OPERATIONS MANAGER – FABRICATION & INSTALLATIONS - Position Description
📍 Location: Lower Hutt, Wellington
📅 Date: 29th January 2025
About FMS
FMS (Food Machinery Services, soon to trade as Facility Maintenance Services) is a leading provider of commercial food machinery and facility maintenance solutions. With over 50 years of collective expertise, we specialize in equipment installation, preventative maintenance, refrigeration and HVAC, plumbing, gas, stainless steel fabrication, and light building maintenance.
Our brand promise: “Fix things right the first time.” We take pride in delivering reliable, customer-first service that ensures seamless operations for our clients.
As we expand, we are looking for skilled professionals who align with our values of integrity, accuracy, professionalism, safety, and lasting solutions.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Position Title: Operations Manager – Fabrication & Installations
Reports To: General Manager (GM)
Location: Petone, Lower Hutt
Role Overview
The 'Operations Manager – Fabrication & Installations' is a hands-on leadership role responsible for expanding and managing FMS's stainless-steel and general steel fabrication services. This role plays a pivotal part in reinforcing FMS as the one-stop provider for commercial kitchen and food production facility needs, including new equipment installation and site-related services.
This position combines technical execution, project leadership, and operational oversight with high-level client relationship management. It is designed for a strategic, detail-oriented professional with the potential to grow into a broader leadership capacity within the business.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Assessment & Scoping
Conduct site visits to assess work requirements, perform detailed site measures, and identify any potential access or logistical challenges.
Evaluate and oversee new equipment installation readiness (pre-line inspections) and ensure all site factors are considered.
Liaise with clients to clarify project requirements and ensure expectations are fully understood.
Prepare technical drawings and documentation to confirm work briefs and gain client sign-off prior to quoting.
Determine material needs and associated costs for each project.
Quoting & Client Communication
Prepare and issue formal quotations for client projects.
Follow up with clients to discuss quotes, answer questions, and coordinate scheduling.
Maintain clear, timely communication throughout the sales and project delivery process.
Build and maintain strong, trust-based client relationships through professionalism, responsiveness, and clarity.
Project & Team Management
Lead fabrication work on-site and in the workshop (this is a hands-on role).
Plan and manage projects from initiation through to completion, ensuring deadlines, budget targets, and quality standards are met.
Coordinate with the Office Manager, Scheduler, and Technical & Training Manager to ensure seamless operations.
Supervise and mentor fabrication team members assigned to projects.
Workshop Oversight
Maintain responsibility for the engineering/fabrication workshop setup, equipment, inventory, consumables, and workflow.
Continuously improve operational efficiency and safety within the workshop.
Business Development & Financial Performance
Drive new business opportunities and client relationships to grow the division.
Ensure each project is appropriately scoped, quoted, and delivered to maximize profitability.
Monitor job costs, resource allocation, and material usage to ensure strong financial outcomes.
Client Satisfaction & Feedback
Ensure high levels of client satisfaction through quality workmanship and clear communication.
Secure positive written reviews and testimonials from clients for use in marketing (Google Reviews, LinkedIn, Facebook, Website, etc.).
Leadership Development
Exhibit leadership capabilities with potential for broader business oversight.
Serve as a trusted right-hand support to the General Manager in the coordination and execution of strategic initiatives.
General
Perform other duties as required by the General Manager.
Key Relationships
Reports To: General Manager (GM)
Key Internal Contacts: Office Manager, Scheduler, Technical & Training Manager
Team Leadership: Responsible for project-based team members
Qualifications & Experience
Relevant engineering qualification (fabrication or mechanical preferred)
Extensive background in stainless-steel fabrication, preferably in commercial kitchen or food production settings
Proven project management experience, ideally in a hands-on technical role
Experience with new equipment installations or commercial kitchen layout planning is highly desirable
Competency in technical drawing (ideally but not essential; CAD or similar software)
Strong communication, relationship management, and leadership skills
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Revenue Growth: Achieve a minimum of $333,000 in annual project sales to cover role costs and target profitability.
Gross Profit Margin: Maintain or exceed a 45% gross profit margin across all projects.
Client Acquisition: Secure a minimum of 3 new repeat clients per quarter.
Project Delivery: Complete 95% of projects on-time and within budget.
Client Satisfaction: Achieve an average client satisfaction score of 4.5/5 or higher, based on feedback and reviews.
Workshop Efficiency: Implement quarterly improvements to increase fabrication workflow efficiency and reduce waste.
Quote Conversion Rate: Maintain a minimum 60% quote-to-sale conversion rate.
Leadership & Culture: Demonstrate team leadership by achieving positive internal feedback from direct reports and peers.
What We Offer
Competitive salary package
Company-provided vehicle
Profit-sharing opportunities
Positive, unified, and high-performance team environment
Opportunity to lead and grow a critical division of the business with future leadership potential
FMS is committed to excellence and innovation in service delivery, aiming to become the single trusted provider for all aspects of commercial kitchen and food production facility operations.