Buyer II - Fiber

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 heavyweight 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 is 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 , locally owned , and . From March through November, the brings local and regional tastemakers and artisans of all kinds to the 8th Street entrance to the .

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 Fiber Buyer-II will be responsible for, but not limited to the following duties :

Fiber Procurement

• Responsible for the location of open market timber and the cruising, appraisals, purchasing, and harvesting of that timber for the lowest system-wide delivered cash cost to Clearwater.
• Works with the Fiber Manager or senior buyers to complete activities related to scheduling, and managing inventory of Augusta fiber, and for integration of pulp log and saw log fiber flows.
• Procurement of wood chips, sawdust, all logs, and hogged fuel to support the company’s pulping, boiler, and sawmill operation at the lowest possible cash cost.
• 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 reconciliationContract ManagementPurchase Order ManagementQuality Control of Inventory Transactions
• Lead programs and implementation of certified wood procurement initiatives with suppliers in the region by : Building and maintaining supplier relationships to grow the supplier force.

Demonstrating knowledge of forest management.

• Collaborates with the Fiber Manager or senior buyers to negotiate procurement contracts for wood fiber and wood fiber transportation (trucking, rail, barging) to meet demand while being accountable for cost and value targets and objectives.
• Negotiate processing rates with multiple whole log chippers, contract loggers, tub grinders and in-woods hog fuel processing with Fiber Manager or senior buyers.
• Oversees contract chipper(s) for chip production, chip quality, wood inventory and rotation.

Quality Control

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

Strategic Planning

• Provides 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 (softwood, cottonwood, sawdust, shavings).
• Conducts and provides analytic view of destination changes of pulp / saw logs and residual products as they influence total fiber expenditures.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the dynamics and economics of the wood products industry throughout the southern region including competitor awareness, pricing and strategy.

Key Competencies & Attributes

• Demonstrates understanding of critical financial key levers in logistics and procurement of fiber sources
• Exhibits ability to lead in a matrixed and highly collaborative environment to influence and drive process and change management.
• Illustrates 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.
• Quick learner, who is optimistic and curious with a strong motivation for continuous improvement through collaboration.
• 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.
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in fiber supply, natural resource management, business, logistics or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years familiarity with the wood products market, finances and transportation requirements and negotiations.
• Registered forester, strongly preferred or have the ability to acquire registered forester status within an 18-month period from time of hire.
• Working 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.
• Working knowledge of urban wood and in-woods hogged fuel collections and processing systems / markets.
• 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 up to 80% in designated region
• 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.

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