Shipyard Area Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Shipyard Area Superintendent – Shipboard Operations & Repair

Location: San Diego, CA (Shipyard)

Position Type: Full-Time

Pay Range: Competitive Salary (DOE) + Benefits Package

Shift: 1st Shift (Flexibility required for shipboard production schedules)

SPECIAL NOTE: This role requires direct experience working inside a shipyard environment on naval or commercial vessel repairs/new construction. Candidates without marine/shipyard background will not be considered.

ABOUT LEAD STAFFING

LEAD Staffing is a national leader in marine, shipyard, and commercial trade staffing. We partner with top-tier shipyards, defense contractors, and industrial operators to place highly skilled craftspeople and operational leaders into critical roles across the country.

POSITION OVERVIEW

We are seeking an experienced  Shipyard Area Superintendent to oversee ship construction and repair operations within assigned shipboard zones at a major shipyard facility in San Diego, CA.

In this role, you will be directly accountable for managing shipboard production trade execution, subcontractor coordination, safety compliance, quality assurance, schedule adherence, and cost efficiency. As the primary operational lead for your assigned vessel area, you will bridge the gap between skilled production trades, ship managers, planning, engineering, and customer representatives (including NAVSEA and Ship’s Force).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Shipboard Production Leadership: Oversee daily trade activities, sequencing, and workflow in assigned shipboard zones; ensure work is completed safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Safety & Environmental Standards: Manage ship-wide safety, housekeeping, and environmental compliance; ensure strict adherence to OSHA Maritime and shipyard safety protocols.
• Trade & Subcontractor Coordination: Resolve conflicting trade priorities, coordinate resource allocation with Trade General Supervisors, and direct marine subcontractor activities.
• Schedule & Budget Control: Monitor project milestones, anticipate schedule/budget deviations, and implement proactive corrective action plans.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Quality Assurance, Planning, Contracts, Material Control, Warehousing, Test & Trials, and Engineering to maintain project momentum.
• NAVSEA & Regulatory Compliance: Understand and administer NAVSEA Standard Items (for repair availabilities), WAFs, and LOTO; interface directly with customer representatives and regulatory bodies.
• Reporting & Process Improvement: Provide structured progress reports, lessons learned, and Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) to senior leadership to drive productivity improvements on ongoing and follow-on hulls.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS (Shipyard Experience Mandatory)

• Mandatory Field Experience: Minimum of 2+ years of supervisory or operations experience directly within a major shipbuilding or ship repair facility (U.S. Navy surface/sub surface, commercial repair, or defense shipyard).
• Technical Maritime Knowledge: Deep working knowledge of ship systems, trade responsibilities (welders, pipefitters, electricians, shipfitters), line management, and shipboard repair practices.
• NAVSEA & Vessel Standards: Practical, working understanding of  NAVSEA Standard Items , Work Authorization Forms ( WAFs ), and shipboard Lockout/Tagout ( LOTO ) processes.
• Education: High School Diploma or GED required; formal maritime academy, trade school, or U.S. Navy/Coast Guard background is a strong plus.
• Communication & Leadership: Excellent written/verbal communication skills with proven success writing progress reports and managing trade conflicts under tight availability timelines.
• Shipyard Access: Must be eligible to work in the U.S. and obtain/maintain required shipyard access credentials (e.g.,  DBIDS / SECNAV ).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Must be able to spend up to 60% of time in an outdoor shipyard environment across all weather conditions.
• Capable of climbing scaffolding, stairs, and vertical ladders; transiting through manholes () and tight, confined, or congested shipboard spaces.
• Comfortable working at elevated heights (12'+) aboard vessels under construction or repair.
• Physical agility to bend, stoop, crouch, reach, and lift/maneuver on uneven surfaces.
• Ability to work in noisy production environments (requiring standard PPE including steel-toe boots, hard hat, safety glasses, and hearing protection).

BENEFITS

• Health insurance
• 6 Paid holidays
• 40 Hours of Paid sick leave

*The benefits listed above are subject to eligibility requirements*

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HOW TO APPLY

Ready to lead major shipboard operations in San Diego?

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