Electrical Foreman

Reports to: Electrical Manager

About the role

Oversees electrical installation on vessels under construction and ensures adherence to production schedules, Austal Quality Assurance Standards, and Class/Flag requirements. Manages material take-offs, stock levels, and resource distribution while maintaining safe working practices and compliance with company policies.

Responsibilities

• Implement and monitor all production schedules in conjunction with Supervisors.
• Prepare material take-offs and maintain adequate stock levels.
• Ensure correct construction procedures comply with Austal Quality Assurance Standards and Class/Flag requirements.
• Source and distribute information and direction to Supervisors and outside contractors.
• Monitor resource levels and distribute resources effectively.
• Maintain safe working practices, good housekeeping, and adherence to Austal’s Safety Policies.
• Ensure compliance with the ten fundamental rules of supervision among all supervisors.
• Provide weekly input at production meetings on schedule status, performance, morale, safety, product improvement, cost savings, weight savings, and milestone achievement.
• Process and allocate timesheets daily.
• Ensure understanding and adherence to company policies, particularly Health and Safety and Quality Assurance.
• Motivate staff, maintain morale, and minimize confrontation.
• Review and recommend pay rates in conjunction with supervisors.
• Maintain a succession plan, identify key personnel, and implement training programs.
• Input and maintain records of cost savings, weight savings, and production improvements.

Requirements

• High School Diploma/GED required.
• At least 5 years of electrical experience in the marine or manufacturing industry.
• Good working knowledge of planning and monitoring.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Excellent people management and supervisory skills.
• Effective communication within and across departments.
• Sound knowledge of Class/Flag requirements.
• Ability to plan to a set schedule and budget, make decisions, problem-solve, and meet deadlines.
• Extensive experience in Marine AC and DC systems, control, and automation.
• Experience in troubleshooting, testing, and commissioning AC and DC systems.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to tour all vessels and work sites.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands, reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to sit.
• Ability to bend, squat, stoop, crawl, and kneel.
• Perform prolonged standing.
• Ability to turn head and body at the waist from side to side.
• Lift/push/pull 50–75 lbs on an occasional basis and up to 20 lbs frequently.
• Ability to climb stairs, scaffolding, ladders, and ramps safely.
• Work at heights above 12’ using ladders, scaffolding, or man lifts.
• Work at various levels (e.g., waist, eye, overhead).
• Safely use required tools and equipment.
• Good balance on uneven surfaces and maneuvering obstacles.
• Sufficient handgrip and coordination to carry and operate tools.
• Ability to use personal protective equipment (PPE) per OSHA standards (e.g., hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toe shoes, respirator, harness).
• Ability to withstand cold and hot temperatures.
• Ability to enter 18” x 36” openings and work in confined spaces for prolonged periods.
• Respond to verbal and audible sounds/commands.
• Adequate visual skills.
• Ability to fully extend arms while reaching overhead, out, to the side, and down.
• Perceive attributes of objects (e.g., size, shape, temperature, texture) via hands and fingers.

Work Environment

• Regular exposure to humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, high precarious places, outside weather, and extreme heat.
• Occasional exposure to fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and cold.
• Very loud noise levels.
• Must comply with company, federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulations.