Details:
THE OPPORTUNITY
Western Forest Products is hiring for a Kilns Production Supervisor at our Value Added Reman in Chemainus, BC.
What You’ll Do: The Kilns Supervisor is an integral part of the management team at our Value Added Reman, responsible for the organization and execution of the kilns including day to day supervision of the Kiln personnel. As a key contributor in the Manufacturing process, the Supervisor works closely with the production, planer, maintenance, and quality control teams to ensure Western safely delivers consistent quality products in the most cost effective and efficient matter.
Who You Are: Our ideal candidate is someone who has worked in a similar role in manufacturing processes, kilns, or quality control for 5 years or more. You are vastly knowledgeable in kiln operations with experience in coastal lumber drying and grading. You are a leader that your team can look up to, with a safety-first mindset and great problem-solving skills. An educational background in wood products processing is a definite asset.
Work Environment: This role is to be performed in person at our Value Added Reman division in Chemainus, BC.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership in safety and environmental stewardship by demonstrating and ensuring the adherence of company safety and sustainability processes and procedures;
- Manage lumber drying and related functions of operating and maintaining dry kilns;
- Conduct ongoing quality checks to ensure product value and drying efficiencies are optimized;
- Utilize WFP software systems update inventory transitions through processing;
- Monitoring all kiln equipment and ensuring it is in safe working conditions; and
- Work in conjunction with the Operations staff as well as Key off site business partners to ensure timely and quality drying of Primary facilities products in order to meet order file and quality commitments.
Financial and Operational Performance
- Supports the interpretation of financial data and analytics to identify cost saving opportunities;
- Support the analysis of utilization and moisture reports and other relevant metrics to maximize kiln throughput and quality, identifies opportunities and initiates action plans to increase efficiencies and kiln reliability;
- Works with the maintenance team to increase the availability as well as maximize the operational life of equipment, with the key objective to lower the overall cost of ownerships;
- Makes certain of compliance regarding equipment condition, manufactures specifications, WorkSafe BC regulations and/or Company standards;
- Stay abreast of industry innovations and trends in safety and environmental performance and new technology or equipment to improve company margins.
Leadership
- Directs unionized kiln personnel and contractors to ensure that the drying facilities operates at their highest capability to meet required production schedules, quality and cost priorities;
- Create and sustain a culture of accountability and continuous improvement;
- Ensure hourly employee and contractor awareness and compliance with safety, environmental and operational policy, procedures and regulations;
- Protect Western’s reputation by managing product quality issues, maximizing value and consistent quality in our products, engaging support from senior leadership as required; and
- Manage team of hourly operations staff (3-8 direct reports); and
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers.
YOUR CAREER
At Western Forest Products, we believe our most significant asset is our people. Investing in our people brings value and success to our business, ensuring a safe, engaged, productive and continuously improving workplace. We offer challenging opportunities working alongside the best in the industry to meet your career and professional development goals while providing competitive total rewards and recognition.
We provide a variety of on-the-job training and continuing education in many areas at Western to ensure you have the skills you need to succeed. Our promote-from-within culture recognizes high performance and we offer diverse career paths across the organization for those with the talent and will to advance.
Our total rewards offering including competitive pay, performance bonus, pension plan, benefits and other programs designed to support our employees.
WESTERN OVERVIEW
Western Forest Products is a leading forest products company that sustainably manages forests and manufactures high-quality wood products. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia with operations in the coastal region of BC and Washington State, Western meets the needs of customers worldwide with a specialty wood products focus and diverse product offering.
Our commitment to health and safety, environmental stewardship and community engagement is core to how we do business at Western Forest Products.
Our approach to responsible business practices in all aspects of our business is multi-faceted. We adhere to and employ the most stringent environmental practices in the world. The steps we take to ensure the forests in which we operate are renewed and remain healthy and viable for future generations are mirrored in the care we take to make certain our communities continue to grow and prosper. This includes investing in communities where we operate and continuing to forge mutually beneficial relationships with First Nations in respect of their local and cultural interests.
Qualifications & Experience:
Education and Experience
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar role in manufacturing, processing and/or quality control;
- Experience with kiln operations; and
- Extensive knowledge of and experience with coastal lumber drying and grading;
- Post-secondary degree in Wood Products Processing or equivalent considered an asset;
Skills, Knowledge and Required Competencies
- Commitment to Western’s core values of personal safety, sustainable management, and environmental stewardship;
- High level of integrity and professionalism;
- Experience dealing with a unionized workforce and collective agreements;
- Extensive knowledge and experience with lumber grading rules and standards;
- Understanding the kiln drying process and the technology of drying high margin lumber products
- Ability to operate kilns;
- Demonstrated continuous improvement mindset;
- Demonstrated strong analytical, problem solving, and logical thinking skills;
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to communicate across all levels of the organization; and
- Ability to motivate and engage staff to perform at a higher standard.