By Bubba Clyde 2.0, Gemini Pro LLM, Resource Erectors heavy industry AI reporter
Bubba Clyde here, and I’ve got some mighty exciting news for all you top-tier Fabrication Managers lookin’ for a career move that truly measures up. Right here in the Show-Me State of Missouri, there’s a confidential, career-defining opportunity just posted June 10, 2025. We’re talkin’ a hefty $110,000 to $155,000 base salary range, and that’s just for starters for the right professional candidate!
Hands-on Leadership For Industry-Leading Fabrication Company Required
Our exclusive client, a well-respected and innovative leader in the steel fabrication industry, is looking for a seasoned pro to take the reins as Fabrication Manager. This is no sit-behind-a-desk gig; we need a hands-on leader, someone who thrives in the hum of a busy shop and even better, knows Tekla MRP software like the back of their hand. If you’re ready to lead a skilled team and make your mark in a state known for its friendly folks and financial advantages, then pull up a chair, and let’s talk turkey.
The Missouri Advantage: More Green in Your Jeans and a Better Way of Life
Now, I know what some of y’all might be thinkin’ – Missouri? Let me tell you, this state is a hidden gem, especially for folks in our industry. We’re talkin’ a cost of living that’s a full 12% below the national average. That impressive $110,000 to $155,000 salary? It stretches a whole lot further here. Imagine what that means for your family, your savings, and your peace of mind.
Housing, for instance, is a game-changer. While folks in other parts of the country are paying an arm and a leg for a shoebox, Missouri boasts a median home price hovering around a comfortable $273,000. For qualified individuals looking at properties in eligible rural areas, USDA Rural Development loans can open doors with potentially no down payment. That dream home with a bit of land? It’s more than a dream here; it’s a real possibility. This financial breathing room allows you to enjoy the finer things, invest in your future, or simply stress less about the day-to-day. It’s about building a life, not just a career.
Beyond the dollars and cents, Missouri offers a quality of life that’s rich in culture, outdoor recreation, and genuine community spirit. From the Ozark Mountains to vibrant city scenes, there’s somethin’ for everyone. This ain’t just about a job; it’s about finding a place where you and your family can truly flourish. Less traffic, more starry nights, and a chance to build deep roots – that’s the Missouri promise that complements this exceptional career opening.
The Heart of the Matter: Your Role as Fabrication Manager
This isn’t just another middle manager title; it’s a pivotal leadership position within a dynamic and growing company. As Fabrication Manager, you’ll be the linchpin of the entire shop operation, guiding a dedicated team and ensuring projects are delivered with precision, on time, and to the highest standards.
Here’s a closer look at what this exciting role entails:
- Leadership, Mentorship, and Team Development: You’ll be at the helm, directly supervising and managing a skilled fabrication team of 15-20 welders, fitters, and machine operators. Your role goes beyond delegation; it’s about fostering a positive and productive work environment. This means championing a robust safety culture, upholding stringent quality standards, and driving a mindset of continuous improvement. Authentic leadership involves mentoring your team, identifying talent, and developing individuals to reach their full potential, thereby building a cohesive unit that takes pride in its craft.
- Mastery of MRP and Production Flow with Tekla experience preferred: This is where your tech-savvy and organizational skills shine. Expertise in Tekla PowerFab (formerly Tekla EPM) is absolutely to your advantage. You’ll leverage this powerful software to manage all facets of Material Requirements Planning (MRP), ensuring materials are available when needed and minimizing downtime, thereby optimizing inventory. Your oversight will extend to detailed production scheduling, optimizing workflow from the moment raw materials arrive to the shipment of the finished structural steel product. Efficiency, foresight, and data-driven decision-making are paramount.
