General Manager – Steel Fabrication & Engineering
Competitive executive package + super + fully maintained vehicle + substantial performance incentive
About the opportunity
Fabwest is seeking a hands-on General Manager to take full responsibility for the performance, growth and day-to-day management of our Western Australian steel fabrication and engineering business.
This is an opportunity for an experienced fabrication or engineering industry leader to genuinely run a business with significant authority, accountability and responsibility.
You will report directly to the Board and be accountable for profitable business growth, commercial performance, project delivery, workshop operations, people leadership, financial performance, systems and continuous improvement.
The shareholders' objective is to progressively step away from routine operational management and move into a Board and advisory role.
We are therefore looking for someone who wants genuine responsibility for the business and is capable of operating with a high degree of ownership and self-management.
This is a hands-on SME leadership role.
It will suit someone comfortable working closely with customers, estimating, projects and workshop operations rather than managing through multiple corporate departments.
This role will not suit someone seeking to manage from a distance or rely on several layers of management beneath them.
What you will own
Take responsibility for the profitable growth of Fabwest, including developing existing customers, winning new customers, building key accounts and increasing repeat business.
Maintain a healthy RFQ and tender pipeline and ensure Fabwest is actively pursuing the right work.
Participate directly in customer meetings and develop strong industry relationships and networks.
Own the estimating and commercial process, including RFQ review, estimate review, fabrication methodology, labour allowances, material strategy, pricing recommendations, commercial risk, contract review and estimated-versus-actual performance.
Have overall responsibility for all live Fabwest work from handover through delivery.
Oversee production planning, project coordination, workshop capacity, delivery commitments, labour performance, material readiness, procurement coordination, quality, subcontract processing, variations and customer communication.
Monitor WIP, job profitability, cost-to-complete and project performance.
Lead the Fabwest team and establish clear expectations, accountability and professional management behaviour.




Manage direct reports and ensure managers genuinely manage their areas of responsibility.
Own business performance including revenue, gross margin, operating profit, labour utilisation, overhead, job costing, WIP and budget performance.
Prepare transparent monthly performance reporting for the Board.
Work closely with the Workshop Manager/Supervisor on day-to-day shop-floor execution.
Drive practical improvement in estimating, job preparation, production planning, DBA Manufacturing, BOMs, routings, labour data, job-cost visibility and workshop flow.
Identify problems early, make decisions and follow actions through to completion.
Support available
Fabwest has existing workshop management, experienced trades, administration, quality and technical support resources.
Two shared technical/drafting resources are available across the wider business to assist with:
CAD
DXFs
material take-offs
BOMs
DBA routings
job cards
drawing registers
job packs
technical documentation
estimate preparation
The General Manager is not expected to personally prepare every drawing, job card or take-off, but is accountable for ensuring the estimating, job-preparation and delivery process works effectively.
About you
You will ideally have significant experience in one or more of the following:
steel fabrication
industrial fabrication
mechanical fabrication
pipework
structural steel
heavy manufacturing
process equipment
mining services
water infrastructure
industrial maintenance
related engineering industries
You may currently be a:
General Manager
Operations Manager
Fabrication Manager
Production Manager
Commercial / Operations Manager
Senior Project Manager
Senior Estimator / Project Manager
Engineering Manager
highly capable Workshop Manager ready to take the next step
Robust step-up candidates are encouraged to apply.
We are more interested in demonstrated capability, commercial judgement and industry experience than job title.
You will need to demonstrate that you:
take genuine ownership
operate effectively without constant direction
are highly organised




enjoy coordinating multiple jobs and priorities
understand fabrication
understand estimating and job costing
understand gross margin and profitability
can develop customer relationships
are comfortable pursuing new work
can make sound commercial decisions
can lead tradespeople, supervisors and managers
deal professionally with difficult situations
identify problems early
make decisions rather than simply escalate them
follow actions through to completion
can build practical systems and accountability
are comfortable working in an SME environment
want substantial responsibility for building and running a business
What success looks like
Within the first 12 months, we would expect the successful candidate to have:
taken effective control of the day-to-day management of Fabwest
established clear accountability across the business
developed a strong understanding of key customers and opportunities
built a credible and active RFQ / tender pipeline
strengthened customer relationships and repeat business
established reliable operational and financial reporting
improved visibility of job profitability
strengthened estimating and job-cost feedback
established clear workshop-management accountability
developed a practical growth plan
improved operational discipline and systems
materially reduced the shareholders' involvement in routine operational management
What we offer
Competitive executive base salary
Superannuation
Fully maintained company vehicle
Phone and laptop
Substantial annual performance incentive
Potential longer-term value-creation incentive for exceptional performance
Genuine authority to shape and run the business
Direct access to the Board
Established workshop, workforce and customer base
Technical and drafting support
Opportunity to build a larger and more profitable business
Genuine step-up opportunity for a strong industry manager ready for full business leadership
About Fabwest
Fabwest is a Western Australian steel fabrication and engineering business servicing industrial, mining, water, infrastructure and process-sector clients.
Our capabilities include industrial pipework, structural and custom fabrication, process equipment and related steelwork.
Fabwest has established workshop capability, experienced trades, technical support resources, quality systems and an existing customer base.
The next stage is to develop the business into a larger, stronger and more

📌 General Manager – Steel Fabrication & Engineering (Western Australia)
🏢 FabWest
📍 Western Australia