Director of Operations

We are looking for a proven manufacturing leader with strong technical and operational knowledge, ideally gained within paper, corrugated, converting, or other paper-web-related manufacturing environments.Experience leading operations within a corrugated plant or paper mill would be particularly valuable.The successful candidate will:Lead from the floor and maintain a highly visible presence across all shifts.Work closely with supervisors and production teams to establish clear daily expectations and performance standards.Develop supervisors into strong, accountable leaders.Drive productivity, quality, safety, and operational discipline.Identify and remove barriers to optimal production performance.Establish a culture built around accountability, urgency, teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.Use daily KPI performance and data to identify opportunities and drive corrective action.Take ownership of the overall production system rather than simply managing individual production activities.Key ResponsibilitiesFollowing an initial orientation and onboarding period, the successful candidate will be responsible for:Manufacturing Performance & Continuous ImprovementLead the continuous improvement of manufacturing standards, processes, and procedures.Improve setup and changeover methods, machine speeds, scrap rates, labor utilization, and overall equipment performance.Establish appropriate labor requirements and crew structures to maximize efficiency.Conduct regular audits of manufacturing procedures and operating standards.Ensure accurate data collection and use operational data to support decision-making.Evaluate crew and team performance and implement improvements where required.Analyze production delays, quality issues, rejects, downtime, and inadequate process controls to identify root causes and corrective actions.Recommend and implement new or improved manufacturing procedures for the production of solid fiber and coated products.Operational ExcellenceBecome a key member of the company's Operational Excellence (OE) team, working alongside leaders across:ManufacturingMaintenanceQualitySupply ChainPartner with the wider operational leadership team to maximize machine rates and reduce overall manufacturing costs.Drive improvements in key performance measures, including Labor$/MSF and other operational KPIs.Contribute to and ultimately take a leadership role in facilitating weekly OE meetings.Establish clear objectives, accountability, and follow-through across OE initiatives.Ideal Candidate ProfileWe are looking for a hands-on manufacturing leader who combines strong technical knowledge with proven people leadership.The ideal candidate will have:Significant experience leading production or operations within a manufacturing environment.Experience working directly with industrial machinery and production processes, preferably involving paper web, paper, corrugated, converting, or related manufacturing.Previous experience leading supervisors, operators, and multi-shift production teams.A track record of improving productivity, quality, efficiency, and manufacturing costs.Strong understanding of production KPIs, data analysis, root-cause problem solving, and continuous improvement.Experience developing frontline supervisors and building high-performing teams.A strong understanding of operational discipline and manufacturing standards.The ability to work collaboratively across Manufacturing, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and other functions.A willingness to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor and engage directly with employees at all levels.We are looking for someone who is visible, decisive, data-driven, hands-on, and passionate about manufacturing excellence.Essentially, this person will lead our manufacturing group and play a critical role in shaping the future performance of the operation.