Powder Coating Workshop Lead

Location: Burntcommon

Our client are a strong independent Brand Experience company providing Event management from concept right through to manufacuring and delivery. They are launching a new standalone powder coating business to service the internal fabrication demand within the business while developing into a profitable commercial operation in its own right.

The business administration and warehouse support will already be in place, however the successful candidate will play a central rolse in designing, building and operating the facility from day one.

This is a rare opportunity to establish and lead a coating operation from the ground up, with a clear pathway to Operations Management as the business grows.

Role Overview

The Powder Coating Workshop Lead will take responsibility for specifying, establishing and running a new powder coating facility.

Year one will predominantly be hands-on, combining operational delivery wit process development, compliance, implementation and workshop setup.

As turnover increases, the role will evolve into a broader operational leeadership position with responsibility for staffing, capacity planning and performance management.

This is a build-and-lead opportunity suited to a highly experienced coating professional seeking autonomy and long-term progression.

Key Responsibilities

Facility Setup and Development

• Advise on specification and procurement of powder coating booth, batch oven and
extraction systems

• Define workshop layout, workflow and material handling processes

• Establish blasting and surface preparation capability

• Support future introduction of wet paint capability

Operations

• Carry out powder coating and blasting activities

• Oversee surface preparation including outsourced services where required

• Maintain high finish standards across architectural, structural and bespoke work

• Monitor throughput, efficiency and quality

Compliance and Safety

• Establish COSHH procedures and safe systems of work

• Implement fire risk and environmental controls

• Ensure appropriate waste management processes

• Introduce cure validation and temperature logging procedures

Quality and Process

• Develop and document standard operating procedures

• Implement inspection and sign-off protocols

• Reduce rework and improve margin through process control

Growth and Scale

• Contribute operational input to pricing and capacity planning

• Identify timing and structure of additional hires

• Prepare the operation to achieve turnover targets of £0.8m by year two

Candidate Profile

Essential

• 8+ years minimum experience in powder coating

• Strong knowledge of blasting and surface preparation

• Experience commissioning or setting up coating facilities, or significantly contributing to one

• Deep understanding of coating systems, cure requirements and finish standards

• Comfortable operating independently in a start-up environment

• Strong practical problem-solving skills

Desirable

• Experience introducing wet paint capability

• Understanding of environmental permitting requirements

• Experience working with architectural or structural steel

What Our Client is Offering

• Opportunity to build and shape a new standalone business

• High level of autonomy and decision-making authority

• Clear progression to Operations Manager

• Competitive salary dependent on experience

• Performance-related bonus

• Structured profit participation once the business becomes profitable

• Long-term leadership opportunity