Engineering Director - Paper Operations

The Director of Engineering – Paper, will report to the EVP of Engineering and will manage a team of engineers and technologists. The focus will be to make our portfolio of paper cup, lids, and other containers better, faster, and cheaper to meet our customers’ needs. This position will own the multi-year strategic plan in the paper area including  CapEx/OpEx cost plans, optimizing existing paper manufacturing network, technology of the future, and engineering talent development.

 

• Safety and Compliance:
  • Foster a culture of safety and compliance by implementing and maintaining robust practices and processes.
  • Utilize tools such as FMEA, PSM, and others to mitigate risks and ensure regulatory adherence.
• People Leadership:
  • Develop and mentor a high-performing team of manufacturing engineers.
  • Anticipate and plan for succession to ensure continuity of leadership.
  • Create a positive work environment that fosters motivation, engagement, and accountability.
  • Evaluate organizational structure and adjust meet evolving business needs.
• Strategic and Tactical Planning:
  • Develop long-term technical plans aligned with the company's strategic goals.
  • Propose and implement innovative solutions to complex manufacturing challenges.
  • Optimize manufacturing footprint, labor utilization, operating margins, and ROI.
  • Deploy resources to address technical issues in plants.
• Collaboration and Relationships:
  • Build strong relationships with suppliers and vendors to streamline the equipment procurement process.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (business, R&D, supply chain) to drive mutually beneficial decisions.
• Cost Management and Value Engineering:
  • Forecast, plan, and approve capital expenditures (CapEx) and operational costs (OpEx).
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, quality, service, efficiency, and employee engagement.
  • Implement value-add and value engineering strategies to optimize productivity.
• Technology and Data Management:
  • Stay abreast of technology trends and market demands to identify opportunities for innovation.
  • Establish standardized practices and procedures for engineering activities and ensure team compliance.
  • Leverage data-driven insights to inform decision-making and accountability.

 

 

Core Skills and Qualifications

 

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in engineering, paper science, or related field and at least 10 years of progressive technical and people management experience.
• Experience with the design, engineering, and installation of production lines for paper including roll fed, blank fed, stock preparation, molded fiber and other types of paper converting technology.
• Leadership and Influencing Skills:
  • Proven ability to develop, coach, and mentor talent.
  • Excellent communication skills to persuade and influence stakeholders.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships and foster collaboration.
  • Effective presentation skills, including the ability to explain technical topics to non-technical audiences.
  • Proven history of driving results and accountability in matrix organizations.
• Critical and Strategic Thinking:
  • Ability to generate innovative ideas and solutions.
  • Strategic mindset to understand the big picture and how different components of the customer requirements and plant capability interact.
  • Willingness to make decisions with limited information.
• Technical Capability and Business Acumen:
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver results with a sense of urgency.