Operational Excellence Principal Engineer

Where you will work

Clearwater Paper is a premier independent supplier of paperboard packaging products to North American converters. Headquartered in Spokane, Washington, our team produces high-quality paperboard that provides sustainable packaging solutions for consumer goods and food service applications.

Our business thrives on the foundation of our talented team members. Embodying our core values of commitment, collaboration, communication, courage, and character, we foster an environment where every person is safe, respected, and valued. Through community giving, a matching gift program, employee volunteerism, and more, we support the communities where we live and work. For additional information, please visit our website at www.clearwaterpaper.com.

This role is a remote/hybrid role that requires up to 50% travel.

What you will do

The Operational Excellence Senior Project Engineer would be leading in collaboration with mill operations, maintenance, and external engineering the development and deployment of capital improvement projects. This role is responsible for developing scope, costs, and schedules related to capital improvements and repairs on the three integrated pulp and paper mills located in Lewiston, ID; Arkansas City, AR; and Augusta, GA.

The Principal Engineer will be called upon to execute capital project management best practices including but not limited to Front End Loading reviews, Interactive Planning Sessions, project playbook execution, change management planning, and construction management. This role is also responsible for tracking and reporting to divisional leaders and mill leadership on project schedules and budgets.

Key Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with Operational Excellence Technology group and key stakeholders in the mill to develop technical solutions relating to improved productivity, reliability, and quality
• Lead efforts with mill personnel to assist development of Standard Operating Procedures, Standard Maintenance Work Plans, Operator Basic Care rounds, Process Variation Reduction methodologies, and training plans for operators and maintenance personnel
• Foster an environment that encourages employee engagement through demonstration and modelling of Clearwater Paper's Core Values
• Drive a culture of technical collaboration throughout business
• Ensure adequate engineering tracking and reporting controls are being followed to evaluate the projects progress, schedule, and performance
• Help in overseeing construction efforts and assist with any troubleshooting or problem solving required to meet the design intent
• Ensures drawings and design details of existing facility are up to date and all field modifications made during construction are accurately documented
• Supports site in evaluating projects requiring outside engineering
• Develops or enhances project tools and engineering guidelines used to standardize engineering practices as it pertains to project management and implementation

Key Competencies and Attributes

• Strong analytical skills to leverage data to drive quantitative and analytically based business decisions and take smart risks
• Demonstrated leadership courage to identify and communicate project risks; develop, align resources and communicate countermeasures to mitigate risks
• Able to think strategically and act tactically, hands on
• Demonstrated ability to lead in a matrixed and highly collaborative environment to influence change and core processes
• Confidence in dealing with ambiguity; bringing different perspectives to light and rallying others to aligned goals and objectives
• High degree of business curiosity; quick learner with a proactive and agile mindset
• Optimistically looks toward future for opportunities to innovate and improve
• Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal); leading and presenting complex materials for various audiences
• Demonstrated experience in influencing across diverse team- creating a vision, strategy, gaining alignment, developing plans and tactics to ensure delivery
• Demonstrated strong change management skills, aligning and bringing others along- act to improve culture, process, products
• Demonstrated ability to understand the organizational impact in decision making; see the big picture and distill it into action plans
• Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy while ensuring alignment across multiple stakeholders, self-starter with ability and desire to collaborate with teams.
• Uses understanding of customer needs and the organization's customer service practices to set priorities, make decisions, and take actions that create customer satisfaction and prevent service issues from occurring

What you will need

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field preferred
• Minimum ten years of experience in paper mill operations with progressive responsibility required
• Minimum five years of budgetary responsibilities
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing personal development through continuing education, coaching and developing others
• Highly adept performing at a fast pace communicating and collaborating across multiple stakeholders
• Previous experience using a Computer Maintenance Management system preferred (e.g., JD Edwards)
• Must possess analytical troubleshooting skills
• Must have good verbal and written communication skills
• Continuous improvement/lean manufacturing experience preferred
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and Outlook
• Demonstrated ability to foster Continuous Improvement

Total Rewards Detail:

We prioritize an exceptional workplace experience, offering a comprehensive total reward package. Compensation ranges are estimates based on market data. Actual offers account for internal equity and candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, education, experience, and geographic location. Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and more, generally begin after 30 days. Our paid time off will include vacation days, personal days, and company holidays. For more on our compensation philosophy, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition Team at Talent.Acquisition@clearwaterpaper.com.

Interested in learning more about career opportunities at Clearwater Paper? Visit our careers page.

Clearwater Paper does not offer sponsorship for employment-based visa status (including, but not limited to, H-1B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and will not require Clearwater Paper's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

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