Technical Quality Continuous Improvement Manager

Mckinley Paper Company Master; New Mexico; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinley Paper Company Prewitt Mill in New Mexico seeks a Technical, Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager to drive technical performance, product quality, and continuous improvement initiatives across the mill. This role partners with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Environmental, and Supply Chain to maximize safe production and reliability while reducing costs.

The candidate will own the Quality Management System, lead Lean manufacturing, develop KPI dashboards, and mentor future

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Paper Science or related discipline.
• 10+ years of papermaking experience.
• 5+ years in technical/process leadership.
• Strong knowledge of recycled containerboard manufacturing.
• Experience with DCS/QCS systems and statistical process control.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for recycled containerboard manufacturing.
• Own the mill Quality Management System and drive customer satisfaction.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Optimize fiber utilization, machine efficiency, yield, energy and water consumption.
• Lead root cause investigations using RCFA, 5-Why, Fishbone, and Six Sigma tools.
• Develop process standards, SOPs and operator technical capability.
• Manage supplier technical performance, especially process chemicals.
• Develop manufacturing dashboards and KPI reporting.
• Provide technical leadership for capital projects from design through startup.
• Partner cross-functionally to improve safety, quality, productivity and cost.

Skills

Papermaking expertise

Process engineering

Quality systems

Leadership coaching

Analytical problem solving

Change management

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Paper Science or related discipline

Master's degree

Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt

Tools

DCS/QCS systems

Statistical process control

Job description

Job Details

• Level: Management


• Job Location: McKinley Paper Company Prewitt Mill - Prewitt, NM 87045


• Position Type: Full Time


• Education Level: 4 Year Degree


• Travel Percentage: Negligible


• Job Shift: Day


• Job Category: Manufacturing

Position Summary

The Technical, Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for leading the mill\'s technical performance, product quality, process optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role provides the technical leadership necessary to safely maximize production, improve reliability, reduce manufacturing costs, and consistently meet customer quality expectations while partnering with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Environmental, and Supply Chain

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for recycled containerboard manufacturing.


• Own the mill Quality Management System and drive customer satisfaction.


• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.


• Optimize fiber utilization, machine efficiency, yield, energy and water consumption.


• Lead root cause investigations using RCFA, 5-Why, Fishbone, and Six Sigma tools.


• Develop process standards, SOPs and operator technical capability.


• Manage supplier technical performance, especially process chemicals.


• Develop manufacturing dashboards and KPI reporting.


• Provide technical leadership for capital projects from design through startup.


• Partner cross-functionally to improve safety, quality, productivity and cost.

Leadership Expectations

• Lead through influence and technical credibility.


• Develop future technical leaders.


• Promote accountability and data-driven decision making.


• Champion operational excellence and continuous improvement

Qualifications

Key Performance Indicators

• Safety performance and process safety.


• Customer complaints and first-pass quality.


• OEE, production rate and yield.


• Fiber, chemical, steam, energy and water cost per ton.


• Continuous improvement savings and project completion.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor\'s degree in Engineering, Paper Science or related discipline.


• 10+ years of papermaking experience.


• 5+ years in technical/process leadership.


• Strong knowledge of recycled containerboard manufacturing.


• Experience with DCS/QCS systems and statistical process control.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master\'s degree.


• Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt.


• Capital project leadership experience.


• TAPPI standards knowledge.

Critical Competencies

• Papermaking expertise


• Process engineering


• Wet-end chemistry


• Quality systems


• Leadership and coaching


• Analytical problem solving


• Change management


• Operational excellence