Fabrication Manager
Posted 8 hours ago
- Darlington, Durham
- Permanent
- £60,000 to £70,000 /Yr
- Sponsored
- Expires In a month
We are seeking a driven and technically capable Fabrication Manager to oversee and lead our client's projects from order through to delivery. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the manufacturing lifecycle of each project, liaising directly with clients, and ensuring internal and external stakeholder expectations are met.
You must have a solid understanding of engineering drawings and manufacturing processes. While you won’t be expected to carry out tasks yourself, you will utilise and lead the team around you - acting as the spearhead of our project delivery and operational success.
Key Responsibilities:
* Hands-on involvement in daily operations and project delivery.
* Client liaison throughout the full lifecycle of contracts.
* Project management of contracts across fabrication, welding, and manual machining.
* Review and manage project handovers: Sales → Production → Shop Floor.
* Plan, organise, and coordinate all internal resources.
* Understand and assess manufacturing methods and materials (including take-offs).
* Own contract costs and ensure financial control of each project.
* Create and share forward load planning to provide visibility of workload and resource allocation across teams.
* Lead and direct processes across fabrication, welding, and manual machine shop operations.
* Procurement responsibility – manage sourcing and purchasing of materials, tooling, and other requirements.
* Operational awareness – know who is doing what, working closely with team leads across departments.
* Drawing reviews – interpret and guide internal teams toward expected outcomes.
* Work closely with the MD & GM and other senior leaders to align on strategic and operational objectives.
* Oversee welding qualifications and procedures, liaising with external welding engineers where required.
* Support, develop, and delegate within the team to promote growth, skill development, and stability.
Requirements:
* Strong technical background within fabrication or machining industries with the ability to read and understand engineering drawings.
* Proven experience in operations or contract management within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
* Excellent project management skills and the ability to drive tasks through to completion.
* Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and cost controls.
* Confident communicator with the ability to influence and lead internal teams and manage customer relationships.
* A proactive, problem-solving mindset and hands-on approach to daily challenges.
Permanent role for the right candidate
You must have a solid understanding of engineering drawings and manufacturing processes. While you won’t be expected to carry out tasks yourself, you will utilise and lead the team around you - acting as the spearhead of our project delivery and operational success.
Key Responsibilities:
* Hands-on involvement in daily operations and project delivery.
* Client liaison throughout the full lifecycle of contracts.
* Project management of contracts across fabrication, welding, and manual machining.
* Review and manage project handovers: Sales → Production → Shop Floor.
* Plan, organise, and coordinate all internal resources.
* Understand and assess manufacturing methods and materials (including take-offs).
* Own contract costs and ensure financial control of each project.
* Create and share forward load planning to provide visibility of workload and resource allocation across teams.
* Lead and direct processes across fabrication, welding, and manual machine shop operations.
* Procurement responsibility – manage sourcing and purchasing of materials, tooling, and other requirements.
* Operational awareness – know who is doing what, working closely with team leads across departments.
* Drawing reviews – interpret and guide internal teams toward expected outcomes.
* Work closely with the MD & GM and other senior leaders to align on strategic and operational objectives.
* Oversee welding qualifications and procedures, liaising with external welding engineers where required.
* Support, develop, and delegate within the team to promote growth, skill development, and stability.
Requirements:
* Strong technical background within fabrication or machining industries with the ability to read and understand engineering drawings.
* Proven experience in operations or contract management within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
* Excellent project management skills and the ability to drive tasks through to completion.
* Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and cost controls.
* Confident communicator with the ability to influence and lead internal teams and manage customer relationships.
* A proactive, problem-solving mindset and hands-on approach to daily challenges.
Permanent role for the right candidate