Production Manager

Brightpath Associates LLC; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Gulf Copper seeks a senior production/operations leader to oversee shipbuilding and marine construction activities, driving safety, quality and on-time delivery.

You will coordinate with planning, engineering, procurement, and quality teams, guide a large workforce, and optimize resources to meet program requirements and customer expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with extensive supervisory experience in shipbuilding or heavy industrial construction.
• A minimum of 10 years leading large, multi-discipline production trades.
• Lean/Six Sigma certification or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee all production trades and phases of vessel construction to meet master schedule.
• Coordinate with Planning, Engineering, Procurement, Quality, and subcontractors to align work with the master schedule.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate daily production operations and provide progress reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Lean/Six Sigma

Safety culture

Production planning

Cross-functional leadership

Workforce development

Scheduling

Education

BS in Industrial Technology

Engineering

Construction Management

Lean/Six Sigma certification

Tools

Production planning software

Job description

• Responsible for the safe execution of all production, fabrication, assembly, erection, and outfitting activities supporting ship newbuilding and major marine construction programs in accordance with the company's overall safety goals, objectives and policies.
• Direct and oversee all production trades and phases of vessel construction - including steel fabrication, sub-assembly, block assembly, erection, outfitting, and painting - in accordance with the work instructions and master schedule released by Production Engineering and Planning.
• Maximize financial returns on capital resources and human resources through effective workforce planning, cost control, resource allocation, and production execution.
• Ensure production work is completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with all contractual and quality requirements.
• Continuously monitor production workforce levels, equipment, facilities, and construction methodologies across steel fabrication, sub-assembly, erection, outfitting, paint, and test/commissioning to ensure capability to meet current and future program requirements.
• Work closely with Production Planning, Production Engineering, Procurement/Supply Chain, Quality, and Subcontractor Management to ensure production activities align with the master schedule, released work instructions, and material availability; feed field conditions, constructability issues, and engineering queries back to Production Engineering and Planning to support as-built documentation and schedule adjustment.
• Ensure compliance with Gulf Copper Mission Statement and Quality Management System.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate all daily production operations across shipbuilding and marine construction trades.
• Execute the detailed production schedule issued by Production Planning and provide daily and weekly progress and labor-actuals reporting back to Planning; shift-level task sequencing is delegated to Production, but the master and detailed schedule of record remains owned by Production Planning.
• Provide proper motivation and support to all reports and Production department employees to ensure the proper systems and processes are followed for accurate and efficient reporting of work and activities.
• Participate in joint change-order impact assessments with Production Planning, Production Engineering, Procurement, and Quality, providing production-execution input prior to Corporate Legal Counsel review and execution.
• Ensure production work is executed to maximize safety, quality, productivity, schedule performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Oversee steel fabrication, sub-assembly, block erection, outfitting, painting, and test/commissioning support activities, including first-line workmanship self-verification within the shared Inspection and Test Plan, to ensure successful and timely vessel delivery.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, classification society, environmental, and customer workmanship requirements in production activities.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Production Planning, Production Engineering, Quality, Procurement, and subcontracted trade labor to ensure efficient, well-coordinated production execution.
• Identify and prioritize production material and component shortages into the joint Material Readiness Review; external supplier expediting is channeled through Procurement rather than direct floor-level vendor contact.
• In coordination with the Corporate Human Resources Department, interview, hire, develop, and retain production supervisors, foremen, and craft personnel supporting shipbuilding and construction programs.
• Provide leadership, motivation, guidance, performance evaluations, coaching, and professional development for direct reports and their subordinate teams.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts related to production methods, lean manufacturing practices, facility layout, workforce development, and capital equipment investments.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence throughout all production activities.

Required Education & Experience:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and extensive trade/supervisory experience.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible production or operations leadership experience in shipbuilding, vessel construction, heavy industrial construction, offshore fabrication, or marine project environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, multidiscipline production trade workforces (welding, fitting, outfitting, electrical, paint) on complex newbuild vessel programs.
• Lean manufacturing/Six Sigma certification, journeyman-level trade credential, or advanced technical degree preferred.

Necessary Equipment Operation:

• Computer systems and standard office equipment.
• Shipyard production management, material tracking, and quality/inspection systems.
• Company vehicles as required.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) required in production and waterfront areas.