DRC Director of Operations

Sellars is seeking an experienced and driven leader to oversee all DRC (Double Re-Crepe) manufacturing operations across our Industrial Road and Good Hope Road facilities. This critical role provides leadership across Safety, Production, Quality, Scheduling, and Maintenance functions, ensuring operational excellence and alignment with customer needs. DRC is a cellulosic-based specialty nonwovens technology. This position is responsible for ensuring systems and processes are in place to achieve and continuously improve key metrics in the areas of Safety, Quality, Productivity, Cost and Customer Service while balancing Sellars' capabilities to meet our customers' needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned:

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the IR and Good Hope Production teams, Maintenance Teams and Logistic Teams to meet or exceed key metrics of Safety, Quality, Production Rate, Uptime, Waste, and Operating Cost. The performance of the DRC Director of Operations will be evaluated relative to these metrics.
• Leading and Managing in an ethical manner according to the company code of conduct.
• Understand and follow direction from the Company COO and the Sr. Management team and proactively communicate information back to them.
• Develop the capabilities of the DRC Leadership Team to effectively lead and manage the day-to-day and long-term DRC Operation.
• Develop a deep and thorough knowledge of the DRC Process and the DRC manufacturing asset.
• Work closely with VP of Technology and Quality whose responsibilities include planning of base paper production runs and assuring that the incoming base sheet is made to established specifications.
• Support a culture of Excellence in Quality by ensuring adherence to established Quality Control and Quality Management Systems and Strategy.
• Seek opportunities for continuous improvement in the areas of Safety, Quality, Productivity, Cost Reduction and Logistics that enable teams to effectively and efficiently carry out their work.
• Proactively identify capital investment opportunities and needs with positive ROIs. Investigate options and acting within the scope of your authority, create capital requests and manage ongoing capital projects.
• Lead good manufacturing practices and values.
• Provide leadership and champion teamwork and capability development of the Manufacturing personnel including the Competency Based Training (CBT) System.
• Provide leadership to identify and eliminate barriers that get in the way of personnel to effectively carry out their work and achieving team and company goals and objectives.
• Provide timely communication and information so that DRC Manufacturing personnel understand customer and business needs and how well they are delivering against those needs.
• Develop, review, and implement annual DRC Manufacturing Objectives, Goals, and Action Plans (OGAP) that drive improved customer satisfaction and continuous improvement in areas of safety, quality, productivity and cost reduction.
• Remain current with relevant industry and business developments.
• Periodically assess DRC Manufacturing capabilities against developments in related/relevant technologies to identify and sponsor value adding investments. Support new product development efforts as required. Support efforts to qualify new suppliers, new raw materials, and or services.
• Be a positive role model and ethical representative for Sellars to all stake holders and the public at large.

Qualifications: An individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily to successfully meet the requirements of this position. The information below is viewed as representative of knowledge and physical attributes needed to be successful in this position.

Key Interactions:

• Works closely with the VP of Manufacturing, Converting Plant Manager, VP of DRC Technology and Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain in developing and carrying out an overall long term strategy that drives manufacturing excellence.
• Works closely with the Operational, Logistical and Maintenance Leadership to ensure the day-to-day operation is meeting or exceeding key metrics.
• Leads and interacts with the Production Managers, maintenance and operating personnel on a regular basis to understand issues and problems, as well as provide the support and direction required for effective resolution.
• Works closely with Supply Chain and Customer Service to ensure key customer requirements (quality and on-time delivery) are met.
• Interacts with Sellars' Executive Management Team to understand the state of the business and its needs and provide information or feedback on the performance of the manufacturing operation.

Knowledge and Skills Required

• Demonstrated record of working with teams to develop improvement plans (goals, objectives, action plans) in a way that gains team commitment towards achievement.
• Experienced with clearly assessing and articulating the best practices of a successful operation and developing and implementing systems and procedures to transplant and champion those best practices.
• Excellent communication and coaching skills with the capability to confront and deal with issues in a positive, complete manner.
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve (identify problems, define root cause, develop multiple solutions and select and implement most effective solutions).
• Effective interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Demonstrated capability to function within a cross functional team and/or to lead cross functional teams.
• Recognizes and values skills and knowledge possessed by operators and mechanics.
• Proficient in computer spreadsheet, word processing and internet software.
• Flexibility in work assignments.
• Ability to seek out, listen and value inputs from all levels in the organization.
• Ability to exercise professionalism, courtesy and tact in dealing with all members of the Sellars organization and external entities.

Education and/or Experience Required

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a manufacturing operation with continuous process(es) and 5 years experience in process technology. Paper making experience is highly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical field (5 additional years of experience in a leadership position can be substituted)
• MBA helpful
• Demonstration of continual education (through membership in a recognized organization, seminars attended, & certifications)
• Proficiency in Lean Tools (5S, VSM, Lean, QDF, etc) preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Must be able to handle overall responsibility for the 24/7/365 operation.
• Work at a desk to operate a computer and phone.
• Sit, stand or walk for extended periods of time.
• Occasional bending, kneeling, crouching, climbing ladders or entry into enclosed spaces.
• Hear and speak well enough to effectively communicate with others.

Benefits:

We frequently seek avenues to enhance our total rewards package as we recognize that our associates are a significant asset to our success and the community! All benefits are available to you from day one!

Medical insurance Flex Spending Account Dental Vision Voluntary Supplemental insurance Employee Assistance Program (Paid) Short-term Disability (Paid) Long-term Disability 401K (100% company match on the first 4% & total company match of 5%) Employee Discount

S ellars Absorbent Materials is an equal opportunity employer. Sellars Absorbent Materials does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.