Paint Operations Leader
21 hours ago
Glasgow
Walker Group provides advanced high-precision manufacturing services from centres of excellence located in the UK and Poland. We have an exciting opportunity to join our team in Glasgow as a Paint Operations Leader. We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Paint Operations Leader to lead and actively participate in the coating and finishing of high-specification technical components supplied to Tier 1 OEM customers. This role is suited to a practical leader who enjoys being on the shop floor, setting standards through example, and leading a small skilled team in a quality-critical, regulated manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will be accountable for daily paint operations, quality, safety, delivery, and continuous improvement within the paint function. Paint Operations Leader Key Responsibilities: Operational Leadership • Lead, supervise, and motivate a small paint operations team, remaining hands-on in daily activities, • Plan and prioritise work to meet production schedules and customer delivery requirements, • Ensure paint processes are executed consistently to specification and documented standards Hands-On Paint Operations • Actively perform surface preparation, masking, coating, curing, and inspection activities as required, • Set up, operate, and maintain paint equipment, booths, and curing ovens, • Troubleshoot paint defects and process issues, implementing corrective actions Quality & Compliance • Ensure all work meets internal quality standards and customer specifications expected by Tier 1 OEMs, • Maintain process control documentation, work instructions, and inspection records, • Support internal and external audits and ensure compliance with relevant industry and regulatory requirements Health, Safety & Environment • Enforce safe working practices and ensure compliance with HSE requirements, • Manage COSHH, paint storage, waste handling, and environmental controls within the paint area Continuous Improvement • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, cost, and flow within paint operations, • Support lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives, • Assist in training and developing team members to improve capability and resilience Paint Operations Leader Skills & Experience: Essential • Proven experience in a paint operations environment (industrial, aerospace, automotive, or similar high-spec manufacturing), • Strong hands-on painting and surface finishing capability, • Previous experience leading or supervising a small production team, • Understanding of quality-critical manufacturing and customer specifications, • Strong attention to detail and pride in workmanship, • Good communication and leadership skills Desirable • Experience working with Tier 1 OEM customers or within regulated manufacturing environments, • Knowledge of lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies, • Experience with audits and quality management systems, • Formal qualification or certification in coating, surface finishing, or manufacturing supervision Paint Operations Leader Personal Attributes: • Leads from the front with a hands-on approach, • Calm, organised, and solutions-focused, • High standards with a strong quality mindset, • Comfortable balancing people leadership with operational delivery, • Professional, discreet, and trustworthy What We Offer • Full time, permanent contract, working 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, • Competitive salary, • Access to the following company benefits: pension, life insurance, private medical healthcare, prescription protection eyewear, employee retail discounts, • 33 days holiday per year which includes a Christmas closure, • Opportunity to lead a critical operation producing technically complex, high-value components, • Stable, long-term role within a growing manufacturing business, • A role where expertise, accountability, and leadership genuinely matter Interested? Click on the Apply button today! We look forward to hearing from you!