Job Description

AM - 22 General Manager Steel Fabrication

Location: Columbus, OH

The General Manager (GM) is responsible for the overall leadership, operational performance, and profitability of the steel fabrication business during a period of rapid growth and expansion. This role oversees production, project management, estimating, quality, safety, and financial performance, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to specification while scaling people, processes, and capacity. The GM drives continuous improvement, workforce development, and aggressive, sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Production

• Lead all fabrication, welding, machining, painting, and shipping operations in a fast-growing, high-demand environment
• Ensure efficient production planning, scheduling, and scalable capacity utilization to support increasing backlog and revenue growth
• Improve throughput, quality, and on-time delivery using lean / continuous improvement practices to support rapid volume increases
• Oversee equipment maintenance, major capital investments, and plant layout optimization to enable expansion and future growth

Financial & Business Management

• Drive profitability, cash flow, and margin improvement
• Assist to develop annual budgets, forecasts, and KPIs
• Control costs related to labor, materials, subcontractors, and overhead
• Review job costing and post-mortems to improve estimating accuracy

Project Management

• Oversee project execution from contract award through delivery
• Ensure coordination between sales, engineering, detailing, procurement, and fabrication teams
• Monitor schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation plans

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure OSHA compliance
• Ensure adherence to AISC, AWS, and customer quality standards
• Lead audits, certifications, and corrective actions

Leadership & People Management

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing management team
• Recruit, train, and retain skilled labor and supervisors
• Establish clear accountability, performance metrics, and incentives
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement

Strategy & Growth

• Execute the company strategy and identify growth opportunities
• Evaluate new markets, capabilities, and process improvements
• Lead integration of new systems, technology, or acquisitions (if applicable)

Sales, Estimating & Customer Relations

• Support sales and estimating to win profitable work
• Review bids and contracts for risk, scope, and margin
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, contractors, and suppliers
• Resolve escalated customer issues and change orders

Qualifications

Required

• 10+ years of experience in steel fabrication or heavy manufacturing
• 5+ years in a senior leadership role (GM, Operations Manager, Plant Manager)
• Demonstrated success leading operations through periods of rapid growth or scale-up
• Strong knowledge of structural steel fabrication, welding, and erection processes
• Proven P&L management and operational leadership experience
• Experience with AISC, AWS, OSHA, and industry standards

Preferred

• Engineering, Construction Management, or Business degree
• Experience in PE-backed or high-growth manufacturing environments
• Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma experience

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