Area Manufacturing Excellence Leader

Global Cellulose Fibers; Columbus (MS); On-site; USD 121,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Life insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Short-term and Long-term Disability

401(k) and Company-funded retirement

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Global Cellulose Fibers is seeking an Area Manufacturing Excellence Leader in Columbus, MS to drive capital and non-capital cost reductions, waste reduction, and process efficiency across the mill. You will coordinate Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other ME methods, facilitate strategy deployment, and lead multiple cost-reduction elements while mentoring junior engineers.

The role requires a 5–10 year track record in heavy industry manufacturing management, strong communication, and proficiency with

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
• 5–10 years of manufacturing management or process experience in heavy industry.
• Experience as a First Line Leader, Operations Maintenance Coordinator, or Area Process Manager preferred.
• Strong communication, problem solving, time management and facilitation skills.
• Proficient in spreadsheets and word processing; Minitab experience preferred.
• Simca experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement improvements focusing on cost reduction and waste/variability reduction.
• Coordinate ME toolbox use for Six Sigma, Kaizen, and project management.
• Facilitate Strategy Deployment and Realizable Gap processes.
• Lead one or more of the GMS cost-reduction elements.
• Train team leaders and members in ME processes and methods.
• Coordinate departments through project reviews and provide strategic evaluations.
• Support safety initiatives and operate as a technical resource across mill areas.
• Mentor entry level engineers and interns/co-ops on the ME team.

Skills

Communication

Problem solving

Time management

Conflict resolution

Task group facilitation

Minitab

Spreadsheets

Word processing

Simca experience

Education

B.S. in Chemical Engineering

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Minitab

Job description

Area Manufacturing Excellence Leader

Columbus, MS

Pay Rate

$121,300 – 148,300

Multiple factors, including Individual experience, skills and abilities will determine where an employee is ultimately placed in the pay range.

Category/Shift

Salaried Full-Time

About The Role

This position is located at the Columbus, MS Global Cellulose Fibers mill. As one of the largest softwood pulp producers in the world, this location produces bleached softwood pulp for use in paper and specialty products such as absorbent personal care products, pharmaceuticals and photographic-based papers.

• Primarily responsible for development and implementation of deliberate improvements focused on capital and non-capital cost reduction, waste reduction, process efficiency and variability reduction projects as well as continuous improvements within these functional areas.
• Coordinate use of ME toolbox as needed to address mill issues including Six Sigma, Kaizen, Capital Cost Reduction project management and other ME tools.
• Assist in the facilitation of Strategy Deployment and Realizable Gap (R-Gap) processes including periodic reviews.
• Be knowledgeable of the 9 Cost Reduction Global Manufacturing System (GMS) elements and possess the facilitative and organizational skills to lead one or more of these elements.
• Conduct training as needed to ensure both team leaders and team members are knowledgeable on ME processes and methods.
• Coordinate technical efforts of departments through participation in regular project review meetings.
• Support business units with strategic evaluations and/or performance tracking, as well as budgeting/business analysis.
• Conduct all functions within a work systems based framework to ensure sustainability.
• Support operating business units as needed as a technical resource or in an operations management capacity. Act as liaison between operating areas within the mill. Champion resolution of complex operating issues as needed.
• Be knowledgeable and participate in Maintenance/Reliability work systems such as Manufacturing Work Systems (MWS), Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), Basic Care (BC) development and Precision Maintenance (IEPM).
• The ME resource will be required to provide support for project management and/or outage management during annual outages.
• Demonstrate leadership in the area of safety and support broad based participation in the mill’s safety initiatives.
• Actively drive self-development.
• Champion training efforts in the operating areas related to new cost reduction capital and non-capital projects.
• Foster peer relationships within the ME team to ensure overall ME team skill set is constantly growing, particularly where more experienced team members can positively support development of less experienced team members.
• Manage entry level process engineers, and interns/co-ops on the ME team as necessary.

About You: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering
• A minimum of 5-10 years of manufacturing management or process experience in a heavy industrial environment (prior paper or chemical industry experience preferred).
• Prior experience as a First Line Leader, Operations Maintenance Coordinator, and Area Process Manager preferred
• Possess good skills in written and oral communication, problem solving, time management, conflict resolution and task group facilitation.
• Possess strong computer knowledge and skills that include experience with spreadsheets, word processing, and Minitab.
• Simca experience preferred
• Ability to excel with minimal supervision in a team environment.

Key competencies required include

• Managing Through Systems
• Confronting Direct Reports
• Developing Direct Reports,
• Building Effective Teams
• Integrity & Trust
• Motivating Others
• Managerial Courage
• Problem Solving
• Action Oriented

About Global Cellulose Fibers (GCF)

Our GCF business helps customers transform renewable cellulose fibers into essential everyday products. Our safe, high-quality pulp forms the basis for a wide range of applications like towel and tissue products, diapers, feminine care, incontinence and other personal care products that promote health and wellness. In addition, our specialty pulp serves as a sustainable raw material used in construction materials, paints, coatings and more. GCF generated $2.8B in revenue in 2024 and has 3,300 employees globally, with nine manufacturing facilities and eight regional offices. Additional information can be found by visiting globalcellulosefibers.com.

Why GCF

Global Cellulose Fibers promotes employee well-being by providing safe, caring and inclusive workplaces. We have team members all around the world with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. These are our strengths. We are committed to creating a culture where all individuals are respected, valued, engaged and have an opportunity to do their best work every day. We invite you to bring your uniqueness, creativity, talents, experiences, and safety mindset to be a part of our increasingly inclusive and diverse culture.

We’ve Got You Covered

At Global Cellulose Fibers, our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits package that includes health, welfare and retirement plans. We are proud to offer a variety of benefits to support our employees and their families, including:

• Medical, Dental, Life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-term and Long-term Disability
• 401(k) and Company-funded retirement contributions
• Paid Time Off

Physical Location of Position

Columbus Cellulose Fibers Mill

4335 Carson Road

Columbus, MS 39701

Global Cellulose Fibers is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Global Cellulose Fibers complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail] or [phone].