Paint Manager

Magna International; Michigan; Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Magna International, including the Mechatronics, Mirrors and Lighting group (MML), seeks a strategic Paint Department leader in Michigan. You will direct operations, manage budgets, and drive lean initiatives to deliver high-quality automotive paint processes while aligning with Magna’s safety and efficiency goals.

Ideal candidates have a manufacturing or engineering degree and multi-year leadership experience in paint systems, with a track record of reducing costs and improving process

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field; five years paint experience preferred.
• Strong leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in lean manufacturing and cost control.

Responsibilities

• Directs and coordinates Paint Department operations to meet quality, cost, delivery, and safety goals.
• Manages budgets and expenses for Paint department and impact on financial performance.
• Leads continuous improvement to reduce waste and manufacturing costs.
• Coordinates production schedules, materials, and labor for paint operations.
• Ensures safety compliance across facilities.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Budgeting & cost control

Cross-functional collaboration

Manufacturing operations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Job descriptions may display in multiple languages based on your language selection. What we offer: At Magna, you can expect an engaging and dynamic environment where you can help to develop industry-leading automotive technologies. We invest in our employees, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. As a member of our global team, you can expect exciting, varied responsibilities as well as a wide range of development prospects. Because we believe that your career path should be as unique as you are.

Group Summary: The Mechatronics, Mirrors and Lighting group specializes in automotive technologies that are driving the future of mobility. Combining a deep systems knowledge to develop unique vehicle access experiences, intelligent visions systems and advanced automotive lighting technologies, MML's expertise light the path to innovation, safety and styling.

Job Responsibilities:

POSITION SUMMARY: Ensures that assigned plant operations demonstrate world-class performance. Provides strategic leadership, management, and technical expertise to the Paint Department. Manages financial aspects of operations and Paint Department and understands the effect on financial performance. Develops, reviews, and maintains budgets and expenses for Paint department. Utilizing participative management, lean manufacturing philosophies and techniques; leads, manages, and provides technical expertise/work direction to manufacturing teams. Works with other areas to establish and maintain stable production schedules, labor requirements, material flow, etc. Directs, implements, and maintains operational-level strategies and objectives and monitors performance against plan. Manages, monitors, and controls material, labor, and overhead costs in respective area. Maintains appropriate level of staff support necessary to meet business goals and objectives. Must reduce the cost of daily operations by continually improving processes and eliminating waste. Champions projects for improvements in process and product innovations, customer relations, and functional capabilities based on lean manufacturing techniques. Must reduce the cost of daily operations by continually improving processes and eliminating waste. Works with new product development to launch programs into production. Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives. Ensures that facilities are in full compliance with all safety regulations.

KEY FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Directs and coordinates all activities within the Factory Focus area to execute a production plan that ensures operations meet quality, cost, delivery, and safety goals. Manages financial aspects of operations and understands the effect on financial performance.
• Ensures smooth launch and ongoing performance of painted products. Evaluates color match to standards of products in production. Designs and initiates manufacturing of paint fixtures. Generates paint mix sheets for any new batches or mix recipes of paint, which describe various properties of the paint (e.g., mix, name, code, recipe, viscosity, etc.). Anticipates and provides for future paint needs.
• Coordinates and participates in continuous improvement processes including, but not limited to, troubleshooting and problem solving for immediate production paint problems, ensuring quality of paint, monitoring down time and leading efforts to improve quality and reduce costs. Generates all necessary deviations or process changes in relation to the job. May research and recommend new paint systems.
• Leads and participates in programs intended to monitor the amount chemicals that go into the environment, such as Volatile Organic Compound levels (VOC), (elements which need to be controlled during different processes). Monitors and tracks VOC levels by maintaining complex spreadsheet program on computer.
• Provides strategic leadership and technical expertise to the organization. Initiates and recommends purchase of new equipment. Maintains conformance to budget limitations.
• Effectively balances needs of production with new product introduction. Coordinates manufacturing, product development and procurement resources to assure that labor, material and support services needs are known and attained sufficient to execute the sales plan.
• Plans, develops, directs, implements, and maintains plant strategies and objectives. Develops moderate to long‑term goals and translates them to short‑term plans. Researches and recommends new processes, systems, policies and procedures to pursue in the future.
• Champions the introduction of improved business/manufacturing methods while driving continuous improvement and waste elimination activities within focus team. Must reduce cost of daily operations.
• Develops and manages cross‑functional operations leadership teams to meet business objectives. Monitors productivity of groups and individuals recommends changes where desirable. Provides leadership and support to staff and assists in employees’ skill development. Develops a flexible team‑based organization focused on goals and objectives.
• Maintains compliance with all organizations policies, standards and practices.
• Performs project work and other duties as necessary in support of business objectives. Prepares and distributes appropriate communication as necessary. Ensures that facilities are in full compliance with all safety regulations.
• Disposes of waste paint solids to satellite accumulation area. Occasionally transports hazardous waste from satellite accumulation to 90‑day accumulation area.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field including minimum five years paint experience; or equivalent. Five years’ experience with paint and paint systems strongly preferred. Demonstrated understanding of manufacturing processes required.
• Must have thorough and complete mastery of Paint field. Must be broadly familiar with technologies, products, customers, and programs.
• Must possess a well‑developed and proven leadership style with the ability to mentor, coach, counsel and train toward long‑term departmental and organizational goals while working in a team environment.
• Demonstrated employee relationship and management skills to support, develop, and lead a cohesive, team. Must carry out duties ethically and in accordance with the organizations policies and applicable laws.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills. The ability to effectively communicate to groups of diverse educational background to assure desired actions and outcomes are understood. The ability to effectively present information and responds to questions from technical and management groups when necessary.
• Demonstrated project and program management skills and proven financial capabilities to maintain quality, cost, and timing of programs. Ability to apply and interpret basic statistical techniques.
• Strong analytical and disciplined problem‑solving skills. Ability to use deductive reasoning and keep several activities moving forward simultaneously.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree minimum, preferably in a manufacturing or engineering related field or equivalent experience.
• Successful experience 3 -5 years in manufacturing leadership.

Awareness, Unity, Empowerment:

At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That’s why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity.

Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email or traditional mail to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.

AI‑Assisted Screening Disclosure As part of our commitment to a fair, consistent, and efficient recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening of applications submitted through our Workday system. These tools help identify qualifications and experience that align with the role requirements. Please note that AI is used solely to support our recruiters. Final decisions are always made by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Importantly, no applicant data is shared externally through these AI tools. All information remains securely within our systems and is handled in accordance with our privacy and data protection policies. Under conditions defined by applicable law, you may have the right to request an explanation of how AI is used to support decision‑making. If you have any questions or concerns about this process, feel free to contact our Talent Attraction team.

Worker Type: Regular / Permanent Group: Magna Mechatronics, Mirrors & Lighting

We see a future where everyone can live and move without limitations. That’s why we are developing technologies, systems and concepts that make vehicles safer and cleaner, while serving our communities, the planet and, above all, people. In the right environment, your ideas can turn into industry‑changing automotive technologies and improve the lives of people around the world.

Let's create the future of mobility, together.

Learn more about us: Sustainability Innovation Interview-Tips