What are the responsibilities and job description for the Finishing Team Lead position at Goebel Cabinetry?
Benefits:
Position Overview
The Finishing Team Lead oversees all finishing operations, including prep, sanding, staining, painting, and top-coating. This role is responsible for ensuring cabinetry is finished to the highest quality standards, on schedule, and using consistent, repeatable processes.
This is a hands-on leadership position. The Finishing Team Lead works alongside the finishing crew daily while providing direction, training, and accountability. As a member of the Production Management Team, this role plays a key part in planning, communication, and continuous improvement across the shop.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Oversight
- Life Insurance
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Position Overview
The Finishing Team Lead oversees all finishing operations, including prep, sanding, staining, painting, and top-coating. This role is responsible for ensuring cabinetry is finished to the highest quality standards, on schedule, and using consistent, repeatable processes.
This is a hands-on leadership position. The Finishing Team Lead works alongside the finishing crew daily while providing direction, training, and accountability. As a member of the Production Management Team, this role plays a key part in planning, communication, and continuous improvement across the shop.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Oversight
- Supervise finishing team members, including preppers, sanders, and spray operators
- Provide day-to-day guidance on finishing processes, materials, and techniques
- Assign daily tasks and balance workloads to maintain steady throughput
- Train and coach new and existing employees on techniques, standards, and expectations
- Hold team members accountable to safety, quality, and performance standards
- Work actively in the finishing department as needed (prep, sanding, spraying, etc.)
- Monitor due dates and clearly communicate priorities and deadlines to the team
- Ensure continuous workflow through the department by minimizing downtime and bottlenecks
- Coordinate closely with assembly, hardware, and delivery departments to maintain schedule alignment
- Monitor workmanship during and after finishing to ensure consistent, high-quality results
- Perform spot checks and final inspections of finished pieces
- Ensure finishing materials (stains, paints, top coats) are mixed, stored, and applied according to standards
- Enforce safety procedures
- Maintain a clean, organized, and professional finishing area
- Identify and submit requests for equipment repair, replacement, or upgrades (spray booths, pumps, guns, etc.)
- Test, document, and evaluate new finishing materials and processes
- Recommend process improvements related to durability, consistency, efficiency, and quality
- Partner with management on continuous improvement initiatives
- Serve as the primary communication link between the finishing team and management
- Report daily progress, quality concerns, and equipment issues to management
- Attend Production Management Team meetings
- Communicate updates and priorities clearly to finishing team members
- Lead by example with strong craftsmanship, professionalism, and safety awareness
- Proactively address issues before they impact quality or schedule
- Foster teamwork, accountability, and pride within the finishing department
- Actively contribute ideas and feedback as part of the Production Management Team
- Maintain efficiency without compromising company quality standards
- Experience in cabinet or millwork finishing (prep, stain, paint, and top coat)
- Prior leadership or team lead experience preferred
- Strong understanding of finishing materials, equipment, and safety practices
- Ability to manage priorities, communicate clearly, and problem-solve in a production environment
- Hands-on mindset with attention to detail and quality