Welding Supervisor

Position Title: Supervisor, Welding
Department: Manufacturing / Fabrication
Reports To: Plant Manager
Location: Thorndale, ON

About the Position

The Welding Supervisor leads a skilled team of welders and fitters building high-quality steel bridge components. You’ll drive daily shop operations, uphold top welding standards, and keep production safe, efficient, and on schedule.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Scheduling

• Supervise, coordinate, and schedule welders and related shop staff to meet daily/weekly production targets for bridge modules and components.
• Review fabrication drawings and work orders; ensure welders understand requirements (weld symbols, joint preparation, fit-up, distortion control).
• Prioritize work to support shipping schedules, project deadlines and accelerated bridge construction requirements. 
• Coordinate with Plant Manager, Quality, and Engineering to resolve drawing, fit-up or sequencing issues that impact throughput.
• Enter verified hours for each employee in the ADP system.
• Run payroll reports and verify totals align ERP job allocations.

Welding Quality & Technical Oversight

• Ensure all welding is completed in accordance with CWB certification requirements, approved welding procedures (WPS) and relevant codes/standards (e.g., CSA W47.1/W59). 
• Monitor and verify weld quality through in-process checks and visual inspection; work with Quality/Inspection to support NDE and final inspections as required.
• Support welder qualification testing and continuity; identify skill gaps and arrange for coaching or retraining.
• Drive best practices in weld joint preparation, distortion control, sequence planning, and finishing for bridge products.
• Ensure ongoing adherence to CWB standards through audits, testing, and procedural updates.

Health, Safety & Housekeeping

• Promote and enforce safe work practices, including proper use of PPE, safe handling of welding equipment, cranes, and lifting devices.
• Identify, investigate, and follow up on safety and environmental concerns in the welding and fabrication areas; participate in incident investigations and corrective actions.
• Ensure housekeeping standards are maintained (organized work areas, safe cable management, clean walkways, proper storage of consumables and gases).

People Leadership & Labour Relations (Unionized Environment)

• Provide day-to-day direction, support, and coaching to employees in a unionized environment, fostering a respectful, inclusive workplace.
• Assign work, manage overtime, and schedule staff in accordance with the collective agreement, company policies, and operational requirements.
• Address performance, attendance, and behavioural issues promptly and fairly; participate in progressive discipline and documentation as required.
• Work collaboratively with union stewards and HR to address workplace concerns and support positive labour-management relations.

Training & Continuous Improvement

• Identify training needs (technical welding skills, safety, quality, new processes) and support development plans for team members.
• Train employees on new welding procedures, equipment, and fabrication methods as products and processes evolve.
• Recommend and implement improvements to welding methods, jigs/fixtures, workflow, and material handling to increase productivity and reduce rework/scrap.
• Support initiatives to optimize lead times and quality for modular/prefabricated bridge systems used in accelerated bridge construction projects. 

Qualifications

• 5+ years of welding/fabrication experience in structural steel or heavy manufacturing.
• 3+ years of supervisory or lead-hand experience.
• CWB Welding Supervisor certification (or eligible).
• Strong ability to read fabrication drawings and weld symbols.
• Solid understanding of welding processes (FCAW, GMAW) and quality requirements.
• Proven leadership and communication skills with a focus on safety and quality.
• Good computer skills for reporting and documentation.

Why Join AIL?

• Competitive salary and comprehensive health & dental benefits
• Company Pension Plan after 1 year of service
• Educational Reimbursement Program
• Family Education Grant (Up to $4,000/year)
• Monthly Employee Recognition Program
• Employee referral bonuses
• Career development and training opportunities
• Tight-knit, inclusive, and positive company culture
• Work-life balance and stability

Algonquin Bridge is committed to providing a barrier-free work environment in concert with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. As such, Algonquin Bridge will make accommodations available to applicants with disabilities upon request during the recruitment process.