Paintshop Manager

Step into a leadership role where your expertise in aircraft painting and your ability to run a high-performing team directly shape safety, quality, and on-time delivery. This is a permanent opportunity to take ownership of a busy paintshop, driving operational excellence while working on complex aviation projects in a regulated environment.

About the Role:

As Paintshop Manager, you will oversee the end-to-end aircraft painting operation, ensuring all work is delivered safely, on schedule, and to exacting quality standards. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, coordinate production activities, and align resources to meet customer and regulatory requirements. Your decisions will have a direct impact on cost efficiency, compliance, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, coach, and develop the paintshop team to achieve productivity, quality, and safety targets.
• Plan, schedule, and prioritise aircraft painting projects to meet production deadlines and customer commitments.
• Oversee the full painting process, from surface preparation and masking to application and finishing, ensuring adherence to technical specifications.
• Monitor and control paintshop budgets, including labour, materials, and equipment usage, to optimise cost efficiency.
• Ensure strict compliance with EASA Part-145 requirements and internal procedures across all paintshop activities.
• Coordinate with maintenance, engineering, and planning teams to align paintshop work with broader production plans.
• Implement and maintain continuous improvement initiatives in processes, tools, and workflows to enhance quality and throughput.
• Ensure all health, safety, and environmental standards are met, including proper handling and storage of paints and chemicals.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience in aircraft painting operations within an MRO or aviation production environment.
• Demonstrated track record in leading and managing teams in a workshop or production setting.
• Strong production planning and resource allocation skills and a solid understanding of budgeting, cost control.
• In-depth knowledge of aircraft painting processes, materials, and relevant technical documentation.
• Clear, professional communication skills in both German and English, spoken and written.
• Familiarity with EASA Part-145 regulatory frameworks and quality standards.
• Strong decision-making skills with a hands-on, solution-oriented approach.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience implementing lean or continuous improvement methodologies in a production environment.
• Knowledge of modern paintshop equipment, automation, and digital planning tools.
• Background in working with international customers and cross-functional teams.
• Previous experience in a similar managerial role within a Part-145 organisation.

Qualifications:

• Completed technical apprenticeship or vocational training in a relevant field (e.g. aircraft painting, surface treatment, aviation maintenance) or equivalent.
• Further education in production management, industrial engineering, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Recognised training or certification in aviation maintenance or Part-145 environments is an advantage.
• Evidence of leadership or management training is highly desirable.

If you are ready to take full ownership of a paintshop operation and lead a team in a demanding aviation environment, we invite you to apply and bring your expertise to this key role.