Painting Supervisor (Yacht Industry)

About the role

Requirements

• Required Qualifications & Experience
• - Diploma / Technical qualification in Painting, Marine Coatings, Surface Treatment, Shipbuilding or a related field preferred.
• - 5–8 years of experience in marine/yacht painting, shipbuilding, ship repair or luxury yacht finishing.
• - Minimum 2–3 years of supervisory experience managing painting teams.
• - Strong knowledge of marine coating systems and surface preparation.
• - Experience with spray painting, airless spraying and conventional spray systems.
• - Knowledge of fairing, sanding, priming, topcoats and clear coats.
• - Experience working with epoxy, polyurethane and other marine coating systems.
• - Ability to read technical specifications and understand paint manufacturers' technical data sheets.
• Preferred Skills
• - Experience with luxury yachts / superyachts is highly preferred.
• - Knowledge of brands such as Awlgrip, Alexseal, International, Jotun, Hempel or equivalent marine coating systems.
• - Knowledge of DFT (Dry Film Thickness) and coating inspection procedures.
• - Familiarity with yacht production schedules and coordination between multiple trades.
• - Strong leadership and manpower-management skills.
• - Good problem-solving and attention to detail.
• - Ability to work under tight project deadlines.
• - Good communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Key Responsibilities
• 1. Painting & Surface Preparation
• - Supervise all yacht painting activities including: surface preparation, fairing and sanding, priming, undercoating, topcoat application, varnishing and finishing, touch-up and repair works.
• - Ensure correct preparation of fiberglass, aluminium, steel, wood and other yacht surfaces.
• - Ensure correct application of marine paint systems according to manufacturer specifications.
• - Monitor mixing ratios, pot life, application thickness and curing times.
• - Ensure proper masking and protection of adjacent areas before painting.
• - Inspect surfaces before, during and after painting.
• 2. Team Supervision
• - Supervise painters, polishers, preparation workers and subcontractors.
• - Allocate daily tasks and manpower according to project requirements.
• - Monitor attendance, productivity and work quality.
• - Train workers on proper painting techniques, equipment handling and safety procedures.
• - Ensure workers follow company procedures and work instructions.
• 3. Quality Control
• - Ensure painting works meet approved drawings, specifications and quality standards.
• - Identify defects such as runs and sags, orange peel, pinholes, blistering, cracking, poor adhesion, uneven finish, colour variation, contamination.
• - Coordinate rectification and rework when required.
• - Conduct inspections with QA/QC and client representatives where applicable.
• - Maintain records of inspections, coating applications and corrective actions.
• 4. Production Planning
• - Prepare daily and weekly work plans for the painting team.
• - Coordinate painting activities with lamination, carpentry, mechanical, electrical, interior and other yacht production teams.
• - Ensure painting activities do not interfere with other trades.
• - Monitor progress against project schedules and report delays immediately.
• - Ensure completion of work within agreed deadlines.
• 5. Materials & Equipment
• - Monitor paint, primer, thinner, solvents, abrasives, masking materials and other consumables.
• - Ensure materials are stored and handled correctly.
• - Check product batch numbers, expiry dates and technical data sheets.
• - Ensure spray guns, pumps, compressors, sanding machines and other equipment are properly maintained.
• - Minimize material wastage.
• 6. Health, Safety & Environment
• - Ensure strict compliance with HSE requirements during painting operations.
• - Ensure proper use of PPE, including respirators, protective clothing, gloves and safety equipment.
• - Monitor ventilation and environmental conditions in paint areas.
• - Ensure safe handling and storage of paints, solvents and hazardous materials.
• - Ensure compliance with fire-safety and confined-space requirements.
• - Immediately report unsafe conditions, incidents and environmental concerns.
• 7. Documentation & Reporting
• - Maintain daily production and manpower reports.
• - Record paint consumption and material usage.
• - Maintain coating application and inspection records.
• - Report production progress, quality issues, manpower requirements and delays to management.
• - Review technical specifications, paint manufacturers' recommendations and work instructions.

Skills

• marine coating systems
• surface preparation
• spray painting
• airless spraying
• conventional spray systems
• fairing and sanding
• priming
• topcoat application
• epoxy coatings
• polyurethane coatings
• DFT (Dry Film Thickness) knowledge
• QA/QC procedures
• leadership and manpower management
• reading technical specifications
• commissioning and coatings inspection