Head of Fabrication

Head of Fabrication

In this critical role, you will lead and deliver the Fabrication facilities within the Naval Ships Business. You’ll be accountable for the operational delivery of three manufacturing factories in Govan as well as the strategic evaluation of our steelwork make vs buy process. This is crucial for optimising costs, managing resources, and alignment with our business strategy.

Responsible for an operational team of around 350 people, you’ll lead, coach, and mentor the internal fabrication teams to ensure delivery of the most complex steelwork phase of our ship build activity. You will operate as Control Account Manager, deliver business outcomes through your teams and create the opportunity for talent growth within your department.

This is an excellent opportunity to drive profitability and lead continuous improvement activity of our manufacturing systems, pursuing operational excellence at this critical time when we’re supporting multiple complex programmes.

Your main responsibilities as Head of Fabrication will include:

· Responsible for successful operational delivery output of 3 fabrication facilities, accountable for performance and reporting into multiple programmes

· Recognised leader within business charged with the strategic evaluation of our steelwork make versus buy process in support of our overall manufacturing and business intent

· Headship of our steelwork manufacturing system with relentless pursuit of manufacturing excellence within each of the facilities

· Leadership of continuous improvement and investment programmes which maximise and optimise our steelwork manufacturing system

· Leadership and role modelling in Sustainable Operational Excellence deployment and sustainment through regular visible leadership and process confirmation

· Responsible for leading external benchmarking activity, taking appropriate learning to ensure high standards of effectiveness within our fabrication facilities

· Coaching, mentoring and leadership of fabrication team, responsible for the career development of team members (including apprentices, graduates, trade operators and line managers)

· Create a spirit of mutual trust and common goals within your team, function and programmes

· Accountable for the team’s knowledge, steelwork expertise and compliance with all current or new work methods, deploying a coaching style to continually improve our performance standards

· Be a role model in Safety leadership, ensure promotion of a safety culture which ensures compliance with the SHE Management System, SHE risk mitigation and improving overall SHE performance

Your skills and qualifications:

· Significant management experience preferably in a manufacturing environment with responsibility for manufacturing continuous improvement, safety, quality, delivery, cost and people

· Ability to lead multi-functional teams in a highly complex and fast paced manufacturing environment

· Proven experience in commercial business wining activities with ability to lead strategic business evaluations

· Strong business acumen capability with ability to assess and benchmark external manufacturing industries

· Proven manufacturing experience with demonstrable delivery of lean improvement delivery within complex environments

· Demonstrable experience operating at senior business level whilst maintaining tactical operational delivery commitments

· Detailed knowledge of safety controls and procedures in a high-risk operational environment

Location: Scotstoun

Grade: GG14

Benefits: Our employees receive an excellent benefits package which includes a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and a Company contributed Share Incentive Plan. We also offer a range of additional benefits such as flexible working, an employee assistance programme, Cycle2work and many local and national employee discounts. Some employees may also be eligible for an annual incentive

Our Naval Ships business

We design and manufacture a range of naval ships and state of the art combat systems and equipment, giving customers the capability to fulfil extensive naval operations. From offshore patrol vessels through to the latest City Class Type 26 frigates that we are building for the UK Royal Navy, and the Australian Hunter Class and Canadian Surface Combatant, we are a business that operates on a truly global platform and can offer a wide range of opportunities where you can play your part in these challenging and exciting projects.

Attracting and retaining the sharpest minds is essential for a globally competitive UK naval engineering business. Our aim is to recruit the very best talent and we welcome applications from a diverse range of people, from all backgrounds, with many different skills, experience and perspectives. We offer the flexibility you need to do what’s important to you, whether that’s job sharing, home working, or simply the ability to flex your start and stop times. Where practical, we’ll support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your full potential.

We are committed to supporting work life balance for all our employees and embrace a range of modern working practices, which aim to enhance flexibility for individuals whilst also enabling business performance. Flexibility provisions vary by role, but include; hybrid working arrangements, flexible working patterns and shift working.

We want to be the leading employer in defence and security for valuing diversity and inclusion. We care about difference in all forms and want to create an inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and particularly from sections of the community who are currently under-represented within our industry, including women, people from ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ individuals. We also want to be a preferred home for veterans and reservists.

For more information on our Diversity & Inclusion work, please click here.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people, who are BAE Systems employees and who have been in their current role for 12 months or longer

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks. Click here for more information on national security vetting levels.