Senior Director Manufacturing

First Quality was founded in 1989 and has grown to be a global privately held company with over 4,000 employees. Its corporate offices are located in Great Neck, New York, with manufacturing facilities and offices in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia, and Canada. First Quality is a diversified family of companies manufacturing consumer products ranging from Absorbent Hygiene (adult incontinence, feminine care, and baby care), Tissue (bath and towel), and Industrial (print and packaging materials), serving institutional and retail markets throughout the world. First Quality focuses on private label and branded product lines.

The Senior Director of Operations for First Quality Baby Products will have operational oversight for the Macon, GA production facility and will be responsible for strategic manufacturing operations leadership for the site. The role will collaborate with Division and site leadership to drive the long-range strategic planning process, including production planning, scheduling, and resource allocation. The role will collaborate with the key business unit partners to drive actions that have a favorable impact on the P&L while focusing on long-term growth. Additionally, the role is responsible for driving a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Foster a culture of health, safety, and quality
• Drive continuous improvement of manufacturing processes and management methods to generate improved plant performance, workflow optimization, yields and efficiencies, and budget commitments
• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies that align with the company’s overall goals and objectives
• Implement and enforce quality control processes to ensure products meet or exceed customer expectations
• Monitor production processes to ensure efficiency, productivity, and profitability targets are consistently met or exceeded
• Identify areas for process improvement and implement strategies to optimize production workflows and reduce costs
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless coordination and communication throughout the manufacturing process
• Direct, inspire and hold leaders accountable to ensure engagement of all functional areas to drive business performance and deliver results
• Enhance standards, processes and procedures to ensure consistent, high-quality products and build a continuous improvement mindset
• Ensure adherence to state and federal regulations regarding all business components
• Manage operations in support of business growth by ensuring the introduction of new equipment and systems meet safety, quality, cost, consumer, customer, and security requirements
• Drive recruiting, training and retention efforts in collaborations with Human Resources to ensure training, employee development, and work systems enable all employees to maximize their contribution to business success
• Consult with and support sales and product development resources to ensure customer and consumer requirements are met or exceeded

Qualifications/Experience:

The successful candidate will be an experienced plant manufacturing and operations leader who has managed continuous process operations within a high-speed manufacturing environment. This is a hands-on role that requires someone with strong leadership skills that enjoys working in a factory environment.

• Minimum 15 years of manufacturing leadership experience. Specific experience in engineering and operation roles for advanced tissue and paper manufacturing operations are required
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required; advanced degree preferred
• Experience in warehouse management, center lining, and the development of standard operating procedures (SOP’s)
• High speed consumer product manufacturing experience preferred
• Experience with comprehensive safety management systems & quality management systems; fluent in environmental programs
• Strong demonstrated leadership, communications, and analytical skills.
• Highly collaborative and team oriented
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision, effectively work in a fast-paced environment, strong decision making skills
• Proficient with quality and process improvement tools and techniques such as SPC/SQC, TPM, and Six Sigma. Lean Manufacturing experience highly preferred
• Understanding and experience with customer service & an appreciation for the importance of reliable and consistent customer service
• Ability to influence and create partnerships with diverse stakeholders
• Ability to influence, interface and gain credibility across a wide range of levels
• Understand and be able to interpret and analyze financial and operating statements
• Ability to challenge and be challenged in a respectful manner
• Strong problem solver with excellent communication skills to speak clearly and persuasively
• Ability to effectively prioritize, use time efficiently, and develop realistic action plans
• Ability to identify, motivate, mentor, and develop top talent

Skills/Competencies:

A strong leader as well as technical problem solver of production processes. This person will be expected to meet high expectations and demonstrate a strong sense of urgency, strive for collaboration but dictate when necessary while possessing unquestioned integrity. Characteristics include:

• A working manager willing to “roll up the sleeves” to develop best-in-class operational processes
• The patience and persistence to ensure production controls are robustly fulfilled before moving to focus on broader responsibilities
• Capability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Persuasive and confident communicator, with the ability to connect with employees at all levels
• Attention to detail combined with tact and diplomacy
• A self-starter who takes initiative and has a bias for action
• Inspires trust, engagement and respect at all levels of the company
• Strong Change Management leader that motivates the team while driving necessary business/organizational restructuring activities

First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.

First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.