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Operations Manager

Lewiston, ID

Where you will work

The Lewiston mill is the largest of Clearwater Paper’s facilities, producing both paperboard and tissue product, and boasting over 1200 talented employees. Approximately two hours away from Clearwater Paper’s headquarters in Spokane, Washington, the Lewiston paper mill is a key component in Clearwater Paper’s business strategy. This location offers employees an opportunity to learn both sides of the business while influencing key business decisions and outcomes. 


Located on the border of Idaho and Washington, Lewiston provides a host of opportunities for those who love the outdoors including fishing, boating, camping, and skiing. There are several social and civic opportunities to participate in including Boys & Girls Club, Twin County United Way, Lewis Clark Partners Habitat for Humanity, and more. Clearwater Paper values involvement with the community and the partnerships created as a result. Lewiston is in close proximity to the University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Lewis-Clark State College, as well as several strong K-12 school districts.     


What you will do

The Pulp, Power and Recovery Operations Manager will ensure the Lewiston “backend” operations safely produce a reliable and environmentally sustainable low-cost supply of utilities and products that meet/exceed customer specifications and expectations. This role leads the operations of two of the most industry-leading continuous digesters, two recovery boilers and three power boilers. The Manager is chartered to maximize efficiency and profitability by leading a team of direct and indirect reports ensuring safety and environmental compliance, developing their teams to meet tomorrow’s challenges today, and maintaining multimillion-dollar capital assets to delivering quality products.


Reporting to the mill manager, this role will focus on improving and optimizing current processes across our mill, establish strategic direction and execute operational excellence for operations. Directs the production operation and manages the most difficult problems involving the manufacturing process, ensuring the manufacture of products in planned quantities, at budgeted cost, and at desired quality.

  • Lead pulp, power and recovery team to develop and deliver key business metrics focusing on cost management and productivity goals that enable the site to meet or exceed expectations.
  • Build organizational capabilities (structure, leadership competencies and organizational talent mix) and reinforce a culture of driving industry-leading performance.
  • Lead the pulp, power and recovery departments in a way that fosters a culture committed to safety, quality, and a fully engaged workforce in a manner consistent with Clearwater Paper Values.
  • Support and demonstrate the values of continuous improvement, learning, and shared accomplishment
  • Drive short- and long-term strategy development and implementation across operations to achieve department goals and objectives ensuring alignment with the broader mill, division, and corporate strategic plans.
  • Provide insights on available capacity, manufacturing capability, and demand; identify opportunities to improve efficiencies, develop and implement plans ensuring alignment with broader mills, division, and corporate strategic plans
  • Develop manufacturing models and corresponding inventory strategies that deliver against operational cost targets
  • Proactively drive cost optimization projects that deliver higher efficiency on an ongoing basis.
  • Champion organizational development and talent programs that anticipate and address shifts in talent pools.


Key Competencies and Attributes

  • Strong understanding of critical financial key levers in production, manufacturing, and logistics operations
  • Demonstrated ability to lead in a matrixed and highly collaborative environment to influence and drive process and change management
  • Demonstrated ability to understand the organizational impact in decision making
  • Inspires trust through influencing, passion, and active engagement with teams
  • Drives engagement within the team and for the purpose of the organization
  • Catalyzes change – acts to improve culture, process, and products.
  • Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal); leading and presenting materials for various audiences
  • Current knowledge and proficiency with MS Office suite
  • Able to think strategically; act tactically; hands-on


What you will need

To be successful in this position, we are looking for candidates with the following:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management or related field (required)
  • 10+ years of continuous manufacturing process leadership with increasing experience in pulp and paper production
  • Five (5) + years of budgetary responsibility demonstrating business acumen skills (required)
  • Seven (7) + years of experience in pulp and recovery departments (required)
  • Maintenance, Supply Chain, or Commercial experience (preferred)
  • Demonstrated experiences in identifying and leading process improvement initiatives functionally and organizationally applying Six Sigma, Lean, Kaizen, and change management methodologies
  • Quick learner, who is optimistic and curious with a strong motivation for continuous improvement through collaboration.
  • Strong technical skills in the understanding and operation of the pulp, power, and recovery section of the mill.
  • Excellent troubleshooting skills especially for the pulp, power, and recovery area.
  • Strong organizational and leadership skills are required.
  • Must demonstrate talent development through assessment and utilization of career development plans. Ability to provide accurate and clear feedback required.
  • Strong project planning skills. Demonstrate ability to review plans and quickly identify gaps.
  • Appropriately challenges to deliver the best possible outcomes.
  • Ability to thoroughly understand the economic and financial levers of the business, analyze for improvement opportunities and make decisions to improve performance.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Office environment, but routinely involves work or travel in process and heavy machinery production environment.
  • Personal protective equipment is required when in the mill.
  • Some eye fatigue due to computer terminal use.
  • Lifting, bending, climbing, walking, reading and standing.


Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities


The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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