews in high‑risk industrial environments.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, rigging plans, drydock plans, and lift procedures.
• Proficient in lift planning and drydock sequencing software, plus Microsoft Office Suite.
• NCCCO Certification or equivalent preferred.
• TWIC card and ability to obtain security clearances as required.

Become a part of our Builders and you too can...

• Uphold Safety and Quality Standards
• Embody Team Spirit
• Relentless Customer Focus
• Convey Integrity, Trust, and Professionalism
• Execute with Excellence and Velocity

Travel Requirements:

• Occasional travel between facilities, as business needs require.

Physical Requirements:

• May be required to stand, walk, sit, reach/pull/push with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop or kneel regularly.
• May lift or carry 50lbs. Weights exceeding 50lbs will require mechanical means to maneuver.

Become a part of our Builders and you too can...

• Uphold Safety and Quality Standards
• Embody Team Spirit
• Relentless Customer Focus
• Convey Integrity, Trust, and Professionalism
• Execute with Excellence and Velocity

What Keel will build for you:

• Comprehensive Benefit Package
• Competitive Pay
• 401K Match
• HSA/FSA
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Internal Referral Bonus Opportunities
• Shift Differentials
• Overtime Potential
• Paid on the Job Training
• Certification Sponsorship Opportunities
• Committed to Individual Career Growth
• We Do Fun Things, Plus More!

Need Assistance?

If you require a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the employment process, please email

[e-mail] with details about your request and your contact information. Accommodation requests are reviewed individually on a case‑by‑case basis. Please note that this email address is monitored only for inquiries related to reasonable accommodation requests.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans

What we build, builds us.