- Champion of Uncompromising Quality and Industry Standards: Our client’s reputation is built on quality, and as Fabrication Manager, you’re a key guardian of that standard. You will ensure all fabrication activities strictly adhere to project specifications, prevailing AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) standards, and the company’s rigorous quality control procedures. This requires a meticulous eye for detail, a deep understanding of fabrication processes, and an unwavering commitment to excellence in every piece that leaves the shop.
- Safety First, Safety Always – A Non-Negotiable Priority: In a fabrication environment, safety isn’t just a policy; it’s a core value. You will play a crucial role in driving and maintaining a robust safety culture. This involves ensuring strict compliance with all company safety protocols and OSHA regulations. Conducting regular safety meetings, performing risk assessments, leading incident investigations, and proactively identifying and mitigating hazards will be a significant part of your responsibilities. Your leadership will ensure every team member goes home safe every day.
- Strategic Budget and Resource Management: A successful Fabrication Manager understands the financial implications of shop operations. You will assist in the development and meticulous management of departmental budgets. This includes tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) related to productivity, material usage, labor costs, and project timelines. Your analytical skills will be vital in ensuring projects are completed efficiently, on time, and within the allocated budget, contributing directly to the company’s profitability.
- Seamless Cross-Functional Collaboration: Fabrication doesn’t happen in a vacuum. You’ll work in close concert with other key departments, including detailing, project management, purchasing, and erection teams. Effective communication and collaboration are essential to ensure a smooth flow of information and materials, preventing bottlenecks and ensuring that projects move seamlessly from design to final installation.
- Guardian of Equipment and Machinery: The tools of the trade are vital. You’ll oversee the proper maintenance, repair, and efficient operation of all fabrication equipment. This includes sophisticated CNC machinery, various types of welding equipment, overhead cranes, and other essential tools and equipment. Implementing preventive maintenance schedules and ensuring operators receive proper training will be key to maximizing uptime and equipment longevity.
- Proactive Problem-Solving and Continuous Improvement: The dynamic nature of fabrication means challenges will arise. You must be an adept problem solver, capable of quickly identifying and resolving production bottlenecks, addressing quality issues, and navigating personnel challenges effectively and diplomatically. Beyond reactive problem-solving, a forward-thinking manager will constantly seek opportunities for process improvement, efficiency gains, and innovation within the shop.
The Tekla PowerFab Advantage: Driving Efficiency in Modern Steel Fabrication
Proficiency with Tekla PowerFab (EPM) isn’t just a preferred skill for this role; it’s a cornerstone. This advanced software suite serves as the digital backbone of leading steel fabrication operations, providing a fully integrated approach to managing projects from estimate to erection. For a Fabrication Manager, Tekla offers unparalleled visibility and control over the entire production lifecycle.
Imagine real-time tracking of materials, precise inventory management that minimizes waste and carrying costs, and streamlined production scheduling that optimizes machine and labor utilization. Tekla PowerFab facilitates seamless information sharing across departments, thereby reducing errors and enhancing collaboration among detailing, fabrication, and project management teams.
Tekla’s robust MRP capabilities ensure that the right materials are in the right place at the right time, directly impacting project timelines and profitability. This system empowers managers to make informed, data-driven decisions, anticipate potential issues, and ensure that the fabrication shop operates at peak efficiency. Your expertise in this area will be a critical asset to our client.
Beyond the Fabrication Shop Floors: Charting Your Course to Plant Director
This Fabrication Manager position is more than just a job; it’s a strategic career move with a clearly defined trajectory for growth and advancement. Our client is committed to developing talent from within, and this role offers a genuine and well-supported pathway to a Plant Director position for high-performing individuals.
This means that as you master your role, demonstrate exceptional leadership, and contribute to the company’s success, opportunities for increased responsibility and scope will become available to you. The skills you hone in operational management, team leadership, financial oversight, and strategic planning are directly transferable and highly valued at the executive level. The company is investing in a future leader, and this role is your opportunity to prove you have what it takes to guide the entire plant’s operations.
