Operations Manager at Essity North America Inc. in Cherokee, Alabama

Job Description:

Operations Manager

Who We Are

Essity is a global leader in health and hygiene with our corporate headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, and North American headquarters in Philadelphia, PA. We are a multi-billion-dollar company that is committed to breaking barriers to well-being. Essity does this through innovative brands in the areas of Professional Hygiene, Consumer Goods, and Health & Medical Solutions.

Working at Essity is not just a career; it is a chance to directly make the world a healthier, more hygienic and safer place. With impactful innovations coupled with sustainable solutions, we strive to reach more people every year with the necessary and essential solutions for well-being. At Essity you will find a caring and compassionate culture where we remain grounded in our beliefs & behaviors.

At Essity: This Is What We Do

About the Role

The Essity Professional Hygiene North America organization is currently searching for an Operations Manager for our manufacturing site in Cherokee, AL. Our intent is to develop an organization and operation capable to deliver world class results and this role is a step towards this commitment.

The Operations Manager will be responsible for performance results of our papermaking operation. The Operations Manager will provide direction and be accountable for Continuous Improvement of business operations with utmost priority on safety and quality; drive operator development, performance improvement and accountability; manage and develop staff; develops and manages successful safety performance for all employees. Additionally, incumbent grows and maintains production volumes to support regional and divisional needs, develops and implements strategies to improve Mill performance, and supports the core continuous improvement principals of: Safety, Quality, Capabilities Development, Manufacturing Performance; manage material and energy savings, production cost and strategy to support business needs. The Operations manager will report to the Site Leader.

We're looking for people who embody our values, aren't afraid to challenge, innovate, experiment, and move at a fast pace. We're always looking for ways to improve our products and ourselves. If this is you, we'd love to talk. 

What You Will Do

• Responsible for the continuous improvement of safety performance in the facility, including all employees, visitors and contractors;


• Formulates and implements manufacturing policies and programs that guide the facility in improving its competitive position and the profitability of the operation;


• Works with Human Resources to develop training and development plans for all employees;


• Facilitates the career growth of subordinates, making them more effective leaders and managers;


• Develops the manufacturing plan and establish procedures for maintaining high standards of manufacturing operations to ensure that products conform to established customer and company quality standards;


• Assists Operation Director in the development and formulation of long and short-range planning, policies, programs and objectives to improve business performance;


• Plans for new production capacity and ability to respond to continual business growth;


• Keeps up-to-date on information and technology affecting functional area(s) to increase innovation and ensure compliance;


• Responsible to sponsor and lead projects, efficient application of capital spending that supports process improvement initiatives. In addition, plans for organizational change initiatives and develops, monitors, and coordinates internal and external resources in support of projects;


• Responsible for the development of the employee relations at the facility in accordance with the company’s principles and strategic partnerships; leadership role to drive trust and partnership with site labor.


• Be a Role Model for the implementation of overall Continuous Improvement plans and activities;


• Develops partnership with Site Controller to understand and drive financial impact;


• Partners with Health & Safety and Environmental resources to continually improve Tissue Converting manufacturing area.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree in Paper Science, Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering, or significant experience and leadership within our industry;


• Five (5) years of production leadership experience required;


• Knowledge and demonstrable experience of applying and implementing TPM processes required;


• Problem solving and root cause analysis skills are a must;


• Tissue Converting experience a huge plus;


• Ability to build relationships and communicate on the shop floor with operators and engineers is essential.  


• Strong sense of urgency will be needed;


• Strong communication, scheduling and organizing skills;


• Proven ability in managing others as well as influencing and building partnerships;


• Ability to lead teams through change and improvement;


• Ability to work and communicate with outside resources: OEM representatives, vendors, contractors, service companies;


• Personal computer skills, especially Maintenance Management software, e.g. Passport, Excel, Word, Outlook.

About Our DEI Culture

Guided by our Beliefs & Behavior, our culture is the foundation that connects our history with our future. At Essity, care, collaboration and inclusion are more than buzzwords, they are practiced on an everyday basis. And with a purpose of breaking barriers to wellbeing, promoting gender equality and enable customers and consumers to lead a fuller life at all stages of life, DEI is in our core.

As we work in diverse teams across geographies, cultures and professional areas, inclusive leadership is something we expect from ourselves and each other. In our leadership platform, we express this as leveraging the power of differences. From experience we know that diverse and inclusive teams are key to innovate and profitably grow our business while simultaneously address our ambitious climate targets.

What We Can Offer You

At Essity, we believe everyone's learning and professional development is unique and want to empower employees to reach their full potential in a winning culture motivated by a powerful purpose.

Compensation and Benefits:

Expected Compensation:

Competitive annual salary + annual incentive bonus benefits.

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors such as knowledge, skills, and experience.

Along with competitive pay you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• United Healthcare PPO / EyeMed Vision Insurance / Delta Dental Insurance;


• Wellness program provided through Rally;


• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA);


• 401(k) with employer match and annual employer base contribution;


• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance;


• Employee Assistance Program;


• PTO offering with Paid Holidays;


• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance;


• Employee discounts program;


• Scholarship program for children of Essity employees.

Collaborative and Inclusive Culture | Empowering & Engaged Leaders | Working with Powerful Purpose & Sustainable Impact | Learning and Growing in your Career | Supporting Well-being & Sustainable Working Life | Life-changing Innovations | Competitive Total rewards

Additional Information

The Company is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process please contact EssityHRNorthAmerica@essity.com

Together, we are improving lives, every day

Working at Essity is not just a career; it is a chance to directly make the world a healthier, more hygienic and safer place. With impactful innovations coupled with sustainable solutions, we strive to reach more people every year with the necessary and essential solutions for well-being.

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