Chip Operations Manager II

Where you will work

Lewiston is Clearwater Paper's original manufacturing facility and home to nearly 700 dedicated team members who power our site. Together, we make paperboard used in products across the United States, including food packaging, plates, cups and more. Home to the first mill that produced poster board from wood waste, the site currently operates two paper machines, two extruders, two power boilers and two recovery boilers.

Located where the Snake and Clearwater rivers meet on the Idaho-Washington border, Lewiston offers an active outdoor lifecycle with easy access to fishing, boating, hiking and camping. The region's milder climate means more rain than snow in the winter and long, sunny days in the summer.

Living here means you'll be close to Lewis-Clark State College, University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Walla Walla Community College, as well as strong local K-12 school districts.

What you will do

The Chip Operations Manager II is responsible for procuring quality raw materials in a cost-effective manner, ensure adherence to quality standards in all facets of duties, and provide support to strategic planning initiatives to further develop and improve procurement processes and functions. This position is directly responsible for managing cost, quality, and delivery of wood chips from the Clarkston Facility to Clearwater Paper in Lewiston.

In addition, this role provides leadership and management of the on-site employees for the attainment of goals in Safety, Environmental, and Quality in the operation of Clearwater Fiber.

Leadership/Production

• Ensure proper equipment maintenance and adequately trained labor is available to maintain wood chip production at or above budgeted levels and at the lowest possible cost
• Provide support, feedback and direction to direct reports via daily and weekly interactions as well as at annual employee evaluations
• Ensure proper predictive and preventive maintenance procedures are established and utilized to maximize uptime reliability of log scales, chip mill and mobile equipment
• Support employee involvement in decision making and planning
• Provide direction for trouble shooting efforts during upset conditions
• Ensure scaling and equipment availability to suit scheduled pulp log deliveries
• Coordinate truck schedules for chips, sawdust and hog fuel deliveries to IPP
• Ensure pulp log deliveries/usage planned to facilitate "inventory cut-outs"
• Participate in Fiber Team meetings in developing least cost fiber sourcing and longer-term volume planning strategies

Safety/Environmental Compliance

• Promote safety awareness by having discussions with Supervisors and Operators on a regular basis
• Conduct safety tours of operating areas
• Review first aid and incident reports and follow up on corrective actions
• Be an active leader in the use of behavior-based safety process
• Ensure that all employees are trained yearly on all required Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety training and that all safety guidelines are followed
• Implement proactive measures to reduce injuries and risk to employees
• Implement proactive systems and procedures to ensure Best Management Practices for the environment

Quality

• Ensure wood chips, sawdust and hog fuel products meet the required quality targets
• Implement operating targets and measurement systems to ensure chip quality and highest value recovery targets are optimized
• Ensure all employees are trained and understand their roles in providing quality output products

Cost Control

• Develop and be accountable for annual operating budget
• Develop and assist in the short term and long-term capital planning process for projects
• As required, assist in development of production volume and spending projections for annual budgeting and forecasting purposes with the Manager Sr. Fiber Supply
• Monitor spending on an ongoing basis. Implement measures to reduce/eliminate wasteful spending and/or redundant resources
• Remain proactive in seeking out new technology(s) that would reduce costs
• Seek out synergies that would reduce overall chip plant costs and/or savings that would financially benefit overall IPP operations
• Formally review monthly spending with Manager Sr. Fiber Supply

Key Competencies & Attributes

• Self-starter who works without direct supervision most of the time
• Strong understanding of critical financial key levers in the operation of the site
• Demonstrated ability to lead in a matrixed and highly collaborative environment to influence and drive process and change management
• Systematically evaluates business opportunities, targeting those with the greatest potential for producing positive business results
• Considers potential positive and negative impact, business unit priorities, organizational values, and the opportunity to enhance own knowledge and skill
• Identifies barriers that impact customer service and retention; communicates concerns and recommendations to leadership
• Uses understanding of customer needs and the organization's customer service practices to set priorities, make decisions, and take actions that create customer satisfaction and prevent service issues from occurring
• Drives engagement within the team and for the purpose of the organization
• Creates relevant options for addressing problems and opportunities that will achieve desired outcomes
• Systematically evaluates business opportunities, targeting those with the greatest potential for producing positive business results

What you will need

• 5+ years of experience in operations
• 5+ years' experience in the developing and implementing of short term and long-term strategic capital planning process
• 5+ years' experience of developing and executing yearly approved operational budgets
• Familiar with the wood products market, finances and transportation requirements and negotiations
• Ability to effectively communicate to leadership, peers, suppliers, and customers
• Working knowledge of log harvest effects on pulpwood supply
• Working knowledge of lumber and plywood manufacturing operations and associated residual fiber production
• Working knowledge of urban wood and in-woods hogged fuel collections and processing systems/markets
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills to express ideas and opportunities to superiors, peers, subordinates, suppliers and customers
• Must be proficient in Excel and Office software
• 90 percent onsite with 10 percent travel primarily by motor vehicle
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required when in woodyard, on production floor, or in industrial setting

Total Rewards Details

We prioritize an exceptional workplace experience, offering a comprehensive total reward package. This position is eligible for our Incentive Plan. Compensation ranges are estimates based on market data. Actual offers account for internal equity and candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, education, experience, and geographic location. Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and more, generally begin after 30 days. Our paid time off will include vacation days, personal days, and company holidays. For more on our compensation philosophy, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition Team at Talent.Acquisition@clearwaterpaper.com.

Clearwater Paper will not offer sponsorship for employment-based visa status (including, but not limited to, H-1B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require Clearwater Paper's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

#ClearwaterPaper #Lewiston

This role will be open for a minimum of 2 weeks or at the point a successful candidate is selected.