Finishing Manager
On-siteSaint Marys Pottawatomie County, Kansas, United States or St. Marys, Georgia, United States
Job Summary
Oversee all finishing operations in Paint and Stain, ensuring processes run efficiently, safely, and consistently to deliver high-quality cabinet finishes. Lead the department with a servant-minded approach, guiding supervisors and staff through daily oversight, coaching, and succession planning while maintaining respectful relationships. Drive continuous improvement by identifying waste, implementing 5S, and leading kaizen events to reduce defects and optimize material usage. Partner with Plant Manager, Engineering, and vendors to align production flow, resolve quality issues, and standardize work instructions across facilities. Maintain a clean, organized environment using visual controls and support the VP of Operations in scaling lean practices across all company locations.
Required Qualifications
- Proven leadership experience in a manufacturing or production environment, preferably in cabinetry, wood products, or a related finishing-intensive industry.
- Direct knowledge of finishing operations (stain, paint, sealers, topcoats, color matching, surface preparation, etc.).
- Strong people management skills with demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and develop employees and supervisors.
- Experience applying lean manufacturing / continuous improvement principles (e.g., 5S, standard work, waste reduction, visual management, basic problem-solving tools).
- Experience managing vendor relationships, including utilizing vendor technical resources, holding vendors accountable to process and quality standards, and coordinating onsite vendor support.
- Solid understanding of production scheduling, workflow, and quality control in a high-mix, custom manufacturing environment.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Commitment to servant leadership and building a strong, positive team culture.
- Familiarity with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements related to finishing materials and processes (e.g., VOCs, PPE, ventilation).
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.