Special Project Lead

Special Projects Lead

Omaha, NE | Drake-Williams Steel (DWS)

Drive Projects. Build Relationships. Grow Your Career.

Drake-Williams Steel, a leading structural steel fabricator, is hiring a Special Projects Lead to support customer relationships, develop estimates, and manage jobs from quote to delivery.

If you’re detail-oriented, customer-focused, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, this is a great opportunity to grow with an employee-owned company.

What You’ll Do

• Build relationships with customers and support business growth
• Prepare estimates for steel, fabrication, and coating services
• Manage jobs from quote through delivery
• Coordinate with production, purchasing, and operations
• Communicate job status and resolve issues proactively
• Travel as needed to support customers

What We’re Looking For

• Strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Experience in sales, estimating, or project management preferred
• Steel, construction, or manufacturing experience a plus
• Ability to read drawings preferred

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base compensation
• Quarterly Company Bonus Program
• Full benefits (health, dental, vision)
• 401(k)
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – build long-term wealth!
• Paid time off holidays
• Career growth opportunities

Why DWS?

• Employee-owned company
• Strong team culture
• Stable, growing industry
• Make an impact on real-world projects

Primary Purpose of this Position:

This position is responsible for managing customer relationships, developing accurate estimates, and executing jobs from quotes through delivery. The Special Projects Lead plays a critical role in driving customer satisfaction, supporting revenue growth, and ensuring coordination between sales, estimating, and operations.

This role requires a high level of accountability, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Build and maintain strong business relationships with targeted customers and internal teams.
2. Respond to customer inquiries by providing accurate pricing, availability, and solutions.
3. Develop detailed and accurate estimates for steel, fabrication, and coating services.
4. Identify customer needs and provide solutions aligned with DWS capabilities.
5. Manage jobs from quotes through delivery, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and customer satisfaction.
6. Communicate job status proactively, including addressing delays, resolving issues, and expediting when necessary.
7. Coordinate with purchasing, production, and operations to ensure successful execution of jobs.
8. Maintain and develop customer information for estimating, pricing, and future business opportunities.
9. Support business growth by identifying opportunities within existing accounts and new prospects.
10. Travel is required to support customer relationships and business development.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  

Demonstrated ability to build strong customer relationships and deliver solutions. 

Working knowledge of steel products, fabrication processes, and/or coatings.

Strong understanding of shop capabilities, equipment, and production processes.

Effective communication skills, both written and verbal. 

Strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills. 

Ability to read and interpret architectural drawings and shop drawings.

Proficiency with computers and business systems. 

Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities. 

Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment and coordinate across departments. 

Proven ability to interact effectively with high-level customers, including project managers, engineers, and senior decision-makers. 

Physical Demands:

This position primarily involves office-based work with occasional time spent in the shop and field environments.

1.         Stand OCCASIONALLY over the course of the 8-to-12-hour work shift.

2.         Walk OCCASIONALLY over the course of the 8-to-12-hour work shift. The distances walked will range from a distance of a few feet to several hundred feet.

3.         Sit FREQUENTLY to CONTINUOUSLY over the course of the 8-to-12-hour work shift.

4.         Lift weights up to 30 pounds OCCASIONALLY from floor to head level, which includes the various prints, books, binders, and papers utilized to perform the usual work duties. 

5.         Lift weights up to 50 pounds RARELY to OCCASIONALLY from floor to chest level, which may include boxes of paper, books, etc. 

6.         Carry weights noted above distances ranging from a few feet to several hundred feet. 50 pounds would be carried 50 feet. Lifting devices are available.

7.         Climb OCCASIONALLY onto steps or ladders.

8.         Stoop or crouch OCCASIONALLY while performing the regular job duties. Tasks would include looking in filing cabinets, removing supplies, and restocking paper in the copier. The position will be held continuously for a few seconds to a few minutes, depending upon task.  

9.         Kneel OCCASIONALLY in the commission of job duties, depending upon the task.

10.      Crawl OCCASIONALLY up to 10 feet to plug in equipment, retrieve dropped materials, etc.

11.      Reach forward OCCASIONALLY to FREQUENTLY to perform job duties or to retrieve tools. The employee will OCCASIONALLY to FREQUENTLY be required to reach full forward extension.

12.      Reach overhead OCCASIONALLY to retrieve books, supplies, etc.

13.      Push and pull drawers open OCCASIONALLY to FREQUENTLY to retrieve tools or supplies.

14.      Gross finger dexterity skills required operating the mouse utilized in the course of standard job duties. Fine finger dexterity is not required.

Non-Material Handling Demands

1. Standard work schedule of 40 hours per week, with additional hours as needed based on business demands. 
2. Ability to work in environments with occasional exposure to shop and field conditions, including heat, cold, dust, noise, and varying weather conditions. 
3. Ability to hear and respond to safety signals and communications. 
4. Visual ability to read and interpret documents, drawings, and computer screens. 

Tools Required:

Standard office and industry-related tools as needed to perform job duties.

Machines Utilized:

Computer systems, phones, copiers, and other standard office equipment.

Experience and Education Required:

1. High school diploma or equivalent required. 
2. 2 years of experience in sales, estimating, or project management preferred; steel or industrial experience preferred. 
3. Entry-level candidates with other experience supporting customer requests or quoting.

Salary : $25 - $35