PAINT & VARNISH TECHNICIAN—WORK FOR ONE OF THE WORLD’S PREMIER WOODEN BOAT BUILDERS

THE COMPANY

The crew at Van Dam consists of some of the most highly skilled wooden boat builders in the industry as well as young, keen people working through the company’s own apprenticeship program. We are a creative, hardworking, and dedicated team on a quest to build the finest wooden boats in the world. With a constant pursuit for perfection and the highest standards, Van Dam is renowned for the beautiful artwork of its boat building.

By joining our team, you will be working on some of the most exciting and finest wooden boat building projects in the world with a small, dedicated team that has built a larger variety of wooden boats than anyone in North America. It is a place where your contribution matters! We have an expansive shop with state-of-the-art equipment and a culture that supports the people and the mission. Our backlog stretches into 2025 with people around the world waiting for their chance to build their dream boat with this team. Growth potential and training in the areas of project leadership, build management and technical knowledge is available, and it is expected that you will want to participate and take an active role in your growth.

THE POSITION

Van Dam Custom Boats, one of the world’s premier wooden boat builders, is seeking a Paint & Varnish Technician to join our talented, energetic, and motivated team. As a member of our team, you will be expected to be eager and ready to learn a variety of paint and varnish application and finishing techniques. We aim to provide the highest quality services to our customers; we don’t cut corners, and we always have a focus on customer service. Our team takes great pride in their work, and we’re looking for like-minded individuals. In this role, you will be expected to participate—in our daily and weekly huddles, in problem solving, in helping fellow teammates, and in communicating with customers, when needed. Experience with refinishing work is desired, but not required. You will be expected to bring good energy, enthusiasm and tenacity every day. Active participation in everything from developing solutions for day-to-day challenges to the financials of the business and our monthly meetings is important and expected. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience; starting range is $17-$27 per hour.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Live our fundamentals
• Maintain personal inventory of tools and organize tools to be prepared at the job site
• Maintain a clean and organized work area with safety-minded practices
• Learn our way first, then bring the benefit of your experience
• Be your own quality control and bring issues to the Paint Shop Manager when you see them
• Be a contributing member of the team, able to take on multiple aspects of projects
• Bring energy and enthusiasm
• Demonstrate a willingness to learn and take criticism, and a dedication to personal growth
• Constantly improve your abilities
• Take responsibility for your experience
• Extreme level of detail and organization
• Strong work-ethic
• Consistently perform high quality work in areas including, but not limited to:
• Cleaning and prepping parts for paint or varnish, including taping and masking
• Sanding parts in preparation for paint or varnish
• Disassembly and careful organization of parts for boats that we will be working on
• Reassembly of completed projects
• Application of multiple types of finishes, from brushed varnish or paint to sprayed finishes, like clear coat
• Assisting with cosmetic repairs
• Fiberglass work
• Buffing and polishing
• Assisting with cosmetic inspections and estimate generation
• Cleaning boats before deliveries

Requirements and Qualifications

• Team building skills and mindset
• Strong work ethic and drive
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy
• Strong time management skills with respect for deadlines
• Ability to work unsupervised
• Sense of ownership and pride in your performance and its impact on team success
• Experience with refinishing work is preferred
• Available full-time, M-F 7am-4:30pm

THE LOCATION

Located in beautiful Boyne City, Michigan on the shores of Lake Charlevoix, you will find four seasons of adventure. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy boating and fishing on our many inland lakes and rivers as well as on the Great Lakes. Every snow activity imaginable is available at our three area ski resorts while biking, hiking, and camping are right in our back yard. We have great schools, reasonably priced housing, fabulous restaurants, a vibrant farm market, plus much more for people that value community and nature.

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