Business Unit Leader - Paper Mill Operations

Knowhirematch•Anderson, SC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Business Unit Leader — Paper Mill Operations Overview A consumer products manufacturer is seeking a hands-on Business Unit Leader to own end-to-end production operations for a paper mill business unit running across multiple shifts. This role leads ~100+ employees with 7–10 direct reports and is accountable for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale while driving continuous improvement. What You’ll Do Lead daily operations for the business unit across multiple shifts; set priorities and allocate resources to meet plan. Manage, coach, and develop a team of supervisors/engineers/technicians; build bench strength and a high-performance culture. Own KPI performance (OEE, yield, waste, uptime, throughput, safety, quality); diagnose gaps and execute recovery plans. Champion Lean/Six Sigma and project management to deliver sustained CI across the paper machine and supporting processes. Ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards; model and enforce a zero-injury culture. Partner with maintenance, quality, supply chain, and technical teams to optimize runnability and product performance. Plan and execute capital and productivity projects; manage budgets and timelines. Standardize best practices, visual management, and tiered daily management routines.

Requirements

Must-Have Qualifications Bachelor’s degree (Engineering, Paper Science, or related field).
Paper industry background from a paper mill with direct paper machine operating/leadership experience.
Backgrounds limited to corrugated, lumber, or general packaging are not eligible for this role.
Proven production leadership managing 100+ employees and 7–10 direct reports across multiple shifts.
Demonstrated success in continuous improvement with Lean and/or Six Sigma and formal project management experience.
Track record of driving change and improving key metrics (safety, quality, cost, delivery, OEE).

Nice To Haves

Strong floor presence; decisive, data-driven, and calm under pressure.
Excellent coaching, mentoring, and talent-development skills.
Effective cross-functional collaborator with clear, direct communication.

Responsibilities

Lead daily operations for the business unit across multiple shifts; set priorities and allocate resources to meet plan.
Manage, coach, and develop a team of supervisors/engineers/technicians; build bench strength and a high-performance culture.
Own KPI performance (OEE, yield, waste, uptime, throughput, safety, quality); diagnose gaps and execute recovery plans.
Champion Lean/Six Sigma and project management to deliver sustained CI across the paper machine and supporting processes.
Ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards; model and enforce a zero-injury culture.
Partner with maintenance, quality, supply chain, and technical teams to optimize runnability and product performance.
Plan and execute capital and productivity projects; manage budgets and timelines.
Standardize best practices, visual management, and tiered daily management routines.