Job Description: The Project Manager - Finish Development leads the execution of finish development for New Product Introductions (NPIs) across MasterBrand's product groups and brands. The role takes ownership once a finish concept has been approved by the Design & Innovation team - driving development post-universal master through site standardization and production validation, and ensuring finishes are delivered within scope, on time, and to standard. The Project Manager is consulted on universal master approvals and approves site standards at key development gates, manages external finish vendors and coatings suppliers, and helps shape and align finish strategy across brands.
Partnering closely with Brand/Product leadership, Design & Innovation, finish technicians, manufacturing site finish teams, Sourcing, and Operations, this individual champions a disciplined, data-driven development process. A central focus of the role is the continuous improvement of the processes and tools that support finish development - advancing the function toward standardized, centralized digital workflows built on SharePoint lists and forms, automated workflows, and Power BI reporting. The Project Manager utilizes the MasterBrand Way tools to coordinate cross-functional deliverables including color targets, vendor formulations, technical documentation, product schedules, and launch readiness.
Responsibilities:Finish Development & NPI Execution- Drive finish development for New Product Introductions, site standardization, and production validation.
- Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, and tracking to ensure each finish program is completed within scope, time, and budget.
- Champion the finish development process and lead the cross-functional project team and stakeholders toward each finish's launch goals.
- Maintain effective project tracking, meeting minutes, action items, and status updates across active finish programs; ensure plant readiness for on-time finish launches and introductions.
Site Standard Review & Approval- Participate in Universal Master review in consulted capacity - comparing doors to the approved target, ensuring approval thresholds are met, and confirming approved finishes are labeled, measured, and documented.
- Measure site standards against universal master lab targets and tolerances so all sites qualify against a consistent numeric standard (X-Rite / LAB).
- Review and approve site standard submissions against the universal master, managing vendor iterations through qualification.
External Vendor Management- Manage external finish vendors and coatings suppliers through formulation iterations and acceptable color match.
- Direct vendor commodity development - touch-up kits, edge banding, and prefinished components - against the universal master.
- Coordinate the storage and distribution of universal masters from Jasper - shipping approved masters to external vendors and manufacturing sites and tracking shipment details to support qualification and site standard development.
- Lead vendor qualification activities, including FAIR paperwork and global sourcing quality coordination where applicable.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for finish supplier communication, escalations, and performance.
Finish Strategy & Cross-Brand Alignment- Help manage and align finish strategies across product groups and brands, driving common color alignment and standardization where appropriate.
- Partner with Brand/Product, Design & Innovation, Sourcing, and Operations to align the finish portfolio with business priorities and best practices.
- Utilize product analytics and support Life Cycle Management to determine necessary finish changes and assess the associated business impact.
Continuous Improvement of Process & Tools- Drive continuous improvement of the processes and tools used to facilitate finish development, advancing the function from manual handoffs and disparate logs toward standardized, centralized, and auditable digital workflows.
- Lead the adoption and ongoing enhancement of SharePoint lists and forms, automated workflows, and Power BI dashboards to capture finish data - iterations, LAB/X-Rite values, vendor formulations, and approvals - and provide visibility across stakeholders.
- Identify data gaps and process risks, then design and implement standardized workflows that improve traceability, reduce cycle time, and strengthen decision-making.
- Apply MasterBrand Way / lean tools to simplify finish development processes and improve first-pass quality.
General- Support peer groups and other key functional areas of the business (Sourcing, Operations, etc.) to build the teams necessary to execute project goals.
- Implement effective test plans as required for successful project implementation.
- Consistently demonstrate the traits of the MasterBrand Way.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned at management's discretion.
Qualifications:- Bachelor's level degree in Engineering or other related field required.
- 5+ years of relevant experience is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated project management experience leading cross-functional projects to on-time completion.
- Demonstrated project management software experience preferred, such as MS Project, Smartsheet, etc.
- Familiarity with industrial wood finishing processes - paint, custom color, stain, glaze, and specialty finishes - and related coatings preferred.
- Understanding of color management and measurement (e.g., X-Rite / LAB values) a plus.
- Experience managing external vendors/suppliers and qualification processes (e.g., FAIR) preferred.
- Demonstrated experience improving processes and building digital tools and workflows - e.g., SharePoint lists and forms, Power Automate workflows, and Power BI - strongly preferred.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience with project management software such as MS Project, Smartsheet, etc.
