Summary
As the Fabrication Project Manager you will be responsible for managing the workload for all assigned Fabrication Projects. This role will manage individual jobs, from concept to completion, while maintaining close communications with Production, Creative, & Operations departments.
You will be the primary point of contact for fabrication projects and will be present on all weekly FOH meetings. Responsible for populating the Build Documents, estimating templates, scheduling fabrication kickoff meetings as well as CAD/Engineering meetings.
All project estimates to be approved by our Fabrication Leadership Committee (FLC) as needed, and continuously monitor and update production calendars to keep all departments informed on bandwidth. Some travel for onsite, site inspections and installations will be required.
Plan, direct and coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for projects in accordance with client goals of both form and function, combined with the need to deliver safe, efficient, profitable and quality workmanship of its projects output by its fabrication employees.
Project Managers will be positioned in the Anaheim Office, with an estimated expectation of 30% in-office/admin, 30% in-shop and 30% in-meetings and 10% traveling or on show site.
Project Managers at AKJOHNSTON serve a critical leadership position that allows our agency to deliver incredibly challenging multi-disciplinary builds for complex clients with an affinity for detail orientation and quality, while under extremely challenging deadlines, limited budgets, balancing between 5 and 10 active projects at any one time.
Project Managers provide leadership and direction to the Production Department and the Fabrication Team to estimate, delegate, source, suggest methodology (and substrates) so that we can fabricate high quality assets on time and within budget, while coordinating and communicating with all departments and a team of Producers working on multiple projects concurrently.
Project Managers oversee and manage workflow processes to ensure production is maximized at its lowest cost, highest quality while delivering within required project timelines. Daily routine consists of the following tasks and responsibilities:
- Host Team Meetings to delegate and check-in with production and output of Fabrication Shop while equipping Producers with valuable and timely communications with its clients.
- Estimate cost of time and materials for Entertainment and Trade Show Fabrications, from permanent theme park scenic to temporary trade show booth builds, using cutting edge materials, unique and unconventional fabrication techniques and considering the conditions and logistics for both installation and removal.
- Constant assessment of bandwidth, use of outsourced vendors when over-capacity, use of outsourced vendors to contribute to our work product (powder coaters, water-jet, sandblasting, specialty paints and coatings, etc.)
- Research, know, maintain, order, specify and consider materials with material vendors and maintain a competitive director of suppliers that support our work.
- Purchasing materials, supplies, tools and shop equipment.
Tasks
- Review processing schedules or production orders to make decisions concerning inventory requirements, staffing requirements, vehicle requirements, work procedures, or duty assignments, considering budgetary limitations and time constraints.
- Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities across ALL departments with assigned leads.
- Develop or implement production tracking or quality control systems, analyzing production, quality control, maintenance, or other operational reports, to detect production problems.
- Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
- Assist employees in resolving personnel grievances, and escalate to Human Resources when needed.
- Prepare and maintain production reports. This may also include project closeouts upon job completion to track job profit margins.
- Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.
- Manage budget on all suggested production elements to confirm they are within the given budget prior to presenting to Producer or Clients.
- Initiate or coordinate inventory or cost control programs.
- Partner with Fabrication Shop Managers to coordinate or recommend procedures for facility or equipment maintenance or modification, including the replacement of machines.
- Review plans and confer with research or support staff to develop new products or processes.
- Institute employee suggestion or involvement programs.
- Maintain current knowledge of the quality control field, relying on current literature pertaining to materials use, technological advances, or statistical studies.
- Negotiate materials prices with suppliers.
- Pull, prep, pack assets for each project as needed.
- QC assets in pre/post production phases of each project.
- Lead and/or manage leads onsite as needed. This may include traveling outside the state of California which may require overnight accommodations.
- Order rentals and ensure that they are returned in a timely manner.
- Prioritize delegating tasks based on needs.
- Work with Producers to complete estimates and budgetary write ups for various custom fabrication needs.
Detailed Work Activities
- Analyze data to inform operational decisions or activities.
- Submit expenditure requests to the Producer prior to purchasing.
- Confer with organizational members to accomplish work activities.
- Coordinate projects or programs.
- Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
- Develop organizational methods or procedures.
- Develop specifications for new products or processes.
- Direct organizational projects or services.
- Direct sales, marketing, or customer service activities.
- Evaluate quality of materials or products.
- Implement organizational process or policy changes.
- Maintain knowledge of current developments in areas of expertise.
- Monitor organizational procedures to ensure proper functioning.
- Negotiate sales or lease agreements for products or services.
- Prepare production progress or status reports.
- Recommend organizational process or policy changes.
Basic Skills
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring the performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Communicating with others to convey information effectively.
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Maintain polished and professional appearance and demeanor with employees and clients on-site and in the office.
Social Skills
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Overseeing how others do something in accordance with client specifications.
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Teaching others how to complete a task as it pertains to project specifics and client requests.
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Effectively communicate and work with a diverse client base as well as a diverse employee dynamic.
Technical Skills
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a project design.
- Determining causes of errors and deciding what to do about it.
Desktop Computer Skills
- Databases - Using a computer application to manage large amounts of information, including creating and editing simple databases, inputting data, retrieving specific records, and creating reports to communicate the information.
- Graphics - Working with pictures in graphics programs or other applications, including creating simple graphics, manipulating the appearance, and inserting graphics into other programs.
- Internet - Using a computer application to create, manipulate, edit, and show virtual slide presentations.
- Navigation - Using scroll bars, a mouse, and dialog boxes to work within the computer's operating system. Being able to access and switch between applications and files of interest.
- Presentations - Navigating the Internet to find information, including the ability to open and configure standard browsers; use searches, hypertext references, and transfer protocols; and send and retrieve electronic mail (e-mail).
- Spreadsheets - Using a computer application to enter, manipulate, and format text and numerical data; insert, delete, and manipulate cells, rows, and columns; and create and save worksheets, charts, and graphs.
- Word Processing - Using a computer application to type text, insert pictures, format, edit, print, save, and retrieve word processing documents
System Skills
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Resource Management Skills
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people and sources for the job.
- Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
- Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
Tools
Forklifts (Lift trucks, Forklifts), Bar code reader equipment (Barcode scanners), Box sealing tape dispensers (Tape guns), Claw hammer, computers, Dollies, Glue guns, Hand trucks or accessories, Hoists (Power hoists), Jacks (Hydraulic jacks), Lifting hooks (Hoisting hooks), Pallet trucks (Pallet jacks), Planes (Hand planes), Power saws, Saws (Hand saws), Scaffolding, Slings (Material-hoisting slings), Track cranes (Overhead cranes), Utility knives, Winches (Hydraulic winches)
Technology
Google Workspace, Airtable software, Office suite software (Microsoft Office), Calendar and scheduling tools and resources, email, presentation software, spreadsheets, Slack messenger, ADP time accounting software and CAD/design software as an extension
Education/Experience/Requirements:
- 4+ Years of related industry experience preferred
- 4+ Years of event production experience preferred
- HS Diploma/GED preferred
- Valid Driver’s License
Environment/Physical Demands:
- Frequently standing/sitting/walking up to 8 hours per day
- Frequently using hands/arms up to 8 hours per day
- Regularly lifting between 5 – 50 lbs.
- Regularly team lifting between 50 – 100 lbs.
- Regularly climbing/crouching/crawling
- Frequently exposed to fumes
- Moderate to loud noise level
- Occasionally viewing a computer monitor screen
- Frequent exposure to heat, sun, and the elements
- Travel up to 50% of scheduled time
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
