Rigging Operations Manager

MEI Rigging & Crating•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Rigging Operations Manager (ROM) leads the rigging business unit and is accountable for its safety, performance, operational execution, and contribution to the Regional Office’s financial results and growth. Reporting to the Regional Office General Manager and participating in quarterly regional meetings, the ROM manages superintendents, dispatch, and field leadership. The role partners with the General Manager on P&L performance, owns capacity planning and standardized processes that enable the operation to scale profitably and safely, and contributes to organizational structure and strategy for the office and region. The role collaborates with the Safety team and owns the business unit’s safety results, including incidents, injuries, and motor vehicle accidents. It drives financial and operational performance through labor productivity, overtime control, equipment utilization, resource planning, dispatch optimization, and project execution. The ROM works with Sales, project managers, warehouse operations, Dispatch, Training & Development, Safety, and the DOT team to support customer needs, project readiness, fleet and asset management, workforce development, and safe execution. The position also contributes to regional strategy and budgeting, participates in quarterly regional reviews, and collaborates with other Rigging Operations Managers to share crews, equipment, and best practices. The work is hands-on and may involve job sites, warehouses, outdoor work, work at varying heights, and travel within the Regional Office area, with occasional overnight travel to other offices, training, and regional meetings.

Requirements

At least 8 years of experience in operations, including at least 3 years leading supervisors or other managers.
Demonstrated budget management related to utilization and productivity, and working knowledge of P&L drivers for an operation of comparable size within a $20–$100M+ organization.
High school diploma.
OSHA 30 certification.
NCCCO Rigger II/Signalperson certification, or ability to obtain it.
Basic financial literacy, including the ability to read P&L statements and forecasts.
Understanding of contracts and scope.
Ability to make data-driven decisions.
Basic proficiency with ERP and fleet management systems.
Ability to perform physical activities such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, or crouching; may regularly lift items up to 80 pounds.
Ability to work at varying heights and around flashing lights, noise, or moving machinery without being adversely affected.
Ability to work in a high-functioning team environment and demonstrate honesty, integrity, professionalism, open communication, and commitment to quality service.
Ability to travel within the Regional Office area and make occasional overnight trips to other Regional Offices, training, and quarterly regional meetings.

Nice To Haves

Multi-office experience.
Continuing education in Construction Management, Engineering, or Business, or equivalent experience.
Working knowledge of lift planning.

Responsibilities

Lead the rigging business unit and manage superintendents, dispatch, and field leadership.
Collaborate with the Safety team and own safety results, including incidents, injuries, and motor vehicle accidents.
Govern lift planning and critical-lift reviews as needed, and ensure incident root-cause analysis and corrective actions are completed, including disciplinary recommendations.
Drive the rigging business unit’s contribution to the office P&L through labor productivity, overtime control, and equipment utilization.
Work with the General Manager to implement performance improvements and review monthly rigging business unit financial results.
Plan capacity and level resources across concurrent projects; reinforce crew development and training in best known methods, rigging practices, standard work, and SOPs.
Optimize dispatch and support project execution.
Work with Sales on job walks, estimating, pricing strategy, and customer complaints involving operational issues.
Support project managers throughout the project lifecycle with planning, forecasting, logistics, schedule changes, customer deliverables, readiness, manpower, and equipment utilization.
Assist the General Manager with CAPEX planning and own equipment utilization, tooling, preventive maintenance, repairs, and inspection records.
Work with the DOT team on fleet-related issues, including fleet camera installation.
Coordinate with warehouse operations to plan, receive, stage, and load project materials in support of schedules.
Establish communication among Rigging Operations, Warehousing, Project Management, and Dispatch to ensure manpower, equipment, and material readiness.
Develop superintendent and foreman/lead bench strength, succession planning, retention, and performance management through direct reports; conduct career ladder discussions.
Work with Training & Development, Safety, and Dispatch to keep certifications and training current, and co-own the Regional Office Rigging Apprenticeship Program with Training & Development.
Use KPI dashboards, operating reviews, fleet telematics, and data-driven decisions.
Contribute to Regional Office strategy discussions and the annual budget; provide operational, safety, and financial updates at quarterly regional meetings.
Provide input on organizational structure and collaborate with other Rigging Operations Managers to share crews, equipment, and best practices across Regional Offices.
Help develop or adopt company-wide rigging standards.
Demonstrate professional conduct aligned with MEI’s mission, vision, and values and continue professional and technical development.