Senior Fiber Buyer

Where you will work

The Augusta mill sits along the Savannah River, on the state border between Georgia and South Carolina and manufactures light, medium, and heavy weight coated paperboard. It is a well-invested SBS paperboard manufacturing facility with approximately 600 thousand tons of capacity. This facility boasts over 700 employees and has been in operation for almost 65 years. Located on 3,000 acres, the Augusta site operates two paper machines that produce 1,940 tons per day. The Augusta Mill is Clearwater Paper's largest paperboard facility and critical to the success of our strategy and future.

Augusta, Georgia is a vibrant community along the Georgia/South Carolina border about 150 miles east of Atlanta and 70 miles west of Columbia. Augusta offers a variety of experiences - something for everyone! The area offers historical attractions, recreational activities, music, family festivals, and other unforgettable experiences for fun with a hometown feel. Downtown Augusta is home to many of Augusta's most popular attractions, locally owned restaurants, and nightlife. From March through November, the Augusta Market brings local and regional tastemakers and artisans of all kinds to the 8th Street entrance to the Riverwalk. The Masters Tournament has placed Augusta on a world stage, confirming its well-earned reputation for tradition, hospitality, and heritage. Students from around the country call Augusta home thanks to Augusta University, Georgia Military College, Paine College, University of South Carolina Aiken and many technical and educational institutes around Augusta's River Region. Augusta's warm year-round climate provides several opportunities for outdoor activities and leisure.

What you will do

The Senior Fiber Buyer works in collaboration with the Fiber Supply Manager to implement strategic wood initiatives for the procurement of certified wood and fiber supply to the Augusta Mill. This position will focus on procurement of roundwood fiber to support the lowest cash cost to the mill. The position also serves as a tactical liaison between Procurement, Manufacturing, Accounting, and Wood Suppliers to assist with the ordering, accounting control, compliance and quality of logs, wood chips, and waste fuel.

Fiber Procurement

• Includes the procurement of wood chips, sawdust, and all roundwood to support the company's pulping operation at the lowest possible cash cost. This may include the selling of hogged fuel produced by contract chippers
• The position also serves as a tactical liaison between Procurement, Manufacturing, Accounting, and Wood Suppliers to assist with the ordering, accounting control, compliance and quality of logs, wood chips, and waste fuel which may include:
  
  
  
  • Ticket and invoice reconciliation
  • Contract Management
  • Purchase Order Management
  • Quality Control of Inventory Transactions
  
  
  
  
• Strategic development and implementation of certified wood procurement initiatives with supplies in the region by:
  
  
  
  • Effectively building and maintaining supplier relationships to grow the supplier force by participating in meetings and leads communications
  • May monitor vendor performance, assist in the development of corrective actions, and ensure completion
  • Demonstrated knowledge of forest management is key
  
  
  
  
• Negotiate procurement contracts for wood fiber and wood fiber transportation (trucking, rail) to meet demand while being accountable for cost and value targets and objectives
  
  
  
  • Direct negotiations and final price decisions on fiber supply are a key responsibility of this position
  • This position is responsible for marketing/trading excess volume
  
  
  
  
• Oversee contract chipper(s) for chip production, chip quality, wood inventory and rotation

Quality Control

• Sample wood/chips to ensure quality expectations are met
• Insure each operation measures and documents suppliers' product quality attributes, quality assurance and quality improvement plans
• Conduct field audits as required for producer and supplier compliance to certification standards
• Implement all relevant Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards and maintain FSC Certification for operations governed by the standard
• Implement all relevant Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) standards and maintain SFI Certification for operations governed by the standard
• Monitor Chain of Custody (COC) credit tracking and compliance
• Prepare for certification audits

Strategic Planning

• Provide the Company with strategic sourcing options, cost impacts, risks, and fiber market conditions
• Evaluate/plan the most economic combination of fiber to be pulped as the relative costs of pulpable fiber change (hardwood, softwood)
• Provide an integrated Clearwater view of destination changes of pulp/saw logs and residual products as they influence total fiber expenditures
• Maintain an in-depth knowledge of the dynamics and economics of the wood products industry throughout the southern region, including competitor awareness, pricing and strategy

Key Competencies & Attributes

• Strong understanding of critical financial key levers in logistics and procurement of fiber sources
• Demonstrated ability to lead in a matrixed and highly collaborative environment to influence and drive process and change management
• Identifies barriers that impact customer service and retention; communicates concerns and recommendations to others
• 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
• Creates relevant options for addressing problems and opportunities that will achieve desired outcomes
• Systematically evaluates business opportunities, targeting those with the greatest potential for producing positive business results
• Demonstrated ability to understand the organizational impact in decision making
• Inspires trust through influencing, passion, and active engagement with teams
• Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal); leading and presenting materials for various audiences; paints the picture
• Able to think strategically; act tactically; hands on

What you will need

• Bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, forest business, business or engineering required
• 5+ years' experience managing fiber supply for 2.5M CET/year facility. This includes knowledge of assigned region's fiber markets, competition, and suppliers
• 5+ years' familiarity with the wood products market, finances and transportation requirements and negotiations
• Registered forester, strongly preferred or can acquire registered forester status within an 18-month period from time of hire
• Ability to work on non-routine purchases that require analysis to arrive at best decision
• Expert knowledge in wood fiber transportation systems
• Working knowledge of log harvest effects on pulpwood supply
• Working knowledge of lumber and plywood manufacturing operations and associated residual fiber production
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills to express ideas and opportunities to superiors, peers, subordinates, suppliers and customers
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required when in forests, sawmills, warehouses, on production floors or in industrial settings
• Travel required - Minimal overnight travel is expected, travel within 70-120 miles of the mill will be integral to the role
• Must be able to drive a car and have and maintain a clean driving record
• Drives motor vehicles approximately 35,000 miles annually
• Some minor fatigue and eye strain due to regular computer use and reading

Total Rewards Details

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 the candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience. Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and more, generally begin after 30 days. Our paid time off includes vacation days, personal days, and company holidays. For more on our compensation philosophy, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team at Talent.Acquisition@clearwaterpaper.com.

Clearwater Paper will 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 must not require Clearwater Paper's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

#ClearwaterPaper #Augusta

This role will be open for a minimum of 2 weeks or at the point a successful candidate is selected.