Finishing Shop Manager

We're building a world-class furniture finishing operation, and we need a finishing shop leader who thinks like an engineer as much as a craftsperson. This isn't a role for someone who just wants to run a finishing line the way it's always been run — we want someone who will tear down our current processes, rebuild them around real standards, and chase down the best materials and techniques in the industry until our finish quality is the best in the business. You'll spend time on the floor — sanding, staining, and finishing alongside the team — but your real job is to build the systems, standards, and culture that make consistent, world-class finishing repeatable, not accidental. If you've got a background in lean manufacturing, process improvement, or came out of a high-precision coatings environment like automotive paint or powder coating, we want to talk to you. For the right person, this role can grow beyond the finishing shop. We're looking to build out a lean/continuous-improvement function across the whole company, and this position is a natural path into that work for someone who wants it. Responsibilities Own daily operations of the finishing shop — sanding, staining, sealing, and topcoat processes Lead, train, and develop the finishing team; build a culture of accountability and craftsmanship Build, document, and continuously improve finish standards, recipes, and SOPs — no more tribal knowledge Apply lean manufacturing principles (5S, standard work, root-cause problem solving, waste reduction) to streamline shop workflow Research and vet new materials, coatings, and finishing technologies; partner with suppliers to bring in the best-in-class products and processes Coordinate workflow and schedules to hit production deadlines, keeping the ERP system updated as orders move through the shop Troubleshoot finishing issues and drive consistent, measurable quality control Communicate effectively with both English- and Spanish-speaking team members Use ERP (Odoo) and Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, Teams) to track production, inventory, and workflow As capacity allows, contribute to lean/process-improvement initiatives beyond the finishing shop What We're Looking For Hands-on experience in a finishing or coatings environment — furniture finishing, automotive paint, powder coating, or similar A process mindset: you default to standardizing, measuring, and improving rather than just "getting it done" Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or Six Sigma methodology strongly preferred Management or supervisory experience, or a track record of stepping into leadership and driving results Comfort researching and evaluating new materials and staying current with finishing industry innovation Experience with ERP systems and Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, Teams) Bilingual in English and Spanish (required) Strong attention to detail and a genuine drive to build something best-in-class — not just maintain the status quo #J-18808-Ljbffr Quintus Home