Shop Manager - Fabrication Operations

InServ Corp.; Fuquay-Varina (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Paid Time Off

Job summary

InServ, a full-service industrial contractor, is seeking a Fabrication Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of our fabrication shop in Fuquay Varina, NC. You will oversee welders, fabricators, and technicians, ensuring safety, quality, and on-time project delivery while balancing production, materials, and costs.

Youll drive schedules, coordinate with project teams, mentor staff, and foster a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement across the shop floor.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in fabrication, welding, manufacturing, or related environment.
• Experience supervising fabrication personnel and skilled trades.
• Ability to read and understand technical drawings and project specs.
• Experience with material planning, inventory, and vendor coordination.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Effective communication with shop workers and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily fabrication shop operations, ensuring plan, priority, and execution.
• Develop and maintain production schedules aligned with project requirements.
• Monitor labor utilization, productivity, and capacity to address bottlenecks.
• Ensure fabrication meets specifications, drawings, quality standards, and schedule.
• Coach and develop shop personnel and oversee hiring and onboarding.
• Maintain safety culture and ensure compliance with policies and OSHA requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Production scheduling

Shop floor experience

Safety compliance

Communication

Problem-solving

Job description

At InServ, we believe great work is built through teamwork, accountability, and a commitment to safety, quality, and excellence. We bring that same commitment to our employees by creating opportunities to contribute, grow, and build a career.

We are seeking a Fabrication Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of our fabrication shop. This role is responsible for ensuring fabrication work is safely, efficiently, and accurately executed while meeting project schedules, quality expectations, and productivity goals.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on fabrication or manufacturing leader who understands the work from the shop floor up and has experience leading welders, fabricators, and other skilled tradespeople. This person should be comfortable balancing people, production, materials, quality, safety, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead the daily operations of the fabrication shop, ensuring work is properly planned, prioritized, and executed.
• Develop and maintain production schedules aligned with project requirements and installation schedules.
• Monitor production progress, labor utilization, productivity, and capacity to identify and address bottlenecks.
• Coordinate workflow, materials, equipment, and manpower to keep fabrication activities moving efficiently.
• Ensure completed fabrication meets project specifications, drawings, quality standards, and schedule requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve shop processes, productivity, throughput, and overall efficiency.
• Directly supervise and support fabrication personnel, including welders, fabricators, and other shop employees.
• Establish clear expectations for safety, quality, productivity, attendance, and performance.
• Coach and develop employees to strengthen technical skills, productivity, and accountability.
• Assist with hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and workforce planning.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, ownership, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with InServ policies, OSHA requirements, and applicable project standards.
• Partner with Safety and Quality teams to identify risks, resolve issues, and prevent rework.
• Monitor fabrication quality and ensure work is completed correctly the first time.
• Investigate production or quality issues and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Coordinate material requirements and inventory to support uninterrupted production.
• Work with purchasing and vendors to ensure materials and services are available when needed.
• Monitor material usage, labor hours, productivity, and other shop costs.
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste, rework, overtime, and other unnecessary costs.
• Maintain effective relationships with vendors and subcontractors supporting fabrication operations.
• Partner closely with Project Management, BIM/VDC, Field Operations, Purchasing, and other departments to coordinate fabrication requirements.
• Review drawings and fabrication information with the appropriate teams to identify potential issues before production begins.
• Communicate production status, schedule concerns, material needs, and potential risks to project and operational leadership.
• Support the successful transition of fabricated components from the shop to the field.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• 7+ years of experience in fabrication, welding, manufacturing, industrial construction, or a related environment.
• Previous experience supervising or managing fabrication, welding, or skilled-trades personnel.
• Strong understanding of shop production, fabrication processes, scheduling, and workflow.
• Experience managing production priorities while balancing safety, quality, cost, and schedule.
• Ability to read and understand technical drawings, shop drawings, and project specifications.
• Experience with material planning, inventory, vendors, and production resources.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both skilled tradespeople and project/operational leadership.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on shop environment and spending time on the floor.
• Construction, industrial, pharmaceutical, hygienic, or process-piping fabrication experience is highly preferred.

WHAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL

You don't have to be the person sitting behind a desk all day. We are looking for a leader who understands fabrication because you've been close to the work.

You'll be successful in this role if you can walk through the shop, understand what is happening, identify what is holding the team up, and work with your people to solve it. You know how to balance production demands with safety and quality, hold people accountable, and keep work moving toward the customer's deadline.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position is based in Fuquay Varina, NC and requires regular presence within InServ's fabrication facilities and occasional travel to project sites, customers, and other company locations. The role requires the ability to work in active fabrication and industrial environments, including exposure to varying temperatures, noise, equipment, and other typical shop and construction conditions.

The Fabrication Division Manager must be comfortable walking and moving throughout fabrication and construction environments, accessing elevated platforms and stairs, and wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE).

At InServ you'll find:

• The opportunity to shape and improve a growing fabrication organization
• Complex, technically sophisticated industrial projects
• The ability to influence processes, systems, and operational strategy
• A collaborative leadership team that values expertise and ideas
• The opportunity to build and mentor future operational leaders
• A culture focused on quality, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement—not bureaucracy
• Long-term client relationships built on trust and performance
• Competitive compensation that rewards results
• 401(k)
• Paid Time Off

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Founded in 1992, InServ is a full-service industrial contractor serving the life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and food and beverage sectors. We specialize in mechanical, electrical and instrumentation, hygienic piping, and HVAC trades. Operating from multiple locations across North Carolina, we serve clients throughout the Southeast. Our success is built on an unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and schedule adherence.

InServ is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.