Are you an experienced powder coating professional ready to take ownership of a busy manufacturing operation?
Powder Coating Operations Manager
Location: Outskirts of Ashford, Kent
Salary: £40,000-£45,000 per annum
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am-5:30pm, plus every other Saturday, 7:00am-11:00am
Contract: Temporary to Permanent
The Opportunity
Morgan Jones is recruiting a Powder Coating Operations Manager on behalf of a well-established manufacturing business near Ashford. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands‑on, commercially minded leader to oversee a busy powder coating plant, manage a team of approximately 12 employees, and drive improvements in production efficiency, quality and operational performance.
The Role
As Powder Coating Operations Manager, you will take full responsibility for the day‑to‑day running and performance of the powder coating department. You will lead from the front, ensuring production targets are achieved, quality standards are maintained, and health, safety and environmental requirements are met.
Working with minimal senior management oversight, you will manage people, processes, materials and resources effectively, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste and maintain consistently high standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, manage and develop a team of approximately 12 employees, promoting a positive, productive and safety‑conscious working environment.
- Oversee all day‑to‑day powder coating plant operations, ensuring production schedules and targets are achieved.
- Monitor production performance, quality and efficiency, implementing improvements where necessary.
- Maintain high standards of product quality, ensuring finished work meets customer specifications and required standards.
- Manage stock levels and the ordering of chemicals, raw materials and production consumables.
- Oversee waste management procedures, including the safe handling and disposal of hazardous waste.
- Ensure compliance with relevant health and safety legislation, environmental regulations and quality requirements.
- Manage staff rotas, attendance, performance, training and disciplinary matters as required.
- Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity, reduce waste and improve operational efficiency.
- Ensure equipment, processes and working areas are maintained to appropriate operational and safety standards.
- Take full ownership of departmental performance, resolving operational challenges and escalating issues where appropriate.
What We’re Looking For
- We’re looking for a confident and organised operations leader who understands the demands of a busy manufacturing environment and can balance production requirements with quality, safety and people management.
- Previous management or supervisory experience within manufacturing, powder coating, spray painting, industrial finishing or a similar production environment.
- A strong understanding of powder coating processes and industrial plant operations, or transferable experience from a related industry.
- Experience managing a team, setting expectations and addressing performance issues effectively.
- Knowledge of chemical handling, stock control and production consumables.
- Experience overseeing waste management, including hazardous waste procedures and environmental compliance.
- A good understanding of quality control, production planning and continuous improvement.
- Strong organisational, problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.
- The ability to work independently, prioritise competing demands and take ownership of departmental results.
- A practical, hands‑on approach with the leadership skills to motivate a team and maintain high operational standards.
What’s on Offer?
- Medicash healthcare scheme
- BUPA insurance
- Death-in-service cover
- Company sick pay
- Company pension
- Employee discount scheme
- Free on‑site parking
- Supportive, family‑run working environment
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