Union Refractory / Bricklayer Superintendent

Gillespie & Powers, Inc.; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Gillespie & Powers, Inc. seeks a Refractory/Bricklayer Superintendent to lead union bricklayer crews on industrial refractory projects, including furnaces, ladles, and kilns.

You will coordinate field activities, manage schedules and manpower, ensure quality and safety, and serve as the on-site liaison with the union local. This role requires 8–10 years of hands-on experience in refractory brick and monolithic installation, travel to multi-state outages, reading refractory drawings and OEM

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; bricklayer/refractory apprenticeship preferred.
• 8–10 years of hands-on refractory brick and monolithic installation experience, with 3–5 years in a supervisory role.
• Knowledge of union collective bargaining agreement, hiring hall procedures, and jurisdictional practices.
• Ability to read refractory lining drawings, isometrics, and OEM installation specifications.
• Strong knowledge of refractory materials and application methods.
• OSHA 30-Hour certification; confined space and fall protection training preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate field activities for refractory installation and repair on furnaces, ladles, kilns, and high-temperature vessels.
• Plan and sequence daily work assignments for union bricklayer crews to meet schedules.
• Read and verify drawings and specifications to ensure compliance with design and OEM standards.
• Serve as the on-site liaison with the union local, enforcing rules and governing procedures.
• Collaborate with Project Management and Estimating on manpower forecasting and productivity tracking.
• Enforce safety policies and site EHS requirements; conduct toolbox talks and hazard analyses.
• Inspect completed work for quality and curing/dry-out compliance; register deficiencies for turnover.
• Maintain daily field reports, crew time records, and material usage logs.

Skills

Supervision

Union liaison

Planning

Safety compliance

Project coordination

Reading drawings

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bricklayer/refractory apprenticeship preferred

Tools

OSHA 30-Hour

Confined space training

Job description

Position Summary

The Refractory/Bricklayer Superintendent directs and coordinates union bricklayer crews performing refractory brick and monolithic installation, repair, and maintenance at industrial job sites, including furnaces, ladles, and other high-temperature vessels. This role is responsible for field supervision, schedule and manpower management, quality and safety compliance, and serving as the primary liaison with the union local at the job site, working closely with Project Management and Estimating to deliver projects safely, on schedule, and within budget.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate all field activities for refractory installation and repair, including brick, castable/gunite, and plastic/ramming refractory systems, on furnaces, ladles, kilns, and other high-temperature vessels.
• Plan and sequence daily work assignments for union bricklayer crews, ensuring proper crew sizing, tooling, and material staging to meet project schedules.
• Read and interpret refractory drawings, lining specifications, and engineering details; verify installed work conforms to design and OEM specifications.
• Serve as the primary on-site point of contact with the union local, including enforcement of the collective bargaining agreement, work rules, jurisdiction, and grievance procedures.
• Partner with the Project Manager and Estimating on manpower forecasting, schedule adherence, and productivity/man-hour tracking against bid budgets.
• Enforce all safety policies and site-specific EHS requirements, including confined space entry, fall protection, hot work, and PPE compliance; lead toolbox talks and job hazard analyses.
• Inspect completed work for quality, dimensional accuracy, and curing/dry-out compliance; identify and correct deficiencies before turnover.
• Maintain daily field reports, crew time records, material usage logs, and progress documentation for project files and client reporting.
• Coordinate crane, rigging, scaffold, and other support trades needed for refractory installation sequencing.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and performance feedback for field bricklayer and helper personnel dispatched through the union hall.
• Manage on-site tools, equipment, and consumable refractory materials; coordinate resupply with the shop and purchasing.
• Ensure compliance with customer site requirements, outage schedules, and applicable OSHA, environmental, and industry-specific regulations.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; completion of a bricklayer/refractory apprenticeship program strongly preferred.
• Minimum 8-10 years of hands-on refractory brick and monolithic installation experience, including at least 3-5 years in a supervisory or foreman capacity.
• Working knowledge of a bricklayers' union collective bargaining agreement, hiring hall procedures, and jurisdictional practices.
• Demonstrated ability to read refractory lining drawings, isometrics, and OEM installation specifications.
• Strong knowledge of refractory materials (fireclay, high-alumina, silica, basic brick; castable, gunite, and plastic refractories) and their application methods.
• OSHA 30-Hour certification required; confined space and fall protection training preferred.
• Proven ability to manage multiple crews across concurrent outage or turnaround schedules.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for coordinating with clients, union stewards, and internal project teams.
• Willingness and ability to travel to multi-state job sites, including extended outage assignments, with limited advance notice.
• Valid driver's license required.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Regularly works at active industrial construction sites, including furnace and vessel interiors, with exposure to heat, dust, noise, and confined spaces.
• Must be able to climb ladders and scaffolding, work at heights, and lift/carry up to 50 lbs.
• Extended periods of standing, walking, bending, and kneeling on uneven or elevated surfaces.
• Work is performed both outdoors and in industrial plant environments, including during outages that may require night, weekend, or holiday shifts.
• Required to wear and properly use PPE including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toed boots, and heat-resistant gear as conditions require.

EEO Statement

Gillespie & Powers, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.