At Van Metre, we believe that each employee contributes directly to our growth, success and culture, and are seeking a candidate who loves to challenge themselves and work with others to fulfill this role. Van Metre has a Factory Framing Lead Carpenter position available at our Kent Street location in Winchester, VA!

Roles & Responsibilities:

The Factory Framing Lead Carpenter is crucial to our manufacturing operations, responsible for assembling and framing pre-built housing components. This position involves leading a team of carpenters to produce factory framing designs by assembling floor trusses and wall panels into "cartridges," which may include roof cartridges using pre-built roof trusses. The lead carpenter will guide a team to follow detailed build plans from our architecture and design team, ensuring precision and adherence to specifications. Lead carpenters will actively participate in framing activities while managing a team of carpenters who will report directly to them.

Position Summary:

Besides leading the team, the lead carpenter will ensure accurate and efficient assembly of components. This includes verifying measurements, proper placement, and securing components with appropriate tools and techniques. Attention to detail and quality is crucial, as this work affects the structural integrity and appearance of the framed cartridge as it is transported to job sites. The lead carpenter will be responsible for a final QC check on every cartridge that is produced under their supervision.

Collaboration involves coordination with other lead carpenters, the factory framing manager, and the direct team. Effective communication and teamwork are essential to addressing issues during assembly and ensuring all components meet standards. The lead carpenter should provide feedback and suggestions for improving processes and techniques, as well as proactive feedback to the factory framing manager regarding risks and improvement opportunities.

This role offers a strategic opportunity to advance in offsite construction. By utilizing the skills of our carpenters, we aim to enhance manufacturing capabilities and deliver high-quality, pre-built housing solutions. The lead carpenter's contributions will be critical for our company's future in construction, emphasizing efficiency, precision, and innovation.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of carpenters in assembling and framing pre-built housing components into cartridge designs.
• Instruct the framing team to meticulously follow the detailed build plans provided by the architecture and design team, ensuring precision and adherence to specifications.
• Oversee the quality check on all production work completed by the framing team under your supervision.
• Collaborate effectively with other carpenter leads and framing station carpenters, whether they report directly to you or are part of the larger team, fostering trust and identifying opportunities for process efficiencies.
• Provide constructive feedback to the factory framing manager, acting as the “eyes on the ground” and recommending improvements for assembly processes, addressing bottlenecks, and enhancing manufacturing techniques.
• Strive to meet or exceed the production goals set for the day and/or week, ensuring that the required capacity of board feet and/or cartridges is achieved by your framing team.
• Prioritize safety by thoroughly understanding and adhering to all safety guidelines and requirements set by the factory framing manager and safety manager, ensuring that all carpenters comply with safety standards and leading by example.
• Offer real-time feedback to the factory framing manager on progress, risks, challenges, and improvement opportunities related to production, material flow, design instructions, and personnel.

Essential Competencies:

• Professional appearance and behavior
• Carpentry experience & ability to read design plans
• Ability to manage and direct a small team
• Positive attitude
• Team player and can collaborate with other teams in the organization.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Oral and written communication skills
• Ability to accurately identify products.
• Ability to work one duty for eight to ten hours
• Read tape measure and use air/power tools
• Ability to lift 75 pounds.

Other Essential Skills/Qualifications:

• Education/Credentials: High school diploma or its equivalent preferred
• Forklift, Machinery training preferred
• 3-5 years of carpentry experience with the ability to lead a small team of 4-5 carpenters, or more
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Proven ability to apply math, writing, and language skills 

Compensation and Benefits information: Van Metre offers excellent benefits, and a work environment that fosters and rewards excellence. We also promote work/life balance, including a robust Employee Wellness Program.  We encourage employees to make full use of vacation and other company-paid leave to refresh their bodies and minds.

• Salary: $27.00-$29.00 per hour (Pay is commensurate with experience, education, training, and skills)
• Paid Time Off: 14 paid holidays; 10 vacation days, 10 sick days, Two Volunteer Days off, Two Personal Days, Winter Holiday Break, Day off for Annual Physical, Day off for your Birthday; comprehensive parental and bonding leave
• Retirement Planning: Company Matched 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan; access to retirement planning coaches
• Wellness: Annual Wellness Reimbursement of up to $900; Free and unlimited access to TaskHuman Wellness App for yourself and your family members.

Working Conditions

Physical Demands of Job:  Requires vision, speech and hearing
Environmental Factors:  Outside weather conditions, construction site and manufacturing facility exposure.

Van Metre Core Values

Integrity; Ownership; Respect and Dignity; Diversity and Inclusion; Teamwork; Community; Work/Life Balance                                                          

Van Metre Mission Statement

The mission of Van Metre Companies is to build and continually improve upon the storied reputation, earned over the years since the Company’s founding in 1955, of providing top quality homes, investment properties and services to our customers and clients. The Company’s emphasis on integrity, professionalism and philanthropy ingrained by our founder Albert G. Van Metre, Sr. has garnered trust and respect in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond. It is critical to our future that we maintain that reputation and assure that Van Metre Companies continues to excel in real estate development and construction and in the management of apartment, retail and office investment properties, as well as in the provision of mortgage and related services. It is the task of our dedicated, energetic, and involved professionals to advance our ability to set the benchmark for luxury living and refined commercial development. The capstone of our mission is to make the “Van Metre” signature an icon for elegant residential communities, and industry leading condominium and apartment communities, as well as Class A neighborhood retail centers and office developments.