Cabinet Department Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Casework Lead at Fargo Woodworks

We're looking for an experienced cabinet builder who is ready to lead. This is not a spot on a crew. You'll be the first person in a new casework department, and you'll build it with us from one person to a team of 2 to 4 over the next several months.

Who we are

Fargo Woodworks builds custom commercial furniture by hand in Fargo, ND: conference tables, reception desks, sideboards, credenzas, office furniture and cabinets for businesses across the country. We work in walnut, white oak, red oak, ash and maple, and we hold ourselves to the same standard as brands like Restoration Hardware and Arhaus. Our mission is simple: we build furniture people remember. We're growing fast and moving into a larger shop this fall.

Why this role exists

Reception desks, sideboards and storage pieces are some of the most detailed, most visible work we make. Up to now, one builder has owned them start to finish. Demand has outgrown that. We need a lead who can keep building great casework while setting up the systems, workflow and people to turn it into a real department.

What you'll do

• Own every casework project from plan to finished piece: reception desks, sideboards, credenzas, cabinets, drawer units and storage
• Read shop drawings, create parts lists and cut lists, and plan each build before it starts
• Run a pipeline, with jobs in prep, in production and ready to assemble at the same time, so work never stalls
• Coordinate with milling, CNC, finishing and install so parts arrive when you need them
• Build and assemble high-end casework yourself, especially early on
• Help lay out the casework area, jigs and workflow in our new shop
• Write the standard ways we build: joinery, hardware, drawer boxes, QC checks
• Train, lead and hold accountable the 1 to 3 people who join the department
• Track every job in our production system and keep your manager updated without being asked
• Hit on-time completion and quality targets, and flag problems early

What you bring (must have)

• 5+ years building cabinets or casework in a professional shop (commercial millwork, custom cabinetry or high-end furniture)
• 2+ years leading others: lead hand, crew lead, foreman or supervisor
• Deep knowledge of case construction, face frame and frameless, drawer boxes, doors, and European hardware like Blum slides and hinges
• Comfortable with solid hardwood and sheet goods
• Can read shop drawings and build accurately to them
• Can plan your own work and several jobs at once without being told what's next

Nice to have

• Experience setting up or growing a department or shop
• Experience with CNC nested parts, or with Vectric, Cabinet Vision, Mozaik or similar software
• Experience with dovetail drawer boxes and production jigs
• Commercial reception desk or retail fixture experience

What you get

• The chance to build a department from the ground up and lead it as it grows
• A real say in how the new shop's casework area is laid out and equipped
• High-end work in real hardwood
• An owner who invests in equipment and systems
• $26 to $32 per hour depending on experience, with paid overtime
• Health insurance and paid time off
• Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, with overtime when deadlines call for it

Reports to: Shop Manager

The person we want takes ownership, doesn't wait to be told, stays calm when things get busy, and takes pride in finished work. If you've been the one everyone goes to in your shop and you're ready to build something of your own, we'd like to talk.