Manager Sr-Fiber Supply

Clearwater Paper (NYSE: CLW) is a publicly held company and a premier supplier of private brand tissue to major retailers, including grocery, drug, mass merchants and discount stores. In addition, the company produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters, and offers services that include custom sheeting, slitting, and cutting. Clearwater Paper's employees build shareholder value by developing strong relationships through quality and service. Working at Clearwater Paper provides an opportunity to enrich your career through challenging and meaningful work and ongoing training and development—all in a supportive environment. We know our success depends on your success. 

The Senior Fiber Manager is responsible for working under the supervision of the Mill Manager or designated Manufacturing leader to procure 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 the sourcing, acquisition, cost, quality, delivery logistics and inventory management of multi-million green tons of fiber as defined by the mill site(s) being supported with an estimated delivered cost well over $100 million dollars.

Where you will work

The Augusta mill sits along the Savannah River, on the state border between Georgia and South Carolina and manufactures light, medium, and heavy weight coated paperboard. It is a well-invested SBS paperboard manufacturing facility with approximately 600 thousand tons of capacity.  This facility boasts over 700 employees and has been in operation for almost 65 years.  Located on 3,000 acres, the Augusta facility operates two paper machines that produce 1,940 tons per day. 

Augusta, Georgia is a vibrant community 150 miles east of Atlanta and 70 miles west of Columbia.  Downtown Augusta is home to many of Augusta’s most popular attractions, locally owned restaurants, and nightlife. From March through November, the Augusta Market brings local and regional tastemakers and artisans of all kinds to the 8th Street entrance to the Riverwalk.  The Masters Tournament has placed Augusta on a world stage, confirming its well-earned reputation for tradition, hospitality, and heritage.  Students from around the country call Augusta home thanks to Augusta University, Georgia Military College, Paine College, University of South Carolina Aiken and many technical and educational institutes around Augusta’s River Region

What you will do:

Fiber Procurement:

• Responsibility for scheduling and managing inventory of fiber for PPD in the designated territory, and for integration of pulp log and saw log fiber flows. Includes the procurement of wood chips, sawdust, all logs, and hogged fuel or bark sales (as applicable) support the company’s pulping, boiler and chip mill operations at the lowest possible cash cost.
• Builds vendor relations through meeting participation and regular communication regarding current business needs and opportunities for improvement.
• Establish and build strong internal relationships with key stakeholders to clearly understand material and service requirements.
• Review and adhere to pricing decisions.
• In addition to managing the volumes within relevant mills, this position may assist with marketing/trading excess volume.
• Adhere to the operating budget

Contract Monitoring and Adherence:

• Review and adhere to procurement contracts for wood fiber and wood fiber transportation (trucking, rail, barging).
• Review and adhere to processing rates with multiple whole log chippers, contract loggers, tub grinders and in-woods hog fuel processing operations

Strategic Planning:

• Support the Company in finding strategic sourcing options, cost impacts, risks, and fiber market conditions.
• Reviews and uses market trend information to develop spend category recommendations which match company goals and strategy.
• Provide an integrated Clearwater view of destination changes of pulp/saw logs and residual products as they influence PPD’s total fiber expenditures.
• Develop and maintain an in-depth knowledge of the dynamics and economics of the wood products industry throughout the regions where the Company operates.

Quality Control: 

• In depth understanding of product certification, including experience with chain of custody certification, development of policies and procedures which meet third party standards, training of effective staff and successful audit completion.
• Ensure each operation measures and documents suppliers’ product quality attributes, quality assurance and quality improvement plans.
• Implement all relevant Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards and maintain FSC Certification for operations governed by the standard.
• Implement all relevant Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) standards and maintain SFI Certification for operations governed by the standard.

Key Competencies and Attributes:

• Absolute self-starter who works without direct supervision the majority of the time. Must have in-depth knowledge of the fiber markets in designated territories.
• Strong understanding of critical financial key levers in logistics and procurement of fiber sources
• 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 Bring: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Forestry, Natural Resources or equivalent experience.
• 10 years of experience in pulp mill operations and/or wood products industry.
• Registered forester strongly preferred or can acquire registered forester status within an 18-month period from time of hire.

Skills/Abilities: 

• 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.

Illustrative Essential Functions:

• 50% travel; mostly by car/truck/SUV
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required when in warehouse, on production floor, or in industrial setting.
• Some minor fatigue and eye strain due to regular computer use and reading.

Total Reward Details:
We’re committed to providing an exceptional workplace experience, including a comprehensive total reward package. This position is eligible for our Incentive Plan. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience among other factors. Benefits are generally available after 30 days and include medical, dental, vision, life, disability coverage, employee assistance program, and a 401k plan. Paid time off will include vacation days, personal days, and company holidays. 

 #Clearwater 

Clearwater Paper does 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 will not require Clearwater Paper's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to set forth the essential functions required for this position and describe the general nature of the work performed by employees in this position.  It may not contain an exhaustive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.  Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as necessary.  The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and to require employees to perform other tasks bases on changes in circumstances or conditions of the Company’s business, competitive considerations, or the work environment.  This document is not an employment contract.