Objective
The Director of Fabrication & Manufacturing is a hands-on, strategic leader responsible for overseeing all areas of Modern's fabrication operations — including pipe and sheet metal production, R&D, and technical support — while also identifying and developing future manufacturing opportunities for scalable product lines.
This role will manage and optimize shop capacities, schedule forecasting, material inventory, and equipment utilization, while exploring opportunities to evolve Modern's fabrication capabilities toward a manufacturing model similar to peer group leaders in the industry. The Director will also develop strong external partnerships with customers, peers, and vendors to optimize Modern's fabrication and manufacturing capabilities and ensure scalability for future growth.
As a multi-market operation, Modern requires cohesive leadership across its fabrication shops and teams. The Director of Fabrication & Manufacturing will harmonize policies, procedures, schedules, and quality standards across markets, galvanizing a team that isn't all under one roof and ensuring consistent operational excellence, communication, and cultural alignment companywide.
A strong background in Lean Manufacturing, process improvement, and leadership across distributed teams is essential.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Lead fabrication shop managers and provide oversight across all shops, piping and sheet metal.
Ensure consistent quality, safety, workflow, and scheduling standards across multiple markets.
Proactively manage shop capacities, schedule forecasting, inventory levels, and equipment utilization across multiple fab shop locations.
Proactively uncover 3rd party fabrication opportunities and manufacturing partnerships to grow production backlog
Maintain and enforce company-wide fabrication policies, procedures, and quality standards.
Prepare and manage annual budgets, including capital expenditures and labor/overhead costs.
Maintain business systems that track fabrication capacity, labor availability, material needs, and inventory.
Drive Lean Manufacturing practices that improve flow, reduce waste, and increase throughput.
Manage the capture, organization, and sharing of expert knowledge across all fabrication shops.
Represent and model Modern’s core values of Integrity, Service, Leadership, Empowerment, and Innovation.
Key initiatives & leadership areas
Lead alignment and harmonization of fabrication operations across all markets to create one unified, scalable operating model.
Develop long-term strategy for fabrication growth, including manufacturing capability expansion and future product-line opportunities.
Lead shop managers to identify, specify, and implement improvements to productivity, cost control, scrap reduction, and workflow optimization.
Strengthen external partnerships with fabrication/manufacturing vendors to expand capabilities and increase scalability.
Advance product development and technical support initiatives to ensure Modern remains an industry leader in technology and innovation.
Serve as an internal champion for emerging industry trends, fabrication technologies, automation, and digital tooling.
Lead development of a fabrication catalog and standard products for use on job sites.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Minimum bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of business and technical experience
10+ years of fabrication or manufacturing process experience, with at least 3 years in a management position.
Demonstrated team building and leadership skills.
Working knowledge and experience in best practices techniques including but not limited to Lean and Six Sigma.
Innovative thinker and key driver contributing to product and process roadmaps; willing to take calculated risks while balancing on-time deliverables.
Competent in sheet metal and/or pipefitting/plumbing.
Knowledge of project management systems; ability to schedule and efficiently develop, analyze, and manage costs; track changes and documentation.
Manage diverse, simultaneous projects of varying complexities.
Strong relationship management, strategy development, project management, problem-solving, and change management skills.
Professional and positive approach; self-motivated, strong in relationship building, team-oriented, dynamic, and creative with the ability to work independently.
Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills.
Hands-on understanding of fabrication equipment (e.g., pipe profiling, plasma cutters, coil lines, press brakes, automation stations, welding cells).
Working experience with fabrication and shop-management software (e.g., Fabrication CADmep, Revit workflows, Stratus, MSuite, Webduct, TigerStop, PypeServer, or similar tools).
Work Environment Considerations
Travel up to 50% of the time based on the multiple fab shop markets and engaging with customers.
Must be able to work in high-pressure situations facing strict deadlines. Extended shifts may be necessary, and hours will often exceed 40 per week to perform duties effectively
Must be familiar with job site and fab shop safety requirements and be prepared to wear a hardhat, work boots, and goggles at potentially hazardous job sites
Work on construction sites or in fab shops will typically have more challenging access and terrain
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position
AAP/EEO Statement
At Modern, we understand that every employee is different in his or her own way. We support and thrive off those differences. We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, retaliation, military status, or other non-merit factors. Modern is a proud Equal Opportunity workplace and Affirmative Action employer