Apprentice Laborer Jobs in Union, NJ (NOW HIRING)

***Currently accepting applications for a January 2027 Start Date ****

Do you have a passion for learning and hands-on work? If so, you may be a perfect fit for our Paint Apprentice role in Brooklyn, New York! We are looking for hardworking and crafty individuals with tenacious grit to join our production crew. We are seeking candidates ready to start a career that combines a love for painting with a desire to stay physically active, either on the ground or on a rig in the sky. Ideal candidates have work and/or life experience that demonstrates their ability to hustle, embrace challenges, problem-solve in high-stress situations, and excel in a team environment. The purpose of the Paint Apprentice is to:

• Assist the paint and production team with job site preparation, meeting daily goals, and deadlines while gaining hands-on experience.

• Progress from supporting shop tasks to managing ground-level production, building a strong foundation in both the craft and operational aspects of Colossal’s work.

The Company:

Colossal Media, an award-winning Brooklyn-based company and now a subsidiary of Lamar Advertising, is dedicated to reviving the art of hand-painted outdoor advertising. Founded in 2004, we’ve grown into a premier creative partner for the world’s largest brands, agencies, and artists. Our memorable campaigns build curiosity and amplify exposure through dynamic storytelling, redefining and elevating the out-of-home experience. Explore our website and Instagram to see our campaigns come to life, and check out this article from our friends at Better Letters for more insight. With a vision for rapid growth, we’re looking for passionate individuals to help us make it happen!

Colossal Media is built on the craft of hand-painted murals. This craft has creativity at its core. Here we know that what fuels creativity is diversity. People from all walks of life work here at Colossal Media and all are not only welcome but are treated equitably within the Colossal Media community.

What you can expect from us:

• A Mon-Fri, 8a -5p work schedule at our Brooklyn, NY shop
• An hourly rate of $24/per hour
• 120 hours of paid time off (PTO) that increases with tenure
• 12 paid company holidays, including President's day and Juneteenth
• An ongoing comprehensive training program
• Career advancement opportunities
• Ongoing professional development and internal leadership programs to maximize your career potential
• Multiple medical plan options and health savings account
• Hospital and Critical Illness and Accident coverage
• Short & long-term disability and paid parental leave
• Employee Stock purchase plan
• 401k plan with company match
• Wellness program incentives such as medical plan premium holidays and HSA contributions

Key Responsibilities:

• Commit to continuous learning by embracing new skills, responding constructively to feedback, and maintaining a growth mindset with a consistent focus on excellence
• Understand the important role of having an orderly shop, by becoming familiar with and eventually spearheading our fundamental upkeep practices such as learning our daily task cadence, preparing for and cleaning up after jobs, organizing our inventory, quart cleaning, paint consolidation, amongst others.
• Build expertise in job site organization, including maintaining a safe, clean, and orderly workspace, efficient packing and shipping of gear, wall measuring protocols, and supporting tasks ranging from shop maintenance to serving as steadfast ground support on-site.
• Gain proficiency in pre-production processes, including learning the visual language, general breakdown process of artworks, artwork categories, patterning techniques, burning, pouncing, and handling artwork matchprints and acetates, and apply practical mathematics to ensure precision and readiness for production.
• Safely handle equipment and perform manual labor while acquiring a solid understanding of rigging fundamentals to safely and effectively support and contribute to rig builds, breakdowns, and basic rigging tasks.
• Develop foundational knowledge of painting by mastering essential techniques, product knowledge, brush types, application methods, and pre-production processes while continuously improving speed and accuracy to meet production demands efficiently.
• Troubleshoot challenges in the field and on job sites by showcasing strong problem-solving skills, developing effective time management strategies, and ensuring smooth operations while meeting project goals and maintaining quality standards.
• Maintain a safe, efficient, and collaborative work environment by adhering to all safety guidelines and protocols, including the responsible operation of all company tools and vehicles.
• Represent Colossal confidently and professionally by embodying the core values of Curiosity, Awareness, Leadership, and Craftsmanship—striving to improve daily, communicating effectively, taking ownership in decision-making, and fully committing to mastering your craft with head, hands, and heart.
• Maintain flexibility to be on-site or on-call during scheduled shifts, including nights and weekends, in-market or out-of-town, to meet project demands.
• Accurately photograph and document daily job reports (Middle-of-Day and End-of-Day logs), including job status, troubleshooting, and tasks performed using Slack, to keep the operations and sales team updated, keeping in mind a positive, respectful, proactive and collaborative, solution-minded approach.
• Follow the company’s social media policy and provide consent for interviews, quotes, photographs, and video recordings as needed while striving to maintain a positive and professional online presence.

Requirements:

Education and experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• A current and valid driver's license.
• Successful completion of OSHA 30 hour Construction course after the official on-site start date.
• Safely and confidently operate work trucks and vans while navigating through busy urban areas. 
• Previous experience working at heights above ground level preferred.
• Prior experience in high-paced work environments, such as construction or hands-on work preferred.
• Aerial Boom and Scissor Operator Certification preferred.
• Proficiency in Slack, Google Suite, Oracle, UKG, Adobe PDFs, and other essential platforms preferred.

Knowledge, skill, and ability:

• Work effectively both autonomously and collaboratively with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills, including fluency in English.
• Basic computer skills (Slack, Google apps) and ability to read Safety Data Sheets and DOT permits.
• Adhere to all safety standards and regulations, including OSHA guidelines, Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, and Colossal Media policies.
• Comfortable working at heights and adhering to safety standards (OSHA, DOT, company policies).

The Nitty Gritty:

• Naturally embody our pillars: Awareness, Curiosity, Leadership, Craftsmanship
• Position continually requires demonstrated poise, tact, and diplomacy

Please note: Upon submitting your application, you will be asked to complete an 8-15 minute personality assessment. This assessment compares your professional soft skills to the skills required for success in this role. Please answer honestly; this is not a test! Not completing this assessment could result in disqualification from consideration for this position. 

Candidates with a disability in need of an accommodation to fulfill our application requirements should email recruiting@lamar.com. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• The primary work environment for this position is outdoors, requiring the ability to work in adverse weather conditions and work at heights up to and over 200 ft on rigs or boom lifts.
• The physical demands for this position include heavy lifting (up to 100 pounds), extensive bending, pushing, reaching, seeing (with a focus on reading, color distinction, acuity, depth perception, and peripheral vision), sitting less than 50% of the time, long hours on feet
  standing, stooping, talking, turning, walking, driving, and climbing.
• Occasional travel, overnight shifts, and overtime may be required.
• Nights spent away from home traveling are less than 25% annually.

Colossal Media is an EOE/AA: Disabled/Protected Veterans or any other State or Federally protected characteristic

SMS and Email Communications: By providing your contact information and submitting this form, you agree to receive email and SMS communications from Colossal/Lamar Advertising Company regarding job opportunities, hiring events, and career-related updates. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time by emailing recruiting@lamar.com or replying 'STOP' to text messages. Your information will be processed in accordance with our privacy policy.

Disability Self-Identification: When applying for a job with Colossal/Lamar, you will be asked to voluntarily self-identify whether you have a disability. Please take a moment to watch this video for clarification on why we're asking for this information!

California Residents - Lamar collects personal information in the ordinary course of considering job applicants. This information may include, for example, name, address, phone number and other contact information, employment history and reference contact information, and any other information provided by an applicant to Lamar.  By submitting an application, you consent to the use or sharing of this personal information solely for the purpose of consideration for employment by Lamar.  Lamar will not sell this information.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)