Paint Shop Manager:

Key Responsibilities

Project Oversight & Workflow Management

• Oversee all projects being completed within the paint shop, from preparation to final finishing and sealing.

• Review all project details, drawings, and finishing specifications prior to work beginning with the project team

• Ensure each project has clear finishing notes, color references, samples, and technical requirements.

• Create daily and weekly work schedules that align with project deadlines and department capacity.

• Ensure efficient workflow through prep, priming, spraying/painting, detailing, drying, and hand-off stages.

• Conduct regular walk-throughs to monitor quality, progress, and potential risks or delays.

Team Leadership & Staffing

• Manage, mentor, and supervise paint crew members including sprayers, scenic artists, prep teams, and freelancers.

• Assign daily tasks based on skillset, availability, and project priorities.

• Manage crew schedules, including freelance bookings, shift planning, and overtime approvals, alongside the crew manager.

• Conduct daily briefings to outline priorities, finish standards, and any project-specific requirements.

• Ensure safe working practices at all times.

Cross-Department Coordination

• Attend all relevant project meetings to ensure full understanding of scope, timelines, and finish expectations.

• Liaise regularly with the Lead Carpenter, Production Manager, Production Coordinator, and Crew Manager to confirm:

  • material readiness

  • finishing methods

  • feasibility of timelines

  • test samples or mock-ups

• Provide accurate time estimates and flag scheduling issues early.

• Support seamless handovers between carpentry, metal, scenic, and paint shop teams.

Quality Control & Technical Oversight

• Ensure all finishes meet company, client, and project-specific quality standards.

• Approve test samples before full production.

• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, dust control, and safe handling within the paint shop.

• Troubleshoot finishing challenges including adhesion, curing, material compatibility, and color matching.

Materials, Equipment & Operational Management

• Ensure all materials, paints, consumables, and finishes are ordered ahead of schedule.

• Maintain stock levels and track material usage to reduce waste.

• Oversee maintenance, servicing, and cleanliness of spray booths, paint guns, extraction systems, PPE, and all equipment.

• Ensure the team follows correct mixing, labeling, and storage procedures for paints and chemicals.

• Ensure correct paint kits are provided for project installations 

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all staff have appropriate training for equipment and materials handling.

• Oversee extraction systems, ventilation, and safe chemical disposal.

Skills & Attributes Required

• Strong knowledge of spray techniques, scenic finishing, paint systems, coatings, primers, and protective finishes.

• Experience managing a busy paint/spray shop in a fabrication, events, scenic, or manufacturing environment.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and team coordination skills.

• Ability to interpret technical drawings, finish samples, and project briefs.

• Strong planning and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple jobs simultaneously.

• High attention to detail and commitment to quality finishes.

• Knowledge of workshop safety procedures.

• Competent using project documents, schedules, and digital communication tools.