Construction painting supervisor

Description

A construction painting supervisor is a professional responsible for overseeing and managing painting projects within the construction industry. They play a crucial role in ensuring that painting activities are carried out efficiently, safely, and in accordance with project specifications and industry standards. Construction painting supervisors are skilled professionals who possess extensive knowledge of painting techniques, materials, and equipment.

Here are some of the duties of a construction painting supervisor:

  • Supervising painting work on a construction site
  • Ensuring that all safety regulations are followed and that the painting work remains smooth and efficient by organizing workflows and monitoring staff
  • Directing, training, and assisting lower-level painting workers
  • Preparing painting reports and compiling painting records
  • Ensuring that all equipment is functioning properly and preparing work schedules
  • Conducting reviews for personnel performance and evaluating employee performance
  • Conferring with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances
  • Advising others on ways to improve processes or products.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to construction painting supervisor:

commercial decorating supervisor
painting and decorating supervisor
commercial painting and decorating supervisor
decorating supervisor
specialist painting supervisor
construction decorating supervisor
construction painting and decorating supervisor
industrial painting supervisor

Working conditions

Construction painting supervisors work in a variety of settings, including construction sites, buildings, and outdoor environments. The work may involve exposure to various weather conditions and physical demands, such as climbing ladders, bending, and lifting. They must follow safety protocols and wear appropriate personal protective equipment to minimize risks. Construction painting supervisors may work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate project schedules and deadlines. They may need to travel between different job sites depending on project locations. The work environment can be noisy, dusty, and may involve working at heights or in confined spaces.

Minimum qualifications

The educational requirements for construction painting supervisors may vary depending on the employer and project complexity. Generally, a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Some employers may prefer candidates with additional vocational training or certifications in painting or related fields. Construction painting supervisors typically have several years of experience working as painters, gaining knowledge and skills in surface preparation, painting techniques, and finishes. Strong knowledge of safety regulations and practices in the construction industry is essential. Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills are necessary to effectively coordinate and supervise painting crews.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Construction painting supervisor is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Construction painting supervisor career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to construction painting supervisor.

paperhanger supervisor
insulation supervisor
water conservation technician supervisor
terrazzo setter supervisor
plastering supervisor

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of construction painting supervisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of construction painting supervisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

construction general contractor
installation engineer
quantity surveyor
construction manager
purchasing manager

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of construction painting supervisor.

  • Types of paint: Varieties of paint and chemicals used in their composition.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of construction painting supervisor.

  • Advise on construction materials: Provide advice on and test a wide range of construction materials.
  • Answer requests for quotation: Make up prices and documents for the products that customers may purchase.
  • Check compatibility of materials: Make sure the materials are fit to be used together, and if there are any foreseeable interferences.
  • Manage health and safety standards: Oversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support alignment of these requirements with the company’s health and safety programmes.
  • Monitor stock level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
  • Work in a construction team: Work as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible manner.
  • Inspect construction supplies: Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
  • Ensure compliance with construction project deadline: Plan, schedule and monitor the building processes in order to ensure completion of the project by the set deadline.
  • Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
  • Plan shifts of employees: Plans shifts of employees to ensure completion of all customer orders and satisfactory completion of the production plan.
  • Follow health and safety procedures in construction: Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
  • Inspect paintwork: Inspect a painted surface, either one recently painted or an old layer. Watch for dents, cracks, flaking, air bubbles, mould and other issues.
  • Evaluate employees work: Evaluate the need for labour for the work ahead. Evaluate the performance of the team of workers and inform superiors. Encourage and support the employees in learning, teach them techniques and check the application to ensure product quality and labour productivity.
  • Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
  • Order construction supplies: Order required materials for the construction project, taking care to purchase the most suitable material for a good price.
  • Process incoming construction supplies: Receive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.
  • Interpret 3D plans: Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in three dimensions.
  • Use safety equipment in construction: Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.
  • Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
  • Demonstrate products’ features: Demonstrate how to use a product in a correct and safe manner, provide customers with information on the product’s main features and benefits, explain operation, correct use and maintenance. Persuade potential customers to purchase items.
  • Interpret 2D plans: Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in two dimensions.
  • Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of construction painting supervisor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Construction product regulation: Regulations on construction products quality standards applied throughout the European Union.
  • Cost management: The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of construction painting supervisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
  • Remove paint: Remove paint by using chemical strippers, a heat gun, sanding or scraping the surface.
  • Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
  • Use sander: Use different types of drywall sanders, automatic or manual, handheld or on an extension, to sand surfaces to a smooth finish or to rough them up for better adhesion.
  • Dispose of hazardous waste: Dispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.
  • Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
  • Dispose of non-hazardous waste: Dispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures.
  • Paint with a paint gun: Use a paint gun to coat or paint surfaces of items which are stationary or moving on a conveyor belt. Load the equipment with the suitable type of paint and spray the paint onto the surface in an even and controlled manner to prevent paint from dripping or splashing.
  • Calculate needs for construction supplies: Take measurements on site and estimate the amount of materials required for the construction or restoration project.
  • Operate rust proofing spray gun: Operate a semi-automatic or handheld spray gun designed to provide the surface of a workpiece with a permanent, corrosion-protective finishing coat, safely and according to regulations.
  • Prepare surface for painting: Make sure the surface to be painted is free of scratches and dents. Assess the porosity of the wall and the need for coating. Remove any grease, dirt, moisture and traces of previous coverings.
  • Work safely with chemicals: Take the necessary precautions for storing, using and disposing chemical products.
  • Install construction profiles: Install a variety of metal or plastic profiles used to attach materials to each other or to structural elements. Cut them to size if called for.
  • Manage contracts: Negotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, agree on and document any changes.
  • Sand between coats: Smoothen the surface of a workpiece by sanding it in between applying coats in order to obtain a clear, stronger coat.
  • Mix paint: Thoroughly mix different types of paint manually or mechanically. Start from basic paints or from powder and mix in water or chemicals. Check the consistency of the resulting mixture.
  • Recognise signs of corrosion: Recognise the symptoms of metal showing oxidation reactions with the environment resulting in rusting, copper pitting, stress cracking, and others, and estimate the rate of corrosion.
  • Paint surfaces: Use brushes and rollers to apply a coat of paint to a prepared surface evenly and without leaving drops.
  • Use measurement instruments: Use different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.
  • Provide technical expertise: Provide expert knowledge in a particular field, especially concerning mechanical or scientific subjects, to decision makers, engineers, technical staff or journalists.
  • Negotiate supplier arrangements: Reach an agreement with the supplier upon technical, quantity, quality, price, conditions, storage, packaging, send-back and other requirements related to the purchasing and delivering process.
  • Blast surface: Blast a surface with sand, metal shot, dry ice or other blasting material to remove impurities or rough up a smooth surface.
  • Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
  • Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.

ISCO group and title

3123 – Construction supervisors


References
  1. Construction painting supervisor – ESCO
  2. Featured image: Image by TVPCO. from Pixabay
Last updated on June 11, 2023