Project Manager
SOUTHLAND STEEL FABRICATORSProject Manager - Solar Pile USA Location: Amite, Louisiana Reports to: General Manager Position Type: Full Time, On Site Travel: Occasional, on average once per month. About Solar Pile USA Solar Pile USA manufactures driven steel piles for the commercial solar market, supplying the foundations for large solar fields. We cut structural beams to length, then drill, slot, and punch them to accept solar racking and panel mounting equipment. Each pile is galvanized and shipped ready for installation. Position Overview The Project Manager is responsible for the execution of every Solar Pile USA project, from estimate and kickoff through production, shipping, and billing. This person is the point of contact for all customers and the link between our customers, our shop, our galvanizing partners, and accounting. The Project Manager monitors project margins, manages change orders and risk, and keeps the General Manager informed so issues are addressed early. Key Responsibilities Customer Management Serve as the primary point of contact for all customers from award through final delivery and billing. Plan and lead project kickoff meetings with customers and internal teams to confirm scope, specifications, schedule, and shipping requirements. Provide customers with regular, proactive updates on production, galvanizing, and shipping status. Prepare and submit approval and submittal packages, and track customer responses through completion. Coordinate with detailing personnel so shop drawings are developed and released in line with project requirements and schedule. Estimating, Change Orders, and Risk Support estimating for new projects as needed. Identify, document, and price change orders, and obtain customer approval before changed work proceeds. Identify project risks such as material availability, schedule conflicts, galvanizing turnaround, and freight, and develop plans with the General Manager to address them. Financial Monitor margins on each project against the estimate and report variances to the General Manager. Work with accounting to keep work in progress (WIP) and project margins current and accurate. Initiate billing for completed work and approved change orders so accounting can issue invoices promptly. Develop and maintain monthly revenue forecasts based on active and upcoming projects. Production and Scheduling Enter new jobs into Tekla PowerFab and our production management software. Manage the shop schedule, working with production leadership to meet customer deadlines and resolve conflicts. Coordinate between SolarPile USA departments and outside companies, including galvanizing partners, to track material and expedite turnaround as needed. Oversee raw material inventory counts and take from stock transactions to keep inventory records accurate. Spend time daily on the shop floor and in the shipping yard verifying work progress and material counts. Shipping and Documentation Own the shipping process for all projects. Verify that all material is complete, counted, and staged before a truck arrives. Create bills of lading and confirm that each truck ships with the correct material. Coordinate receipt and shipment of materials with customers and carriers. Assemble and deliver quality and compliance documentation, including mill test reports, galvanizing certifications, and other documentation required by customers. Qualifications 3 to 5 years of project management experience, preferably in steel fabrication, manufacturing, or construction. Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Technology, or a related field preferred. Equivalent work experience will be considered in place of a degree. Ability to read and interpret structural and fabrication drawings. Working understanding of job costing, project margins, and WIP reporting. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to manage customer expectations and negotiate change orders. Exceptional organizati…