Exhibit and Display Fabrication Manager

About the role

Switch is an award-winning, full-service creative + production company that connects creative with production to bring ideas to life as envisioned and deliver impactful results as intended. With 40+ years of experience, we specialize in live, virtual + hybrid events, business meetings, field marketing + brand immersions, trade shows + exhibits, digital marketing, branding + advertising. We work across channels to connect the dots between them.

The Exhibit and Display Fabrication Manager leads the day-to-day operations of the fabrication shop and oversees the successful execution of custom exhibit, display, scenic, and branded environment builds. This role manages estimating, scheduling, labor planning, material procurement, quality control, safety, and cross-functional coordination to ensure projects are delivered safely, accurately, on budget, and on schedule.

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day operations of the fabrication shop, ensuring display and exhibit builds are completed safely, accurately, on budget, and on schedule.
• Leads the execution of custom builds, including trade show exhibits, branded environments, experiential activations, scenic elements, and related fabrication projects.
• Reviews design concepts, renderings, drawings, specifications, and production requirements to determine fabrication approach, materials, labor needs, timelines, and potential build challenges.
• Coordinates shop workflow across multiple concurrent projects, balancing priorities, deadlines, staffing, and resource availability.
• Prepares accurate and timely quotes for each fabrication build, including material costs, labor hours, equipment needs, outsourced services, freight, installation considerations, and appropriate contingencies.
• Partners with account, design, project management, and production teams to clarify scope, identify assumptions, and ensure estimates reflect the full requirements of the project.
• Analyzes drawings, sketches, specifications, and client requests to determine build complexity and cost drivers.
• Creates and interprets construction plans, schematics, and instructions based on creative renderings and designs.
• Tracks actual costs against estimates and uses job performance data to improve future quoting accuracy.
• Identifies opportunities to value-engineer builds while maintaining design intent, durability, quality, and client expectations.
• Manages fabrication projects from estimate approval through completion, ensuring each build meets project timeline, budget, and delivery requirements.
• Develops and maintains production schedules, labor plans, material procurement timelines, and milestone checkpoints.
• Communicates project status to internal stakeholders.
• Anticipates fabrication issues and proactively resolves problems related to materials, design feasibility, labor availability, budget, or schedule.
• Manages shop labor, including union labor, to ensure appropriate staffing, productivity, quality, and compliance with applicable labor agreements, work rules, and safety expectations.
• Provides direction, coaching, and performance feedback to shop team members.
• Ensures labor hours are tracked accurately by project and aligned with approved estimates and production budgets.
• Supports a collaborative, accountable, and safety-focused shop culture.
• Ensures all builds meet Switch quality standards, client expectations, structural requirements, and production specifications.
• Inspects work in progress and completed builds to confirm accuracy, finish quality, functionality, and readiness for delivery or installation.
• Coordinates with vendors, subcontractors, and specialty fabricators when outsourced services are required.
• Ensures compliance with safety policies, equipment usage standards, and applicable workplace regulations.
• Maintains a clean, organized, safe, and efficient shop environment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree in Design, Construction, Engineering, Operations, Fabrication, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in exhibit fabrication, display building, scenic fabrication, custom millwork, trade show production, experiential marketing fabrication, or a related custom build environment.
• Minimum of 3 years AutoCAD drafting and 3D modeling experience.
• Minimum of 2 years on-site tradeshow setup supervision experience.
• Proven experience estimating fabrication projects, including material and labor costing.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including scheduling, budgeting, scope management, and cross-functional coordination.
• Experience managing shop labor, including union labor or labor governed by formal work rules or agreements.
• Strong knowledge of fabrication methods, materials, tools, finishes, hardware, and construction techniques used in custom displays and exhibits.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, renderings, build plans, technical specifications, and production documents.
• Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality craftsmanship.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products including Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Fabrication, or related field.
• Experience in the exhibit, trade show, museum, retail display, branded environment, or experiential marketing industry.
• Hands-on fabrication background in carpentry, millwork, metalwork, scenic construction, plastics, laminates, graphics integration, or finishing.
• Experience working with designers, engineers, account teams, and project managers in a creative production environment.
• SolidWorks Certification.
• Project Management Certification.

Pay

The compensation range for this position starts at $90,000 per year and will be based on experience.

Physical Demands

Ability to work in a physical environment and lift 50 pounds.