Operations Manager – Job Description
Position: Operations Manager (full time, on site in Vista, California)
Reports to: Owner

Steel Traditions builds architectural steel windows and doors. The Operations Manager runs the shop floor and is the main day-to-day contact for our clients, general contractors and installers on active jobs. The role sets priorities, leads the department leads and crew, keeps units moving through Fabrication, Surface Prep (Bondo), Paint and the Quality Control Wall, and coordinates deliveries, installs and site work so every job is delivered and serviced right. We want someone who takes initiative, solves problems without waiting to be told, and owns the result.

Responsibilities
Customers and job site coordination

• Be the main day-to-day contact for clients, general contractors and installers on active jobs; return calls and emails promptly and professionally.

• Schedule and coordinate deliveries, installs, service and touch-up visits; send crew to the site when needed with the right tools, materials and drawings.

• Keep customers updated on schedule, lead times and delivery dates, and give early notice when a date will change.

• Keep owners informed of exactly what work the Steel Traditions crew is doing on site, and flag anything outside the contract scope before it is done; site readiness belongs to the general contractor or installer, not Steel Traditions.

• Direct clients, general contractors and installers to report field issues through the Field Issue Submittal Hub form, then handle each one through to closeout: diagnose, send parts or crew, adjust hardware, document with photos and close the service log.

• Document delivery or field damage, report it to Andrew, and pass changes back to drafting and the shop.

Shop floor and scheduling

• Hand out the daily priority list and hold a short morning stand-up with each lead.

• Release units to the next department and print nightly to-do lists.

• Build the shop schedule around delivery dates; adjust when a unit will not be ready.

• Set and enforce crew start times for Fabrication and Finishing.

• Keep machines, welders, the material rack and the shop in working order.

People and timekeeping

• Lead the department leads (including the Fabrication Floor Lead) and the crew; coach on speed, workmanship, reading shop drawings and attendance.

• Train new hires and existing staff on forms, hardware and processes: show them how, then help until they have it.

• Review the daily timeclock exception report; approve overtime before it is worked and handle late arrivals, early departures and missed punches.

• Handle attendance and conduct issues through verbal and written warnings, with notes to Andrew for the employee file.

• Write employee reviews and notes, and take part in interviews and new-hire walk-throughs.

• Run safety: protective equipment spot checks, incident write-ups and safety refreshers for the team.

Quality and Quality Control forms

• Approve rough Quality Control on units, flag and tag them, and release them to the next department.

• Roll out and enforce the Quality Control and end-of-day forms; make sure every department submits them.

• After damage or defects, meet with the people involved and fix the process so it does not repeat.

Materials

• Approve material requests, place and follow up on orders, and get quotes from vendors.

• Receive, check and label hardware and glass; return incorrect items.

• Prepare install and touch-up kits, and plan on-site lunches and logistics for field crews.

Reporting to Andrew

• Send Andrew a Manager End of Day report (Smart List) every day: what got done, roadblocks and the next priorities.

• Raise drawing problems, missed delivery dates, safety incidents and customer concerns to Andrew the same day.

• Lead the weekly production meeting with the leads and carry open items forward.

Requirements
• At least 5 years in a metal fabrication, welding or architectural window and door shop, with at least 2 years leading a crew.
• Clear, professional written and phone communication with clients, general contractors and installers.

• Reads architectural drawings and shop drawings; knows steel fabrication, finishing and door and window hardware.

• Comfortable with email, tablets and online forms; writes clear, short daily reports.
• Comfortable learning and using a production software, and AI programs.

• Valid California driver license and a clean driving record for deliveries and job site visits.

• Takes initiative and follows through without reminders.

Nice to have

• Experience with steel windows and doors, thermal break systems or architectural hardware.

• Field installation or service experience.

• Bilingual English and Spanish.

Schedule

Full time, on site in Vista, California. Starts with the crew in the morning; some Saturdays and job site visits as needed.

Steel Traditions

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Operations Manager