Fabrication Project Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Audubon is currently seeking a Fabrication Project Manager to join our team in our Houston, TX office. The Fabrication Project Manager is responsible for the successful execution of fabrication projects from project kickoff and engineering handoff through procurement, fabrication, testing, documentation, and final shipment.

This position serves as the primary point of coordination between Engineering, Design, Procurement, Fabrication, Quality, HSE, vendors, subcontractors, and the client. The Fabrication Project Manager is accountable for maintaining project scope, schedule, cost, quality, and client expectations while ensuring work is executed safely and efficiently.

Projects may include modular process equipment, pipe rack modules, process skids, pressure vessels, piping systems, structural steel assemblies, meter skids, treating and dehydration systems, and other engineered equipment serving the oil & gas, midstream, LNG, petrochemical, and energy industries.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project Execution

• Manage fabrication projects from internal kickoff through final delivery and project closeout.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the contract, proposal, scope of work, specifications, drawings, schedule, commercial requirements, and client expectations.
• Establish project execution plans, priorities, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate activities across Engineering, Design, Procurement, Fabrication, Quality, HSE, and Logistics.
• Lead internal project kickoff meetings and regular project status meetings.
• Maintain project action-item lists and ensure commitments are completed on schedule.
• Identify project risks early and develop mitigation and recovery plans.
• Coordinate project closeout, punch-list completion, documentation, and shipment.
• Schedule Management

Cost & Commercial Management

• Maintain responsibility for project financial performance. Assist with monthly project forecasting.
• Track project budgets, committed costs, actual costs, labor hours, material costs, subcontract costs, and forecast-at-completion.
• Review fabrication labor performance against estimated hours.
• Prepare or support change-order requests and ensure additional work is not performed without appropriate authorization.

Engineering & Design Coordination

• Coordinate engineering and design priorities with the project schedule.
• Monitor IFC drawing release dates and ensure fabrication receives information when required. Track RFIs, technical queries, drawing revisions, client comments, and engineering changes.
• Participate in design reviews, model reviews, and constructability reviews as required.

Procurement & Material Management

• Coordinate procurement priorities based on the fabrication schedule.
• Monitor long-lead equipment and critical material deliveries.
• Coordinate vendor documentation, inspection requirements, and equipment delivery dates.
• Work with Procurement and Operations to develop mitigation plans for late or unavailable materials.
• Ensure owner-furnished and vendor-supplied equipment is incorporated into the project schedule.

Fabrication Coordination

• Maintain a regular presence in the fabrication shop and understand actual project status.
• Coordinate closely with Shop Management.
• Monitor fabrication progress, manpower requirements, productivity, and constraints.
• Coordinate resolution of field/shop issues affecting production.
• Support manpower planning and resource prioritization across assigned projects.
• Participate in weekly production and scheduling meetings.

Quality & Documentation

• Coordinate with Quality Control to ensure project inspection and testing requirements are incorporated into the execution plan.
• Understand applicable codes and standards such as ASME Section VIII, ASME B31.3/B31.8, AWS, API, and client-specific requirements as applicable.
• Track inspection activities, NDE, pressure testing, weld documentation, material traceability, and NCR resolution.
• Coordinate client and third-party inspections.
• Ensure Manufacturing Data Records (MDRs), turnover packages, test records, certifications, and final documentation are completed in accordance with contractual requirements.
• Support mechanical completion and final client acceptance.

Client Management

• Serve as a primary project contact for the client during fabrication execution.
• Lead or participate in weekly client progress meetings.
• Provide clear and accurate updates regarding engineering, procurement, fabrication, schedule, cost, and project risks.
• Manage client expectations and communicate potential impacts before they become critical.

Safety

• Promote a strong safety culture and reinforce company HSE expectations.
• Participate in project-specific safety planning when required.
• Never allow schedule or cost pressures to compromise safe execution.

Project Controls & Reporting

• The Fabrication Project Manager is expected to maintain accurate project reporting, including:
• Overall project status
• Engineering and IFC status
• Procurement and material status
• Fabrication progress
• Earned versus spent labor hours
• Project schedule and milestone status
• Cost-to-date and forecast-at-completion

EXPERIENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

Required:

• 5+ years of project management, project engineering, fabrication, construction, or related industrial experience.
• Experience managing engineered fabrication or industrial construction projects.
• Strong understanding of fabrication sequencing, piping, structural steel, equipment installation, and testing.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, fabrication drawings, piping isometrics, general arrangements, specifications, and project schedules.
• Experience managing project budgets and schedules.
• Strong communication, organization, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to coordinate multiple disciplines and priorities simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and project scheduling/reporting tools.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in oil & gas, midstream, LNG, petrochemical, or process equipment fabrication.
• Experience with modular fabrication and packaged process equipment.
• Familiarity with ASME, AWS, API, and applicable piping codes.
• Experience with Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or similar scheduling software.
• PMP certification is beneficial but not required

No Recruiters, please!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled