Finishing Assistant Manager

APPARATUS; Town of Red Hook (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

APPARATUS is a New York-based designer and manufacturer. Finishing Assistant Manager leads day-to-day finishing operations, drives quality, and mentors the team in alignment with APPARATUS standards of craft.

You will oversee patination, polishing, and color matching while maintaining SOPs, safety, and cross-functional collaboration with Product, Sales, and Client Services.

Qualifications

• 2 years in a comparable manufacturing role with high-quality products.
• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design or Engineering preferred.
• Experience with metal, glass, porcelain, and leather is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support finishing operations to meet production and launch commitments; schedule and manage work orders with real-time system updates.
• Monitor production reports; understand and act on key performance metrics.
• Perform immersion and hand-applied patinas, color matching, hand polishing-waxing-buffing according to work instructions.
• Maintain expert-level aesthetic and functional understanding of all active collections, components, and quality parameters.
• Perform quality control inspections; conduct root cause analysis from discovery through corrective action.
• Train and mentor team members; set the standard for best practices and continuous improvement.
• Lead by example; promote safety, skill-building, and excellence in productivity and quality.
• Collaborate with Product on design and development; support inventory audits and cross-functional projects.

Skills

Finishing operations

Color matching

Patination

Quality control

Leadership

Safety compliance

Manufacturing experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design or Engineering

Tools

ERP systems

3D modeling software

Job description

FINISHING ASSISTANT MANAGER

APPARATUS is a New York-based designer and manufacturer of a distinctive catalog of high-end, high-touch lighting, furniture and objects. We produce both in-house and with the support of high-quality external partners; our catalog is sold globally.

This role supports day-to-day finishing operations, contributing to production quality, team development, and workflow execution in alignment with APPARATUS standards of craft and excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Production Operations and Quality

• Support finishing operations to meet production and launch commitments; schedule and manage work orders with real-time system updates.
• Monitor production reports; understand and act on key performance metrics.
• Perform immersion and hand-applied patinas, color matching, hand polishing-waxing-buffing according to work instructions, and prepare products, as needed..
• Maintain expert-level aesthetic and functional understanding of all active collections, components, and quality parameters.
• Perform quality control inspections; conduct root cause analysis from discovery through corrective action.

Team Leadership and Development

• Train and mentor team members; set the standard for best practices and continuous improvement.
• Lead by example; promote safety, skill-building, and excellence in productivity and quality.
• Ensure compliance with company and regulatory safety requirements; support training.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Product on design and development initiatives; provide technical guidance to Sales and Client Services.
• Support physical inventory audits and cross-functional projects as needed.
• Foster productive working relationships.

Operations and Standards

• Implement and maintain accurate SOPs, work instructions and engineering changes.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe workspace in compliance with regulatory and company policies when working with equipment and hazardous materials.
• Perform equipment maintenance and inspections; support department opening and closing duties.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 2 years in a comparable manufacturing role with high-quality products.
• Manufacturing knowledge and material familiarity with metal, glass, porcelain, and leather. Experience in high-quality lighting or furniture strongly preferred.
• Preferred qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with Industrial Design or Engineering concentration. Software: project workflow, 3D modeling and/or ERP.

SKILLS

• Solid understanding of production operations, dependencies, and process impacts.
• Expert-level cold patina and metal finishing skills; trained in safety protocols, QC methodology, and care and handling standards.
• Highly skilled manual dexterity; proficient with hand tools, hand-applied patination and immersion oxidation systems.
• Ability to perceive color and surface characteristics and quality; and a highly developed eye for aesthetic detail.
• Qualified to read and interpret manufacturing drawings and specifications.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and communication skills; able to motivate, coach, and give effective feedback.
• Analytical problem-solver; proficient with production systems and recordkeeping.
• Adaptable, solutions-oriented, and trustworthy with confidential information.
• Physical: routinely lifts up to 30 lbs, works standing, reaches overhead, climbs ladders; compliant with PPE and hazardous material safety policies.

WORK SCHEDULE

• Full-time, on-site: Monday–Friday between 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
• Extended hours and weekend availability as needed.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND CHECK-INS SCHEDULE

• Regular check-ins.
• Annual performance review.

This is a full-time position with competitive compensation and benefits. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Position is based in our Red Hook, Brooklyn factory. Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.