Manufacturing Technical Service Leader

First Quality • Anderson, SC

12d • Onsite

About The Position

First Quality is seeking a Manufacturing Technical Service Leader for its First Quality Tissue SE, LLC facility in Anderson, South Carolina. The position manages FQT fabric design technology supporting tissue paper machine daily and annual operations, with the goal of achieving targets for base sheet quality tests, machine uptime, energy performance, and fabric lifetime.

The role provides technical support for paper machine fabrics, including fabric inventory and orders, supplier coordination, fabric specifications and test results, machine troubleshooting, data tracking, continuous-improvement trials, and design support. It also coordinates fabric trials and installations, oversees fabric records and aging, manages design obsolescence and vendor qualification, supports fabric treatments and forensic analysis, and helps identify fabric cost savings. The role works closely with the paper machine team, process engineering, Procurement, Finance, suppliers, and other internal and external partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and/or Paper Science.
• Five years of experience in tissue manufacturing.
• Five years of experience in fabric design and manufacturing.
• Knowledge of tissue TAD manufacturing, including base-sheet and finished-product test results, machine equipment, and operations.
• Operations knowledge and skill in process troubleshooting, including ATS (Analytical Troubleshooting) and Parc View.
• Knowledge of fabric materials, design, and operation.
• Market knowledge of fabric vendors, their locations, and tissue producers and their locations.
• Project and product management skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Relationship-building skills with internal and external partners.
• Strong communication skills; described as charismatic and driven.
• Responsiveness and a team-player approach.

Responsibilities

• Manage fabric inventory, orders, and requisitions; advise on fabric design for each machine.
• Coordinate with fabric vendors on lead times and delivery, and plan with the strategic partner.
• Review fabric specifications and finished-fabric test results, including vendor certificates of analysis and trends.
• Provide paper machine technical support, including centerlines, troubleshooting, data tracking, and continuous-improvement trials.
• Respond to the paper machine team with fabric-related answers, data, direction, and support.
• Support paper machine design by identifying synergies and differences involving the press, vacuum, dewatering, drying, and wet end.
• Sponsor and lead fabric trials with the paper machine process engineer, and provide coverage for installation, start-up, and run tracking.
• Assist the paper machine team with engineered and procedural improvements to fabric installation across sites.
• Oversee the accuracy of fabric SharePoint records, fabric numbers, and run-summary comments.
• Manage FQT fabric aging and design obsolescence, communicating with the paper machine team and Finance.
• Manage vendor fabric design obsolescence by coordinating new designs, validation, inventory consumption, and conversion.
• Qualify vendors, targeting two qualified suppliers and designs for fabric positions.
• Establish fabric treatment offerings for stickie prevention or minimization.
• Establish fabric fingerprints during runs, including seam marks, bulk, drying, S/W drips, buildup, and fugitive paper.
• Establish fabric fingerprints and direction through post-run Fabric Forensics Analysis, including final tensile, permeability, and CA.
• Assist with on-machine measurements and pit stops when needed.
• Support proprietary fabric disposal to protect intellectual property and manage vendor relationships.
• Share fabric cost savings with Procurement and Finance quarterly.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities.
• Paid time off (three-week minimum).
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting day one.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Paid parental leave.
• Child and family care assistance through a dependent care FSA with employer match up to $3,750.
• Bundle of joy benefit: a year’s worth of free diapers for team members with a new baby.
• Tuition assistance.
• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior