Weld School Manager

NABRICO Marine Products is seeking a safety-oriented, experienced Weld School Manager to lead and develop the Welding School at our Ashland City, TN, barge manufacturing facility. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing comprehensive welding training programs designed to build, qualify, and retain a skilled welding workforce capable of safely producing high-quality barge products in accordance with approved welding procedures, applicable codes, fabrication drawings, and customer requirements. The Weld School Manager oversees the Welding School's training operations, including curriculum development, classroom instruction, hands-on welding instruction, welder qualification testing, and on-the-job training (OJT). This individual will establish consistent training standards, develop instructional materials, monitor employee progress, and ensure new and existing employees receive the technical knowledge and practical experience necessary to meet NABRICO's production and quality expectations. Working closely with Welding School Instructors, Production, Quality, Safety, Maintenance, and Human Resources, the Weld School Manager will identify skill gaps, establish training priorities, oversee the transition of qualified employees into production, and continuously improve training effectiveness. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires strong welding expertise, instructional and coaching abilities, organizational skills, and a commitment to safety, quality, and employee development. About NABRICO Marine Products NABRICO Marine Products, Inc., is part of NABRICO's Inland Barge Group and is a leading manufacturer of barges and marine products serving the U.S. inland waterway system. Our products help transport a wide variety of commodities, including grain, coal, aggregates, petroleum products, fertilizers, ethanol, chemicals, and other liquid cargoes. NABRICO manufactures dry cargo and tank barges, as well as fiberglass hopper barge covers used primarily on grain barges. The company also provides a full line of marine deck hardware, including hatches, castings, and winches for towboats and dock facilities. Our commitment to quality, safety, and operational excellence supports the reliable movement of goods throughout the nation's inland waterways. Primary Responsibilities Leadership and Training Program Management · Lead, coach, develop, and hold Welding School Instructors and welder candidates accountable for performance, attendance, safety, and training progress. · Manage daily Welding School operations, establishing priorities based on new-hire onboarding, qualification requirements, employee skill development, production demands, and workforce needs. · Develop, implement, and maintain structured welding training programs that establish consistent learning objectives, instructional standards, performance expectations, and qualification benchmarks. · Create, update, and maintain welding training curriculum, lesson plans, instructional guides, presentations, visual aids, practice exercises, skill assessments, and other training materials. · Ensure training materials and instructional methods align with approved Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs), applicable codes, company standards, and current production requirements. · Establish training plans and measurable milestones for employees at varying skill levels, from entry-level candidates to experienced welders requiring additional training or requalification. · Evaluate training program effectiveness using qualification results, trainee progress, weld quality, rework trends, safety performance, and feedback from Production and Quality. Curriculum Development and Instruction · Develop and oversee classroom and hands-on training covering welding safety, welding processes, equipment operation, welding symbols, blueprint reading, measurements, fit-up, joint preparation, weld inspection, and applicable welding procedures. · Develop training modules for FCAW, SAW, SMAW, plasma cutting, oxyfuel cutting, air-carbon-arc gouging, and other processes as required by plant operations. · Establish standardized training exercises, weld practice requirements, testing criteria, and competency assessments to ensure consistent instruction across all Welding School Instructors. · Ensure trainees demonstrate the required knowledge, technical proficiency, safe work practices, and weld quality before advancing through training milestones or progressing to qualification testing. · Review and revise curriculum as welding procedures, equipment, production processes, quality requirements, and applicable codes or standards change. · Provide direct instruction, technical demonstrations, coaching, and remediation when necessary to support trainee development and improve welding performance. On-the-Job Training (OJT) and Employee Development · Develop and oversee structured OJT programs that bridge the gap between Welding School instruction and actual production requirements. · Coordinate with Production leadership to establish OJT assignments, identify qualified trainers or mentors, and ensure employees receive appropriate hands-on experience in their assigned work areas. · Establish clear OJT objectives, task checklists, competency requirements, evaluation methods, and completion criteria for each applicable role or training pathway. · Monitor employee performance during OJT, gather feedback from supervisors and trainers, and verify that employees can consistently perform assigned work safely and to required quality standards. · Ensure employees are appropriately prepared before transitioning from Welding School to production, with additional coaching or remediation provided when needed. · Track employee progress throughout training and OJT, document completed competencies, and communicate readiness for production placement or additional qualification testing. · Partner with Production supervisors and Human Resources to support onboarding, skill development, cross-training, career progression, and long-term employee retention. · Identify recurring skill gaps among production employees and implement targeted refresher training or corrective instruction. Welder Qualification, Testing, and Technical Support · Oversee welder qualification, testing, requalification, and continuity requirements in accordance with applicable welding codes, approved procedures, and company requirements. · Ensure welder candidates receive appropriate preparation, practice, and evaluation before qualification testing. · Maintain accurate and complete records of training, testing, qualifications, continuity, performance, and remediation. · Monitor trainee progress and recommend advancement, additional training, reassignment, or removal from the program when appropriate. · Inspect training welds