Painting Supervisor | Sturgeon Bay, WI

We are seeking an experienced Painting Supervisor to oversee all marine coating and painting operations for commercial vessels at a Great Lakes shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The successful candidate will have prior shipyard experience supervising industrial painting crews and possess a strong understanding of marine surface preparation, protective coatings, and safety standards. This role is responsible for ensuring projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with customer specifications and quality requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate daily activities of painting crews assigned to commercial vessel construction, repair, and maintenance projects.
• Plan and schedule work to meet production deadlines while maintaining high quality standards.
• Inspect surfaces to ensure proper preparation, including abrasive blasting, power tool cleaning, masking, and environmental controls.
• Ensure proper application of marine coatings, primers, epoxies, urethanes, anti-fouling paints, and specialty coatings.
• Read and interpret specifications, technical drawings, coating manufacturer requirements, and work packages.
• Monitor coating thickness, environmental conditions, and quality control documentation.
• Conduct daily safety meetings and ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and shipyard safety regulations.
• Coordinate with production managers, project managers, quality control personnel, and other trades to support project schedules.
• Train, mentor, and evaluate painters while promoting a culture of teamwork and accountability.
• Manage labor hours, equipment utilization, materials, and subcontractor performance as required.
• Identify and resolve production issues while maintaining efficient workflow.
• Ensure all work meets customer specifications, classification society requirements, and company quality standards.

Required Qualifications

• Previous supervisory experience in a shipyard painting environment is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of industrial or marine painting experience, with supervisory responsibilities preferred.
• Experience working on commercial ships, barges, tugboats, ferries, or other large marine vessels.
• Strong knowledge of marine coating systems, surface preparation methods, and coating inspection practices.
• Ability to read blueprints, specifications, and coating data sheets.
• Knowledge of OSHA safety regulations, confined space entry, fall protection, and respiratory protection requirements.
• High school diploma or GED required; additional technical training is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• NACE/AMPP Coating Inspector certification (Level 1 or higher) or willingness to obtain.
• Experience with U.S. Coast Guard, ABS, or commercial marine quality standards.
• Forklift, aerial lift, or crane operation certifications.
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification.