Element Lead, Mechanical Fabrication in Pontefract

Description

Position Purpose

The Manufacturing Element Lead is responsible for technically leading assigned projects, assemblies, or manufacturing elements through the shop floor to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, to specification, and in line with project schedule requirements.

This role acts as a key shop floor partner to Project Management, Supervisors, Engineering, Design, Quality, and other manufacturing functions.

The Manufacturing Element Lead coordinates daily project requirements across functions, provides technical guidance to team members, supports planning and workflow, and helps resolve issues that may impact quality, schedule, cost, or delivery.

The role is hands-on and project focused, supporting the delivery of complex or high-priority elements by ensuring the right information, materials, drawings, labour, and technical decisions are coordinated effectively.

This position does not have direct supervisory administrative responsibility but is expected to lead teams through influence, communication, technical knowledge, and ownership of assigned work.

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead shop floor teams with varying skill levels to complete assigned projects, builds, assemblies, or manufacturing elements safely, efficiently, and to required quality standards.
• Act as the technical lead for assigned elements by providing guidance on build approach, sequencing, manufacturing methods, drawings, tolerances, quality expectations, and project-specific requirements.
• Partner with Project Management to understand project priorities, milestones, deliverables, risks, and client requirements, ensuring these are clearly communicated to the shop floor team.
• Coordinate project requirements across Manufacturing, Project Management, Engineering, Design, Quality, Procurement, Stores, Paint, Controls, Fabrication, Machine Shop, Assembly, and other relevant functions.
• Organize and manage daily workflow for assigned elements to ensure team members understand duties, priorities, delegated tasks, and delivery expectations.
• Read, understand, and apply engineering drawings, build documentation, specifications, finish requirements, quality requirements, and project instructions.
• Identify technical questions, missing information, design concerns, drawing issues, material shortages, or build risks, and escalate them in a timely and effective manner.
• Support quality control of assigned elements by identifying areas not meeting specification, coordinating rework, raising concerns, and helping ensure right-first-time delivery.
• Maintain awareness of project schedules, deadlines, labour requirements, and delivery milestones; raise concerns and recommend adjustments when project goals may be at risk.
• Communicate regularly with Supervisors, Project Managers, and relevant stakeholders regarding project status, progress, blockers, quality concerns, labour needs, and schedule risks.
• Assist with project build reviews, handovers, planning discussions, and lessons learned to improve project execution and future estimating accuracy.
• Coordinate materials, drawings, prints, consumables, hardware, parts, and supplies required to complete assigned project elements.
• Assign work activities to team members based on project needs, skills, workload, and priorities, in alignment with Supervisor direction.
• Keep the team informed, aligned, and motivated throughout all stages of the project or element build.
• Independently lead complex manufacturing elements with minimal guidance while knowing when to escalate risks, decisions, or technical issues.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to reduce rework, improve flow, reduce touch points, increase efficiency, and improve project delivery.
• Ensure product identification, labelling, protection, storage, and traceability requirements are accurately followed throughout the manufacturing process.
• Accurately capture labour hours, material usage, project activity, and relevant updates in Epicor or other required business systems.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area, including tools, equipment, materials, project parts, and assigned build areas.
• Ensure TAIT’s standards of care are coordinated into daily activities: Safety, Quality, Team, Schedule, and Cost.
• Take ownership of decisions, actions, performance, communication, and behaviour related to assigned project elements.
• Adhere to all company safety policies, procedures, PPE requirements, and area-specific manufacturing standards.
• Attend meetings, seminars, project reviews, and training sessions as required; participate in development programs to enhance technical and leadership skills.
• Perform assigned duties according to the policies and expectations prescribed by the company.
• Fulfill each essential responsibility and accountability satisfactorily to perform this position successfully.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet business needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in Mechanical Fabrication
• GCSE, apprenticeship, trade qualification, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experienced with Epicor, Slack, and/or Box preferred.
• Strong ability to read, understand, and apply engineering drawings, specifications, project documentation, and build requirements.
• Strong technical understanding of manufacturing processes, tools, materials, quality standards, and safe working practices.
• Ability to coordinate work across multiple functions and communicate effectively with shop floor teams, Supervisors, Project Management, Engineering, and Quality.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The employee is required to frequently walk, bend, climb, push, pull, twist, squat, stoop, and kneel each day.

Specific requirements are

• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time
• Must be able to lift or move 15kg
• Must be able to carry 15kg
• Must be able to pull or push 15kg

Work conditions of the role are

• Work conditions may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements such as dirt, dust, fumes, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises
• Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks which require following basic safety precautions
• Must be able to wear and properly utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to work within or visit areas where required.

This includes, safety glasses, reflective vest, ear plugs, steel toed shoes, and other PPE as required by the location

TAIT Benefits

• Competitive pension scheme with employer contributions
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Medicash health cashback plan (covering dental, optical, and more)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with 24/7 support
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Income protection / critical illness cover
• Optional private medical insurance (role/level dependent)
• Paid annual leave starting at 22 days, increasing with service
• UK bank holidays
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