Site Fabrication Manager

What does a Site Fabrication Manager do?

The Site Fabrication Manager typically works as a contractor, leading a team of supervisors and inspectors, liaising with internal colleagues, and maintaining contractor relations. They manage risks, ensure compliance with safety regulations, and communicate with stakeholders. Their expertise is crucial from early design stages through to pre-commissioning and handover of offshore wind installations.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Project Management

• Provide continuous foundations fabrication ownership and lead suppliers to deliver on time and within budget.
• Manage the delivery of works, including change requests, technical queries, and nonconformance reports.
• Track fabrication progress, attend progress meetings, and report weekly on delivery for all fabrication contractors.
• Manage financial aspects of the build, review variations, and approve payments.

Technical Oversight

• Prepare fabrication technical specifications, scope of works, and time schedules.
• Support the contracting process and provide technical evaluations to ensure fabrication contractors are qualified.
• Offer technical support on fabrication to other workstreams and project packages.
• Ensure foundations fabrication interfaces with design, transportation and installation, certification, and other packages.

Quality Control and Safety

• Implement quality control procedures to meet project requirements for quality, cost, and timelines.
• Work closely with the QA/QC Manager on fabrication quality programs, test plans, and quality inspectors.
• Manage HSE aspects of the build on behalf of the project.
• Review contractor fabrication documentation, including specifications, procedures, qualifications, drawings, and reports.

Team Leadership

• Provide leadership, direction, and support in the fabrication of offshore substations.
• Manage a team of supervisors and arrange a site team of client representatives and inspectors.
• Liaise with internal colleagues such as engineering managers, planners, QA/QS, HSE, and installation managers.

Stakeholder Management

• Establish and maintain good working relations with contractors.
• Act as the general client interface and liaise with the contractor organization on multiple levels.
• Communicate effectively with project stakeholders, contractors, and regulatory authorities.

Risk Management

• Identify and report risks and develop mitigation measures as part of the overall risk management process.
• Ensure compliance with safety legislation and regulations.

Additional Responsibilities

• Manage a team of 5-10 QA/QC inspectors.
• Be the focal point for the Contractor on-site.
• Coordinate interfaces between fabricators, contractors, and other stakeholders to ensure safe and high-quality fabrication.

Requirements

• Strong technical knowledge of foundation fabrications.
• Eligibility to work in the EU.
• Proven experience in leading quality or engineering teams on manufacturing sites.
• 10+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Degree or HNC qualification in an engineering or maintenance discipline (Structural, Mechanical, or Civil).

The Site Fabrication Manager’s role is critical to ensure the successful execution of offshore wind projects, from early design stages to pre-commissioning and handover of installations.

Site Fabrication Manager Job Description

Responsibilities

• Be the focal point for the Contractor on site.
• Manage and coordinate the local interfaces between the Fabricator [Contractor], Foundation Designer/Lead Structural Engineer, Quality Assurance/Control (Local interfaces in regards to QA/QC are managed by QM), Employer’s other Contractors Contractor’s Transport & Installation to ensure a safe and high quality fabrication, and delivery of foundation structures in accordance with the Employer’s Requirements.
• Support the Management of Contract processes in alignment with the Package Management and Quality Team e.g. Payment Applications/Certificates i.e. milestone completion proof/confirmation.
• Support the Quality Team setting up the local Site QA Team.
• Monitor and record progress on the fabrication site(s) and challenge the Fabricator as required to ensure that work is delivered on time and evaluate mitigation for any potential delays or quality concerns.
• Ensure that the Fabricator and onsite Team work safely and to good industry practice in accordance with legislation and Client requirements.
• Support the valuation of Variation Orders, Concession Requests and Claims.
• Hold and chair weekly progress meetings with the Contractor’s site management representatives with the support of the Quality Team.
• Provide input for the Project’s monthly report e.g. progress, programme and risks.
• Work closely with the Quality Fabrication Manager and agree priorities.
• Provide daily progress reports (DPRs) to the FPM and DFPM and attend regular (as required but potentially weekly or twice weekly) internal briefing meetings with FPM & DFPM.
• Produce the weekly and monthly reports summarising HSSE, progress, risks, along with any serial quality, resource or other concerns.
• Support the Quality Team witnessing critical hold points, Load Outs and Factory Acceptance Tests e.g. dimensional control and fit out tests.
• Support the evaluation and management of risks associated with the foundation fabrication package.
• Support the Quality Team to ensure that non conformities are closed out prior to load out.
• Be the focal point for the Project’s visitors e.g. co-ordination of inductions, PPE and guide.

Requirements

• Proven experience in driving the serial fabrication of offshore structures (often with specific knowledge such as internal cassettes reinforced concrete structures).
• 3+ years experience on offshore wind steel secondary structures.
• HSE trained and qualified to IOSH or SMSTS standards.
• 10 plus years relevant industry experience.
• Experienced Professional in offshore steel fabrication and manager of engineering teams.
• Familiar with coating, Hot dip galvanising, welding NDT and dimensional control techniques/codes/standards and electrical outfitting applicable to offshore fabrication.
• Appropriate language fluency and relevant work permits depending on job location.