Coatings Manager

Coatings Manager – Beverage Can Manufacturing

Location: Europe (flexible within AMP network)

Department: Quality & R&D

Reporting to: Quality & R&D Director

About the Role

Ardagh Metal Packaging is seeking an experienced Coatings Manager to lead and optimize coating operations across our beverage can manufacturing environment. This is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring the highest standards of product quality, food safety, operational performance, and cost efficiency.

You will provide technical expertise in internal and external coating systems, driving process excellence, continuous improvement, and collaboration across manufacturing, quality, maintenance, and R&D teams. This position offers an exciting opportunity to influence product performance, support innovation, and contribute to the delivery of world-class sustainable packaging solutions.

Key Responsibilities

As Coatings Manager, you will:

• Lead and optimize internal lacquer and external coating processes across high-speed beverage can manufacturing lines.
• Establish, monitor, and improve critical process parameters including coating weight, curing performance, adhesion, and application quality.
• Ensure compliance with customer specifications, food-contact regulations, and company quality standards.
• Investigate coating-related issues, conduct root cause analysis, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, yield, waste reduction, productivity, and cost optimization.
• Partner with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and R&D teams to improve process capability and product performance.
• Support equipment reliability and performance of coating systems, spray machines, and curing ovens.
• Lead, coach, and develop technical and operational teams, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
• Manage coating materials, supplier relationships, and manufacturing costs to ensure optimal operational performance.
• Promote a strong health, safety, and environmental culture, ensuring safe handling and use of coating materials and chemicals.

What We're Looking For

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Advanced degree is considered an advantage.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in coatings, surface finishing, chemical processing, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Experience in beverage can manufacturing, packaging, metals, automotive, or other high-volume industrial production environments is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success leading technical or production teams.
• Experience driving process improvements and delivering measurable operational results.

Technical Expertise

• Strong understanding of coating materials, application technologies, and curing processes.
• Knowledge of process control methodologies, statistical analysis, and manufacturing performance metrics.
• Experience with quality improvement tools and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Understanding of food-contact materials and regulatory compliance requirements is advantageous.

Key Competencies

• Leadership and team development
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Quality and customer focus
• Data-driven decision making
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Strong communication and influencing skills

Why Join Ardagh Metal Packaging?

At Ardagh, you'll be part of a global leader in sustainable metal packaging, working alongside passionate experts committed to operational excellence and innovation. We offer opportunities to make a tangible impact, develop your leadership capabilities, and contribute to products enjoyed by millions of consumers worldwide.

About Ardagh Metal Packaging

Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) is a leading supplier of sustainable, infinitely recyclable metal beverage cans to brand owners globally. An operating business of sustainable packaging business Ardagh Group, AMP is a leading industry player across Europe and the Americas, with innovative production capabilities, 23 production facilities, more than 6,000 employees and recorded revenues of $4.8 billion in 2023.

AMP is 76%-owned by Ardagh Group and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker AMBP.

About Ardagh Group

Ardagh Group is a global supplier of infinitely recyclable metal and glass packaging solutions, producing packaging for brand owners around the world. We have grown to a team of approximately 20,000 people with revenues of more than $9 billion. Today we have a presence across the Americas, Europe and Africa.

· Ardagh produces many of the beverage cans and bottles that contain your favourite beverages.

· Our packaging is manufactured from metal and glass - permanent materials that can be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality.

· Ardagh produces more than 60 billion containers per year (more than 160 million containers per day).

The future we’re creating for Ardagh is built around our four Core Values of Inclusion, Trust, Teamwork and Excellence. We offer exciting and rewarding opportunities for talented and creative people. If you have ambition and want to make an impact with your career, come and join our team - you’ll enjoy the journey!