Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms.
Position Summary
The Director of Contractor & Trade Partner Integration owns the performance, onboarding, safety, and quality execution of all external labor, specialty trades, and subcontractors supporting shipyard operations. This role ensures contract workforce activity is fully aligned with internal production, safety, quality, and schedule expectations.
The Director is accountable for preventing misalignment between internal teams and contract labor by establishing clear standards, disciplined onboarding, and strong field-level integration. Success in this role ensures contractors operate as an extension of the yard, not as parallel or disconnected organizations.
Core Accountability Areas
- Contract Workforce Integration & Performance
- Safety and Quality Alignment for External Labor
- Onboarding, Standards, and Field Execution Discipline
- Risk Reduction from Contract Misalignment
Responsibilities:
Contractor & Trade Partner IntegrationOwn integration of all external labor, specialty trades, and subcontractors into shipyard operationsEstablish clear expectations for contractor performance, supervision, and accountabilityEnsure contractors are aligned with yard standards for safety, quality, productivity, and conductAct as the primary escalation point for contractor performance issues impacting productionOnboarding & Standards DeploymentDesign and enforce standardized onboarding for all contractors, including:Safety orientation and site-specific requirementsQuality expectations and workmanship standardsWork rules, access controls, and communication protocolsEnsure contractors understand how work is planned, sequenced, and released in the yardPrevent gaps between contract scope language and actual execution requirementsSafety & Compliance AlignmentPartner with EHS to ensure contractor compliance with:Shipyard safety rules and proceduresPermit-to-work systems (hot work, confined space, work at height)SIMOPS coordination and exclusion zonesEnsure contractor supervision actively manages safety execution on the deckplatesSupport incident investigations involving contract labor and drive corrective actionsQuality & Workmanship ControlPartner with Quality and Production to ensure contractor work meets yard standardsEnsure contractor crews are qualified for assigned scopes (welding, coatings, electrical, etc.)Own prevention of rework caused by poor contractor integration or unclear expectationsSupport inspections, punch list resolution, and acceptance activitiesPerformance Management & AccountabilityEstablish contractor performance metrics tied to:Safety outcomesQuality and reworkSchedule adherenceProductivity and workforce reliabilityLead regular contractor performance reviews and improvement plansSupport decisions related to contractor continuation, expansion, or removalCross-Functional CoordinationCoordinate closely with Production, Planning, Quality, EHS, and ProcurementEnsure contractor scopes are sequenced properly with internal workPrevent conflict between internal crews and external labor by clarifying ownership and interfacesSupport rapid resolution of field-level issues impacting scheduleTeam Leadership & GovernanceLead contractor integration managers, coordinators, or field representativesEstablish governance models for contractor usage, oversight, and escalationDevelop internal capability to manage contract labor at scale
Qualifications:
Required QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Industrial Management, or related discipline10+ years experience in shipyard, heavy industrial, or construction environments5+ years experience managing subcontractors, specialty trades, or contract labor programsDemonstrated experience integrating external labor into active production environmentsStrong understanding of:Shipyard or industrial safety requirementsQuality and workmanship standardsMulti-trade production sequencing and interfacesProven ability to resolve contractor performance issues without disrupting productionExperience leading cross-functional teams and field-level executionPreferred QualificationsExperience supporting high-throughput or serial production shipyardsFamiliarity with labor agreements, union environments, or mixed labor modelsExperience managing specialty trade contractors (welding, joinery, electrical, machinery, etc.)Background in contractor safety programs and field compliance auditingExperience supporting startup or major production ramp-upsLean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experienceWhat Success Looks LikeContractors operate as integrated extensions of the shipyard workforceReduced safety incidents, quality escapes, and rework tied to contract laborClear accountability and predictable contractor performanceMinimal friction between internal teams and external tradesContractor utilization enables production throughput instead of creating risk
