Specialist Coatings Operations Manager

Novus Property Solutions; Stoke-on-Trent; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading property maintenance firm seeks a Specialist Coatings Operations Manager to oversee complex projects from initiation to completion. The ideal candidate will have extensive expertise in protective coatings and demonstrate strong leadership skills to manage teams and contracts across the UK. This role involves ensuring adherence to quality standards while fostering client relationships in a hybrid working environment.

Benefits

Attractive salary and KPI-related bonus

27 Days Holidays & BH

Company pension scheme

Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme or Car Allowance

Discounted Healthcare Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in coatings, particularly anti-corrosion and fireproofing.
• Full UK driving license required.
• Project management expertise.

Responsibilities

• Manage specialist coatings projects from start to finish.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards and deadlines.
• Oversee teams, ensuring productivity and safety.

Skills

Technical knowledge of protective and specialist coatings

Ability to manage teams and subcontractors

Client relationship management

Education

Level 2/3 AMPP, ICORR or equivalent

Job description

Location: Head Office (Stoke on Trent), Birmingham or Warrington based – (national travel required), Hours typically Monday to Friday 37.5 hours per week, hybrid working (minimum 3 days in the office)

As a Specialist Coatings Operations Manager you’ll play a key role as we expand our painting expertise into the Specialist Coatings sector. In this position, you’ll see the real impact of your work every day on your customers, your team, and the quality of our delivery. Through collaboration, performance, and continuous improvement, you’ll take your job satisfaction to new levels.

Fast-paced and forward-thinking, Novus offers an environment where you’ll be trusted to take responsibility and empowered to thrive, drawing on your Operations Management expertise you will lead and direct our Specialist Coatings Team, overseeing complex projects from inception to completion. Managing all aspects of surface preparation and specialist coatings applications, ensuring all projects are delivered on time, within scope and fully compliant, driving growth, contract performance and satisfaction.

What’s in it for you?

• Attractive salary, benefits to suit you and KPI related bonus
• 27 Days Hols & BH – option to buy or sell holidays
• Company pension scheme – up to 7.5%
• Company Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme or Car Allowance
• Discounted Healthcare Scheme, high street & lifestyle discounts including Taste card, a day paid volunteering per year, length of service awards, and more…

An outline of your responsibility as an Operations Manager – Specialist Coatings

• Lead and manage specialist coatings projects and contracts from mobilisation through to completion and client handover, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and quality standards are consistently met.
• Oversee surface preparation and coatings application, ensuring strict compliance.
• Coordinate and direct contract management teams, supervisors, engineers, and subcontractors to maintain high levels of productivity, quality, and safety.
• Support business development by leveraging industry expertise to help secure new contracts and achieve turnover.
• Maintain clear, professional communication with all stakeholders throughout all stages of project delivery.
• Develop, monitor, and maintain project plans, risk registers, progress reports, and HSE documentation.
• Conduct and review quality inspections and QA/QC checks, including DFT readings and test reports, to verify compliance and industry standards.
• Manage and control variations and commercial impacts in collaboration with commercial teams.
• Respond promptly and professionally to all client communications and queries, maintaining strong, long‑term relationships.
• Maintain accurate, up‑to‑date records, systems, and documentation for each project using company IT systems.
• Promote and maintain a strong health & safety culture, identify and assess site specific hazards, implementing appropriate controls and measures through the CPP and supporting risk assessments/method statements.
• Ensure team members receive relevant site inductions and toolbox talks proactively promoting the reporting of incidents and near misses.

About You

You’ll bring a wealth of experience and expertise in the coatings including technical knowledge of protective and specialist coatings (including anti‑corrosion, fireproofing, and chemical‑resistant systems), along with the ability to manage teams, subcontractors, and client relationships with confidence and professionalism. Ideally you will hold Level 2/3 AMPP, ICORR or legacy equivalent NACE/SSPC, Train the painter and Coating Inspector Program experience desirable. A Full UK driving licence is required as the role will require travel to sites across the UK.

A Little Bit About Us

Novus Property Solutions is a dynamic, award‑winning property maintenance, refurbishment, compliance, and decarbonisation specialist with more than 700 colleagues in 19 locations across Great Britain, providing a combination of local knowledge and national strength. We are a social and environmentally responsible family‑owned business with a rich 128‑year heritage, delivering a range of bespoke services and solutions to a wide variety of clients. Our vision is to be the leader in building and maintenance solutions, delivered with compassion and care for the communities in which we operate.

At Novus Property Solutions we value people, and we are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace that enables our people to bring their full selves to work. We understand for many reasons that people very rarely meet all the criteria laid out in the job advert, so we encourage you to apply for the role even if you do not meet all the criteria or hold all the qualifications. You may be just who we are looking for to join our award‑winning Property Maintenance company in this, or another role.