Company: Creative SD
Department: Production
Reports to: Head of Production / Workshop Supervisor
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Role Purpose
The Senior Fabricator is responsible for the high-quality manufacture and assembly of bespoke special builds, 2D/3D props, experiential installations and associated structures.
As a senior member of the production team, the role requires a high degree of skill, productivity, independence and personal responsibility. Senior Fabricators are expected not only to produce work to a high standard, but to help drive jobs forward, identify problems early and support less experienced members of the workshop team.
Key Responsibilities
- Manufacture and assemble bespoke props, structures and special-build elements from drawings, visuals and project briefs.
- Work confidently across materials and processes relevant to Creative SD's production, including timber, sheet materials, plastics, metals, foams, composites, adhesives, coatings and finishing systems.
- Deliver consistently high-quality fabrication and finishing appropriate to client-facing advertising and experiential projects.
- Work efficiently and maintain an appropriate senior-level work rate throughout the working day.
- Complete allocated work within agreed production times and project deadlines.
- Take ownership of allocated tasks rather than requiring continual supervision or prompting.
- Identify potential production, quality or timing issues early and communicate these immediately to the Workshop Supervisor or Head of Production.
- Check work throughout fabrication rather than relying on issues being identified at the end of production.
- Minimise mistakes, avoidable rework and material wastage.
- Interpret drawings, measurements, models and visual references accurately.
- Suggest practical fabrication solutions where designs require development or adaptation.
- Assist with prototypes, test builds and development of new fabrication methods where required.
- Maintain an organised, safe and productive working environment.
- Follow company health & safety procedures and use machinery, tools and materials responsibly.
- Support junior fabricators and other members of the production team when appropriate.
- Assist with loading, preparation, installation and de-rig of projects where required.
Senior-Level Expectations
A Senior Fabricator is expected to operate at a noticeably higher level than a junior or developing fabricator.
This means demonstrating:
Productivity – maintaining a strong and consistent work rate and understanding the commercial importance of completing work within allocated production hours.
Quality – producing work to a consistently high standard with minimal supervision, mistakes or rework.
Reliability – completing agreed tasks and milestones when promised and raising concerns before deadlines are missed.
Ownership – taking responsibility for a job or element of a job from instruction through to completion.
Initiative – identifying what needs doing next and progressing work without waiting continually for instruction.
Problem solving – proposing practical solutions to fabrication challenges rather than simply identifying problems.
Communication – keeping the Workshop Supervisor and Head of Production informed about progress, problems and likely delays.
Team contribution – helping maintain momentum across the workshop and supporting less experienced colleagues when appropriate.
Attitude and professionalism – demonstrating a constructive, engaged and professional approach to work, colleagues and company projects.
Performance Standards
Performance will be assessed against:
- Quality and accuracy of completed work
- Productivity and work rate
- Achievement of production deadlines
- Amount of avoidable rework
- Ability to work independently
- Ownership of allocated work
- Communication of progress and problems
- Problem-solving and initiative
- Safe and responsible working practices
- Contribution to the wider production team
Skills & Experience
The role requires substantial practical fabrication experience and the ability to demonstrate a high standard of craftsmanship across multiple materials and processes.
The successful Senior Fabricator should be comfortable working in a fast-moving, deadline-driven production environment where projects are often bespoke and require practical problem-solving rather than repetitive manufacturing.
They should be capable of taking a project from a drawing, model or creative concept through fabrication, assembly and finishing with limited supervision.
