Hands-On Production Manager — Metal Fabrication

About the role

Reporting directly to the owner, you will lead the workshop and take ownership of getting quality work completed safely, efficiently and on time. You'll spend most of your day on the workshop floor: organising the team, checking progress, resolving problems and making sure the next stage of each job is ready. You'll have clear responsibility for daily workshop production and the support to improve how the factory operates.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and allocate daily work across the fabrication team, with clear priorities and realistic completion targets

• Organise the team and check progress on the workshop floor

• Resolve problems and ensure the next stage of each job is ready

• Supervise fabricators and ensure production deadlines are met

• Read fabrication drawings and understand how work should be built

• Ensure work meets quality standards and leaves ready for its next stage

• Keep the workshop organised and usable

• Give clear direction, follow up and have straightforward performance conversations

• Anticipate what each job needs next

• Work alongside the team and lead by example

About you

• A trade qualification in metal fabrication, boilermaking or a closely related field, or substantial equivalent experience

• Previous responsibility for allocating work, supervising fabricators and meeting production deadlines

• Strong ability to read fabrication drawings and understand how work should be built

• Experience in custom or architectural metalwork, with a good understanding of quality finishes

• Practical knowledge of steel, aluminium and stainless-steel fabrication

• The confidence to give clear direction, follow up and have straightforward performance conversations

• Strong organisation and the ability to anticipate what each job needs next

• A willingness to work alongside the team and lead by example

• Confidence using job management software; Ascora experience is an advantage

• A current driver's licence. A forklift licence is advantageous

About us

Neat Metal is a Melbourne architectural metal fabrication business producing custom metalwork for residential and commercial projects.

Benefits

• $100,000–$120,000 base salary plus super, depending on experience

• A permanent, full-time position

• Clear ownership of workshop production

• Direct access to the owner and support to make practical improvements

• Varied architectural metalwork where workmanship matters

• The opportunity to make a visible difference to the business

If this role sounds appealing to you, please send resume to ••••@neatmetal.com.au