Port Maintenance Team Leader

Introduction

Are you ready to take the lead in building something new?

Join Stena Line in Holyhead as a Port Maintenance Team Leader – Painting Division and play a key role in establishing and developing our new in-house Painting Division.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced painter and team leader to help shape how painting and protective maintenance work is delivered across the port. You’ll combine hands-on practical work with leadership, planning and problem-solving, helping to establish a professional, efficient and high-quality painting service from the ground up.

About the role

As a Port Maintenance Team Leader within the newly established Painting Division, you’ll lead an in-house team responsible for delivering painting, surface preparation and protective coating activities across the port.

You’ll play a key role in building the division, helping to establish safe systems of work, working practices, quality standards, maintenance programmes and efficient ways of working.

The role is highly practical. You’ll work alongside your team, carrying out painting and preparation activities while also coordinating workloads, allocating tasks, monitoring quality and ensuring work is delivered safely and efficiently.

Working closely with Technical Services management, you’ll help identify painting and maintenance requirements, develop work programmes and prioritise activities based on the condition and operational requirements of port assets.

Building the new Paint Division

As this is a newly established function, you’ll have the opportunity to help shape the division from the beginning.

You’ll contribute to:

• Establishing consistent painting and surface-preparation standards.
• Developing efficient methods of working for different types of port assets.
• Helping to create planned painting and preventative maintenance programmes.
• Establishing appropriate systems for tools, equipment, materials and stock control.
• Developing safe systems of work and ensuring compliance with permit requirements.
• Setting and maintaining high standards of workmanship and finish.
• Supporting the development of team members and sharing technical knowledge.
• Identifying opportunities to improve the way painting and protective maintenance is delivered.
• Helping Technical Services management establish priorities and long-term painting requirements across the port.
• Building a positive team culture based on safety, quality, reliability and pride in workmanship.

Some of your key responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the new in-house Painting Division.
• Allocate daily and weekly work across the painting team.
• Work hands-on alongside the team to deliver painting and maintenance activities.
• Plan and coordinate painting programmes across port buildings, structures, equipment and facilities.
• Liaise with Technical Services management to agree work scopes, priorities and methods.
• Act as the responsible permit holder where required.
• Ensure safe control of work areas at all times.
• Assess surfaces and determine appropriate preparation and coating requirements.
• Carry out surface preparation, including cleaning, scraping, sanding and mechanical preparation.
• Apply primers, paints and protective coatings in accordance with agreed requirements.
• Inspect completed work and maintain high standards of workmanship.
• Identify corrosion, damaged coatings and areas requiring remedial work.
• Maintain accurate records of completed work and asset condition.
• Monitor and manage paint, coating, PPE, tools and consumable stock levels.
• Establish effective systems for ordering and storing materials.
• Ensure equipment and tools are maintained in a safe and serviceable condition.
• Ensure paints and associated materials are handled, stored and disposed of safely.
• Support and develop members of the painting team through coaching and on-the-job training.
• Coordinate painting activities with other Technical Services and port departments.
• Carry out general inspections and identify preventative maintenance requirements.
• Undertake associated minor repairs within the team’s capability.
• Support adverse weather response and other operational requirements when required.
• Promote continuous improvement within the new division.
• Undertake any additional duties as directed by line management.

What you will experience

This role offers the opportunity to be part of something new and have a genuine influence on how the Painting Division develops.

You’ll work in a hands-on environment where priorities can change according to operational requirements. Much of the work will be outdoors and may involve challenging weather conditions.

Some activities may require working at height, confined-space entry or access by boat. Appropriate training, equipment and safety procedures will be provided.

As the division develops, you’ll have the opportunity to help establish efficient working practices, develop your team and build a service that delivers long-term value to the port.

Benefits

As a Stena Line employee, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Concessionary travel on Irish Sea/North Sea routes
• 75% discount on UK Rail travel
• Company pension & life assurance
• Discounts on gym memberships, digital fitness, and equipment
• Wellbeing cash plan (dental, eye tests, health screening, etc.)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Ongoing training, coaching, and career development

Who you are

We’re looking for an experienced painter who is ready to take the next step into a leadership role and help build a new function.

You’ll have strong practical painting skills and understand the importance of proper surface preparation, coating application, corrosion protection and quality workmanship.

You’ll be confident leading others but equally comfortable picking up a brush, roller or preparation equipment and working alongside your team.

Because the division is new, you’ll need to be proactive and willing to contribute ideas. We’re looking for someone who can see what needs to be done, take ownership and help develop practical solutions rather than simply waiting for instructions.

You’ll be a natural leader who sets the right example, takes safety seriously and encourages others to maintain high standards.

Qualifications

Essential

• Clean driving licence.
• Basic educational or vocational training.
• Significant practical experience in painting, decorating, industrial painting or a similar maintenance environment.
• Previous experience leading a team or work party.
• Strong Health & Safety awareness.
• Practical experience in surface preparation and paint application.
• Good understanding of painting materials, tools and equipment.
• Ability to organise, prioritise and allocate work.
• Good attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Reliable, punctual and proactive approach.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to work hands-on alongside the team.

Desirable

• Experience in industrial painting and protective coatings.
• Experience with corrosion protection and steel structures.
• Knowledge of different coating systems and application methods.
• Experience developing painting or maintenance programmes.
• Experience establishing working practices or procedures.
• Experience working at height.
• Confined-space training or experience.
• Knowledge of permits and safety documentation.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications and work instructions.
• CSCS or similar Health & Safety qualifications.
• IPAF, PASMA or similar qualifications.
• Machine driving certificates, including telehandler, forklift, tractor and trailer.
• Relevant painting, decorating or coatings qualifications.
• Experience within a port, marine, industrial or heavy-maintenance environment.

Interested?
This is a full-time, permanent position based in Holyhead within our Technical Services department. Apply by registering your profile and sending your CV in English as soon as possible, but no later than Friday 18^th September 2026. We are reviewing applications on an ongoing basis—so don’t wait as we are looking to interview candidates on Monday 28^th September 2026.

To ensure the secure and structured processing of your personal data, we only accept applications submitted through our online recruitment system. If you have any questions about the position or the recruitment process, contact Phil Howarth, Talent Acquisition Coordinator at [email protected].

We kindly decline any offers from recruitment or staffing agencies regarding this recruitment.

About Stena Line

As a leader in sustainable shipping, Stena Line has Europe’s most comprehensive route network focusing on transportation of both passengers and freight. We have over 8,750 employees in our Stena Line family across Scandinavia, around the UK, the North Sea and the Baltics, all actively support the daily business.

Our purpose is to be a trusted link between people, places and societies. We play a vital role in keeping everything connected. We make sure people and goods arrive where they need to be, enabling business to thrive and societies to grow. We connect family and friends, and make it possible to explore new destinations or revisit favourite places.

We are committed to maintaining and developing a sustainable working environment, free from harassment, that gives equal opportunities to everyone. We embrace equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome all applicants.