[Hiring] Fiberline Subject Matter Expert @International Paper

Role Description

Technology Subject Matter Experts (SME)s are internal consultants who use expertise and leadership to deliver improvement within the manufacturing system on a wide range of assignments. The duties vary between:

• Practicing safety leadership
• Troubleshooting
• Deliberate improvement projects
• Capital projects
• Equipment and process studies and audits

The SME must be able to work with minimum guidance and supervision. A key component of a SME’s job is to transfer knowledge and skills to mill personnel to build on-site capability. The SME must have excellent communication and collaboration skills, being able to quickly engage and influence employees from all levels of the organization, including vendors and contractors.

The Fiberline SME is known throughout the enterprise and the industry as a leader in the field and is increasingly requested by name. This individual drives the organization to world-class levels in their area of expertise and beyond. The SME must possess the ability to independently manage change and projects of any size, leading and clearly communicating very complicated analysis to wide audiences. This person influences the organization’s strategic direction particularly in the area of expertise and is aware of and shapes trends in the field.

The Fiberline SME is comfortable working in all of these areas and has a passion that influences the facilities to improve. This expert delivers strong results but may not necessarily be known for a broad skill set or throughout the enterprise as the go-to person to solve the very hardest problems.

Performance measurements are based on the following set of skills and competencies:

• Leadership / Managerial:
  • Interpersonal Savvy – The individual can effectively interact with all levels of the company, across the wide range of cultures and languages within IP operations.
  • Learning on the Fly & Problem Solving – This person is the expert within their area of specialization and must continuously self-develop technical skills as the situation dictates.
  • Presentation & Communication Skills – This person must employ strong verbal and written skills in the rapid communication of issue resolution and new opportunity development.
• The SME is functional across a range of environments and generally fits into team settings, but may not emerge as the clear leader in all situations.
• The SME is able to delegate and work through others much of the time, particularly at the facility level, forming relationships that create trust and results.
• The SME is becoming more strategic but is often more tactical in attacking a problem.
• The SME is able to support numerous projects and can lead a project at a limited level within a facility, but is generally not leading enterprise or business-wide projects.

Functional / Technical:

• Contributes to and delivers improving safety results, with a specific emphasis in the area of expertise.
• Technical knowledge of the area as it relates to proper operations.
• Capable of leading cost savings improvement teams; evaluating operational data, cost reduction project identification, Due Diligence reviews (as required), facility productivity/capacity expansion evaluations, and developing business case justification through high-level capital and cost savings estimates.
• Involved in new process development for fiber lines with established supplier contacts regarding latest designs and process modifications.
• Capable of leading general facility assessments such as replacement cost analysis, tax basis evaluations, and general Manufacturing Excellence (ME) reviews of facilities or business units.
• Wide range of process knowledge backed by relevant/extensive mill level problem-solving experiences with proven ability to provide support/consultation to other technology teams.
• Nearly all the SME’s work will be collaborative. Effective communication with other team members and leveraging their expertise is a key aspect of the role.
• Directly influences profitability impact annually from among the following:
  • Reduction in consumption of direct raw materials, energy, and labor.
  • Improvement in production, reliability, availability, and quality.
  • Operation and performance improvement with the use of benchmarking and best practice sharing.
• Capable of interacting with Project Managers (Mill or Corporate), suppliers, and Regional Engineering Consultants to guide major capital investments.
• Capable of providing preliminary engineering calculations as needed (Basic Engineering) to frame up the key project process scope with input from Manufacturing SMEs and Suppliers.
• Installation support of major capital projects as required.
• Establishment of best practices and area-related policy.
• Monthly and impromptu calls/communications.
• Best Practices replication.
• Monthly communications/status updates on issues, progress, and action plans.
• Contributing to incident communication through alerts and advisories, participating in policy review and development.

The position is physically and personally demanding, requiring travel of 40-60%. Short-term, high priority projects may require intermittently high work hours.

Qualifications

• At least 15 years of experience in operations and service within the area of expertise.
• Capability to support extensive domestic and international travel requirements, providing process technical support on a business priority basis.
• At least a bachelor’s engineering degree.
• Experience in the pulp manufacturing system from chip bins, digesters, brown stock washing, O2 delignification, and bleaching.
• General knowledge of refining, screening, and caustic plant/kiln operations.
• Understanding of how the liquor cycle interacts with the fiberline.

Benefits

• Health, welfare, and retirement plans including Medical, Dental, Life insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Short-term and Long-term Disability.
• 401(k) with company-funded retirement contributions.
• Paid Time Off.
• Education & Development (including Tuition Reimbursement).
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance.
• Voluntary Benefits including insurance for home, auto, vision, and pets.