and production welds as required to verify compliance with approved WPSs, fabrication drawings, visual acceptance criteria, and applicable code requirements. · Provide hands-on troubleshooting and technical guidance related to welding technique, weld defects, equipment operation, welding parameters, consumable handling, fit-up, and joint preparation. · Identify potential causes of weld discontinuities and quality issues, coach employees on corrective techniques, and verify improvement. Quality, Safety, and Continuous Improvement · Partner with Quality and Production leadership to identify recurring weld defects, training gaps, rework trends, and production challenges. · Support root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and process improvements related to weld quality, welder performance, equipment issues, and nonconforming product. · Ensure all Welding School activities comply with company safety policies, hot-work requirements, PPE standards, housekeeping expectations, environmental requirements, and applicable regulations. · Promote a safety-focused training environment and ensure employees understand safe equipment operation, hazard recognition, and proper work practices before performing assigned tasks. · Recommend and implement improvements to increase training efficiency, qualification success, weld quality, productivity, safety, and retention of Welding School graduates. · Participate in internal audits, customer audits, third-party audits, and code or regulatory reviews involving welding qualifications, procedures, training documentation, and quality-system requirements. Equipment, Records, and Resources · Maintain Welding School equipment, training stations, inspection tools, consumables, and other resources in safe and functional condition. · Monitor equipment calibration status, preventive-maintenance needs, consumable inventory, flux storage, and applicable oven logs; coordinate repairs and maintenance as needed. · Ensure current WPSs, work instructions, curriculum, training materials, weld gauges, and inspection tools are readily available and properly controlled. · Maintain organized, accurate, and accessible training records, qualification documentation, OJT evaluations, and employee progress reports. · Communicate Welding School performance, trainee progress, qualification readiness, training capacity, quality trends, and improvement opportunities to plant leadership and relevant stakeholders. · Support interviewing, onboarding, mentoring, performance management, attendance accountability, and workforce-development initiatives for Welding School personnel. · Perform other duties and special projects as assigned. Qualifications and Skills · High school diploma or GED required; technical degree, vocational training, or formal coursework in welding technology, manufacturing, quality, or a related field preferred. · Five or more years of progressively responsible welding experience in a manufacturing, fabrication, marine, structural-steel, heavy-equipment, or similar industrial environment. · Two or more years of experience in welding leadership, supervision, technical instruction, employee training, or workforce development preferred. · Experience developing training curriculum, instructional materials, skill assessments, or structured employee training programs preferred. · Experience overseeing OJT, mentoring employees, or coordinating the transition of trainees into production preferred. · Demonstrated proficiency in FCAW, SAW, and SMAW welding processes; experience with plasma cutting, oxyfuel cutting, and air-carbon-arc gouging preferred. · Ability to perform and evaluate flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead fillet and groove welds, including 1F through 4F and 1G through 4G positions. · Experience conducting visual weld inspections and using weld-inspection tools, including fillet weld gauges, undercut gauges, amp/volt meters, wire-feed-speed meters, gas-flow meters, and related equipment. · Ability to identify weld defects, determine likely causes, teach corrective techniques, and verify the effectiveness of corrective actions. · Strong working knowledge of Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs), weld symbols, fabrication drawings, and blueprint interpretation. · Working knowledge of AWS D1.1, ABS, and/or other applicable welding codes and standards. · Understanding of welding filler metals, base materials, consumables, shielding gases, flux handling, preheat, interpass temperature, weld sequencing, distortion control, and common weld discontinuities. · Experience maintaining welder qualification, testing, training, calibration, and continuity records preferred. · Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and effectively to employees with varying levels of welding experience. · Strong instructional, leadership, coaching, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and organizational skills. · Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop clear training documentation and communicate employee progress to management. · Ability to manage competing priorities and collaborate effectively with Production, Quality, Safety, Maintenance, Human Resources, and plant leadership. · Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to maintain accurate electronic and paper records. · Regular and predictable attendance, a strong safety mindset, a positive attitude, and the ability to work effectively with a team toward common operational and quality goals. · Ability to work first shift and support alternate shifts, overtime, or weekend training requirements as business needs require. Work Environment This position operates in a heavy manufacturing and barge fabrication environment, including indoor shop areas and outdoor work areas exposed to varying weather conditions. The role requires regular interaction with welding operations, production personnel, equipment, and materials. The Weld School Manager must follow all applicable safety requirements and ensure appropriate PPE is used. The position may require standing for extended periods, walking throughout the facility, observing hands-on training, and demonstrating or evaluating welding activities. Why Join NABRICO Marine Products? · Hands-on leadership role with a direct impact on employee development, production quality, and operational performance. · Opportunity to build and improve a skilled welding workforce through structured training and career development. · Be part of a team committed to integrity, execution, and winning together. · Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance. · Paid Time Off – Vacation and Sick. · 11 Paid Holidays. · Employee Assistance Program. · 401(k) with company match up to 6%. · Short-Term and Long-Term Disability. · Tuition Reimbursement. · Life and AD&D Insurance.