Senior Coatings & Insulation Specialist

The Senior Coatings & Insulation Specialist is responsible for the technical oversight, inspection, and program management of industrial coatings, insulation, and scaffolding systems across plant facilities. This role serves as the site subject matter expert (SME) for all soft craft disciplines, including the planning, execution, and quality assurance of coating and insulation applications, scaffold erection and inspection, and associated contractor management. The Specialist will develop and maintain project specifications, support turnaround planning and execution, and ensure all work meets applicable safety, regulatory, and quality standards. This role also provides technical guidance and best practice sharing across Covestro's North American operations. 

Major Responsibilities 

• Conduct insulation, paint, and scaffold QA inspections and provide technical guidance 

• Develop, write, and approve project specifications and job scopes for coating and insulation systems 

• Evaluate and select appropriate materials (fiberglass, foam, mineral wool, epoxies, urethanes) based on temperature, environment, and equipment requirements 

• Serve as soft craft turnaround Construction Manager providing technical oversight 

• Perform specialized inspections including rail car, rubber lining, and glass lining systems 

• Provide specialized knowledge and analysis support for coating and insulation system failure investigations 

• Qualify and evaluate contractor and vendor capabilities, addressing technical shortcomings 

• Provide technical training and mentorship to staff and contractors on materials, application techniques, and safety protocols; support knowledge transfer to other North American sites as needed 

• Represent organization in industry committees 

• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and AMPP standards for surface preparation and hazardous material handling 

• Provide customer and contractor review and approval for coating and insulation work 

Basic Qualifications 

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED)  

• 15+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in industrial coatings, insulation, and scaffolding in petrochemical or refinery environments, including formal trades training or apprenticeship completion — a degree in engineering or a related technical field is a plus but not required 

• AMPP (formerly NACE) Coating Inspector Program Level 2 certification required 

• The eligibility to apply for and obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) within a reasonable timeframe 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Scaffold Competent Person Certification 

• AMPP Protective Coatings Specialist (PCS) Certification 

• NIA Thermal Insulation Inspector Certification 

• OSHA Construction Safety Training 

Knowledge & Skills: 

• Demonstrated experience writing, reviewing, and approving project specifications and job scopes for coating and insulation systems 

• Experience serving as a Specification Owner or equivalent technical authority for site coating and insulation programs 

• Proven ability to evaluate and select materials appropriate for temperature, environmental, and equipment requirements 

• Experience as a soft craft construction manager or equivalent oversight role 

• Proficiency in specialized inspection including rail car, rubber lining, and glass lining systems 

• Experience with contractor and vendor qualification, evaluation, and technical oversight 

• Certified Asbestos Inspector or equivalent hazardous materials competency 

• Proficiency in standard office and project management tools (MS Word, Excel, MS Project, or equivalent)