Outsource Manufacturing Manager

Description

The Outsourced Manufacturing Manager is responsible for leading and expanding the organization's outsourced fabrication operations by developing strategic supplier partnerships, driving operational excellence, and ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality products. This role oversees third-party manufacturing partners producing heavy steel fabrications and pressure vessels, ensuring all work meets company standards for quality, safety, cost, and delivery.

Serving as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders and external manufacturing partners, the Outsourced Manufacturing Manager combines technical expertise in heavy steel fabrication, ASME pressure vessel requirements, welding, and quality systems with strong commercial and project management skills. This individual will establish scalable processes, optimize supplier performance, mitigate risk, and support business growth by building a high-performing outsourced manufacturing network capable of meeting current and future production demands.

Primary Responsibilities

• Safety: Champion safety by leading with a safety-first mindset. You are empowered to speak up and act before risks arise. 
• Program Scaling & Expansion: Strategically optimize the production throughput of existing suppliers and identifying/qualifying local fabrication partners.
• Supplier Governance: Transition the newly established program into a structured framework. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs), lead formal Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), and monitor vendor financial stability and capacity floors.
• Technical Code Compliance: Act as the primary gatekeeper ensuring all external fabricators rigorously adhere to ASME Section VIII (Div 1 & 2), ASME Section I, and National Board (NB) R-Stamp requirements.
• Quality & Metallurgical Control: Enforce strict shop floor protocols to eliminate cross-contamination. Specifically oversee carbon-to-stainless steel segregation procedures (dedicated tooling, handling equipment, and separate fabrication areas) for occasional 304SS vessel runs.
• Fabrication Witnessing: Spend regular time on-site at local supplier facilities to audit welding procedures (WPS/PQR), review non-destructive testing (NDT/NDE) records, and witness critical hydrostatic tests.
• Commercial Sourcing & Cost Control: Negotiate master service agreements (MSAs), fabrication labor rates, and tooling fees. Mitigate raw material price volatility (steel plate, alloys) through strategic contract positioning to protect budget.
• Cross-Functional Interface: Serve as the technical and operational bridge between internal Engineering/Quality teams and external machine shops to resolve Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and Material Test Report (MTR) discrepancies.
• Local Logistics Coordination: Coordinate with third-party logistics to manage the safe handling, loading, and transit of heavy, oversized pressure vessels from local fabricators to final finishing or customer drop sites.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Progressive experience in manufacturing, supplier management, sourcing, operations, or engineering within a heavy manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing outsourced manufacturing, contract manufacturers, fabrication suppliers, or strategic supplier relationships.
• Experience with heavy steel fabrication, welding processes, machining, and pressure vessel manufacturing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and applicable industry standards.
• Proven success managing supplier performance related to quality, cost, delivery, capacity, and continuous improvement.
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, fabrication prints, weld procedures, and technical specifications.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects involving engineering, quality, procurement, and operations.