Manufacturing Excellence Lead

Overview

Nice to meet you, We Are Suzano!

At Suzano, we believe innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. This union gave rise to a meaningful attitude: innovability, which guides us in thinking outside the box and looking beyond to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. We plant and grow trees. We transform this renewable raw material into innovative and sustainable bioproducts that are part of the everyday life of over 2 billion people. We cultivate life on the sheet of the notebook that teaches children, in the diaper that protects babies, in the biodegradable cup of coffee that does not harm the environment, in absorbent papers and in the convenience of using sustainable packaging.

Get to know us in 2 minutes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed9ZhpyTJXI

About the Role:

The Manufacturing Excellence Lead will serve as the key leader for the operational excellence efforts at our Pine Bluff Paper Mill. This person will act as a strategic resource to drive cost reductions, quality improvements, and overall performance.

This role will rotate through different production meetings, collaborate with cross-functional teams, analyze processes and data, and coach engineers and leaders as they work to implement improvement projects.  It’s a highly visible position for someone who thrives on driving impactful changes, mentoring talent, and building a Lean culture throughout the site.

Responsibilities

What You’re Going to Do:

• Champion safety and environmental compliance, embedding safety in all improvement activities.
• Lead and coordinate multiple continuous improvement (CI) and deliberate improvement (DI) initiatives across mill operations.
• Mentor, train, and guide the development of engineers and other team members in Lean Six Sigma tools and methodologies.
• Help teams interpret data, identify improvement opportunities, and implement sustainable changes.
• Oversee continuous improvement and cost reduction projects with focus on metrics.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of Lean Six Sigma training for all levels of the mill workforce.
• Help to establish process management routines and routine communications.
• Foster strong relationships with leadership to drive cultural and operational change.

Qualifications

What We Expect from You:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or Paper Science required.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in a manufacturing or process engineering environment, ideally within the paper industry.
• Proven experience leading CI initiatives and applying Lean Six Sigma methodologies (Green Belt or Black Belt preferred).
• Strong analytical skills with ability to use tools such as Excel and Minitab for process and performance analysis.
• Experience coaching or managing teams.
• Strong communication and leadership presence.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

What We’re Looking For:

• Influence & Collaboration: Works effectively across levels and departments, especially in a matrixed structure.
• Problem Solving: Quickly identifies root causes and drives actionable solutions.
• People Development: Skilled at mentoring engineers and interns with empathy and effectiveness.
• Results Orientation: Keeps performance and efficiency at the forefront.
• Lean & Data-Driven Mindset: Applies a structured, measurable approach to solving operational challenges.
• Adaptability: Comfortable rotating between departments and handling dynamic mill priorities.
• Professionals who share our values Suzano - People and Culture. Read more here: https://www.suzano.com.br/en/suzano/about-us/people-and-culture

We are pleased to offer an attractive compensation and benefits package for this role, which includes:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Comprehensive coverage options to support your health and well-being.
• Life and AD&D Insurance: Financial protection for you and your loved ones.
• Disability Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability coverage to protect your income.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Company matching contributions to help you save for the future.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support for personal and work-related issues.
• Wellness Programs: Access to programs promoting physical and mental health.
• Employee Discount Program: Discounts on various products and services, including travel, electronics, and more.

As a global company, we take pride in our diverse workforce and place a strong emphasis on equal opportunities and diversity. We invite everyone who is enthusiastic about our company to apply, regardless of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, or religion.

If we have piqued your interest, we look forward to receiving your application.

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