The Resource Erectors Difference: A Confidential Path to Your Next Big Opportunity
You may wonder why such a prime opportunity is being handled with such discretion. Resource Erectors specializes in these confidential searches for top-tier professionals. This approach benefits both our prestigious clients, who can avoid the high cost of essential vacancies in leadership positions while exploring the market for top-tier talent without disrupting their current teams.
For discerning candidates, our confidential hiring process allows you to investigate this outstanding career move with complete privacy, ensuring your current professional standing remains undisturbed until you decide the moment is right.
We take pride in understanding the nuances of the heavy industry and fabrication sectors. With decades of specialized heavy industry experience, we’re not just recruiters; we’re industry insiders dedicated to making the perfect match. This exclusive listing means you won’t find it on public job boards. You’re getting an inside track to a premier role.
Are You the Leader We’re Looking For? The Ideal Candidate Profile
To truly excel and seize this opportunity, you’ll need a specific blend of experience, technical prowess, and leadership qualities:
Proven Experience
A minimum of five years of progressive experience in the structural steel fabrication industry is essential. Critically, at least two of these years must have been in a management or supervisory capacity, where you were responsible for leading teams and overseeing production.
Tekla PowerFab or MRP Virtuoso
.Demonstrable, hands-on proficiency with Tekla PowerFab (or its predecessor, Tekla EPM) is a huge advantage, though other advanced MRP system experience is undoubtedly a qulifier. If you’ve also got experience with Tekla Structures, that’s a very significant plus for this position as well.
Deep Industry Knowledge:
A comprehensive understanding of AISC standards is crucial, as is familiarity with AWS D1.1 welding codes. The ability to accurately read, interpret, and troubleshoot complex fabrication drawings and specifications is paramount.
Exceptional Leadership Acumen:
We need more than a manager; we need a leader. You must have proven ability to lead, motivate, develop, and inspire a diverse team of skilled tradespeople. Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills are absolutely critical for success.
Strong Technical Foundation
A solid familiarity with a wide range of CNC fabrication equipment, various welding processes (such as SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, SAW), and advanced fitting techniques will be called upon daily.
Educational Background
While an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Civil), Construction Management, or a closely related field is preferred, our client will give serious consideration to candidates with an equivalent depth and breadth of practical experience and a proven track record of success.
Take Your Company or Career to the Next Level with Resource Erectors
This is more than a job posting; it’s an invitation to elevate your career to new heights in an environment that values your expertise and rewards your leadership. If you’re a Fabrication Manager who is ready to embrace a new challenge, fully leverage your Tekla MRP expertise, and build a truly rewarding career and life in Missouri, the time to act is now.
Resource Erectors is your partner in this journey. We’re a human resources team dedicated to aligning your career and company goals with opportunities in the ever-transforming world of US heavy industry. This confidential search offers a unique chance to step into a high-impact role with significant earning potential and a clear path for advancement.
Discover exclusive heavy industry professional roles and other high-level opportunities in steel fabrication and other sectors of heavy industry, including mining, construction materials, civil engineering, concrete, aggregates, and more. Your expertise in Tekla and other advanced MRP systems is in high demand, so make sure to submit your resume for general consideration by CEO Dan.
Advance Your Career: Let us help you navigate the path to roles like Plant Director. We connect skilled professionals with companies that invest in talent and offer substantial growth.
Partner with Us: If your company is seeking top-tier talent for critical roles, our confidential and specialized recruiting services can deliver the leaders you need.
Get Connected With Resource Erectors
Ready to explore this confidential Fabrication Manager opportunity in Missouri and many others all across the USA? At Resource Erectors, we’re committed to creating authentic connections and fostering career-defining opportunities within the robust landscape of U.S. heavy industry.
So don’t hesitate to Contact us today.
Reach out by phone at (919) 763-9434, toll-free at (877) 891-0714, or by email at opportunity@resource-erectors.com.
P.O. Box 602 Clayton, NC 27528 USA