Paint Work Lead

Strong Hold; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, & vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Strong Hold is seeking an experienced Paint Work Lead to oversee our high-volume powder coat and precision wet paint lines. You will drive production by monitoring efficiency, ensuring top-quality finishes, and enforcing safety protocols.

The role focuses on department workflow, supervising team members, and troubleshooting equipment and finish issues to meet our lifetime durability standards. You will collaborate with fabrication, assembly, and management to maintain a high-performance,

Qualifications

• 3+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Fluent in Microsoft Office (Teams, Outlook, Excel, etc.).
• Organization, material flow, process improvement.
• Lead Kaizen events in your area with team members.
• Solid understanding of lean principles – improving material flow and continuous improvement.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions accurately.
• Familiarity with basic math and measurements.
• Ability to lift heavy objects and stand for long periods of time.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on Leadership: qualify for all positions on the paint team and train team members.
• Safety Enforcement: training and auditing on safety and PPE rules.
• Quality Assurance: identify and correct paint finish defects using measurement tools.
• Workflow Optimization: manage line speeds, racking configurations, and oven cycles.
• Equipment Maintenance: preventative maintenance on spray guns, booths, wash systems, and ovens.
• Team Management: collaborate with Paint Team Lead to foster a productive multilingual team.

Skills

Leadership

MS Office

Organization

Kaizen

Lean principles

Attention to detail

Math basics

Physical ability

Mil thickness gauge

Tools

Mil thickness gauge

Job description

Who Are We?

We build products and relationships that last a lifetime! No really, that’s what we do. We are a successful family business with a long-term record of steady growth, and we are determined to accelerate our trajectory. Our diverse team members who speak 22 languages are passionate about their company and their co-workers.

Description

Who Are We?

We build products and relationships that last a lifetime! No really, that’s what we do. We are a successful family business with a long-term record of steady growth, and we are determined to accelerate our trajectory. Our diverse team members who speak 22 languages are passionate about their company and their co-workers.

Check out our website at www.strong-hold.com.

We Are Not

• Fancy – as manufacturers we believe practical, clean facilities are required to make quality products and retain the best team.
• Transactional - we have long-term relationships with our team members and most valuable customers.
• Satisfied - we celebrate achievement, then set our sights on new goals.

What We Are Looking For

Strong Hold is looking for an experienced Paint Work Lead to oversee our daily paint department operations, specifically managing both our high-volume powder coat and precision wet paint lines. This person will drive production activities by monitoring efficiency, ensuring top-tier finish quality, and enforcing strict safety protocols. The primary focus of this role is to manage the paint department workflow, supervise a dedicated team, and actively troubleshoot equipment and finish issues. The ideal candidate will seamlessly collaborate with fabrication, assembly, and management to ensure finished products meet our lifetime durability standards.

Responsibilities

The Paint Work Lead is responsible for overall department output, strategic workflow planning, and personnel development, coordinating closely with the Paint Team Lead who handles direct daily job distribution to team of production associates.

• Hands-on Leadership: Possess or rapidly obtain the technical skills required to be fully qualified for all positions on the paint team (including surface preparation, blasting, wet paint spraying, powder application, and oven operation) and be able to effectively communicate, train, and demonstrate these skills to team members.
• Safety Enforcement: Maintain comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge of environmental and safety procedures for all chemical handling, grounding, ventilation, and spray operations within the department; proactively train and audit team members on all safety and PPE rules.
• Quality Assurance: Identify, troubleshoot, and correct paint finish defects (such as runs, sags, orange peel, light coverage, or adhesion issues) using tools like mil thickness gauges to guarantee a durable, high-quality coat.
• Workflow Optimization: Manage line speeds, racking configurations, and oven curing cycles to maximize throughput across both the wet paint and powder coat lines without compromising quality.
• Equipment Maintenance: Ensure preventative maintenance is performed on spray guns, booths, wash systems, and curing ovens to minimize downtime.
• Team Management: Partner with the Paint Team Lead to foster an inclusive, productive environment, providing performance feedback, resolving conflicts, and supporting a multilingual workforce.

Requirements

• 3+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
• Fluent in Microsoft Office (Teams, Outlook, Excel, etc.)
• Organization, material flow, process improvement
• Lead Kaizen events in your area with team members
• Solid understanding of lean principles – improving material flow and continuous improvement
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions accurately
• Familiarity with basic math and measurements
• Ability to lift heavy objects and stand for long periods of time

Benefits

We value our team members and believe in providing competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including:

• Competitive wage with annual increases and a performance-based annual bonus.
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Health, dental, & vision, insurance coverage
• Company paid life, short- & long-term disability insurance coverage
• Paid time off for vacation, holidays, and personal days