Technical Manager

Your Job Georgia-Pacific is seeking a Technical Manager for our lumber mill in Rome, GA. The Technical Manager serves as the facility's technical leader and is responsible for driving manufacturing excellence through process engineering, quality systems, manufacturing optimization, and continuous improvement.
This position partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Controls, Engineering, Wood Supply, Integrated Planning, and Commercial teams to improve safety, product quality, recovery, throughput, reliability, and overall profitability. The Technical Manager provides leadership for the mill's technical resources and quality systems while developing sustainable manufacturing processes that maximize value from every log processed.
This role utilizes technical expertise, data analysis, and strategic problem-solving to identify opportunities, improve process capability, reduce variation, and implement solutions that strengthen the mill's long-term competitive position. Our Team This is an exciting opportunity to work in a high-efficiency, technologically advanced lumber manufacturing facility.
Georgia-Pacific's Rome Lumber mill produces Southern Pine dimension lumber used throughout the building industry for residential and commercial construction, pressure-treated applications, trusses, pallets, and general framing. At Georgia-Pacific, we are committed to creating long-term value through principled entrepreneurship, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
Our employees strive to achieve an injury-free workplace while delivering high-quality products and exceptional customer value. Rome, Georgia is conveniently located approximately one hour northwest of Atlanta. What You Will Do * Technical Leadership * Serve as the facility's technical leader for manufacturing processes, lumber quality, optimization systems, and process capability. * Develop and execute technical strategies that improve safety, quality, recovery, throughput, reliability, and cost performance. * Provide technical leadership during capital improvements, equipment upgrades, process changes, and implementation of new technologies. * Stay current on emerging technologies and manufacturing best practices to improve the mill's competitive position. Manufacturing Optimization * Analyze manufacturing performance to identify value creation opportunities that improve recovery, quality, throughput, and profitability. * Develop, monitor, and communicate key performance metrics that evaluate machine centers, departments, and overall mill performance. * Lead process optimization efforts by reducing process variation and improving equipment capability. * Continuously evaluate machine performance through audits, calibration verification, trend analysis, and proactive process monitoring. * Troubleshoot optimization systems, scanning technology, positioning equipment, and manufacturing processes to eliminate performance losses. * Work closely with Controls Technicians and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability and process stability. * Provide technical support for computerized optimization systems throughout the facility. Quality Systems * Provide leadership for the mill's Quality Management System to ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and Georgia-Pacific quality standards. * Lead quality assurance and quality control activities throughout the facility. * Utilize statistical analysis and process control methods to improve process capability and product consistency. * Lead investigations into significant quality issues and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions. * Develop quality standards, auditing processes, and preventive systems that minimize defects and maximize fiber recovery. * Support new product development, testing, and implementation. Continuous Improvement * Assist with continuous improvement initiatives that improve safety, quality, recovery, throughput, reliability, and manufacturing costs. * Assist with Root Cause Analysis and structured problem-solving methodologies to eliminate recurring process issues. * Identify and implement sustainable value creation opportunities throughout the manufacturing process. * Prioritize and manage technical improvement initiatives while measuring and communicating results. Leadership & Collaboration * Supervise, coach, and develop the Quality team. * Build strong partnerships with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Controls, Engineering, Wood Supply, Integrated Planning, and Commercial teams. * Provide technical expertise to resolve operating and maintenance issues affecting quality, recovery, or production. * Serve as an active member of the mill's leadership team and Continuous Improvement process. Who You Are (Basic Qualifications) * Experience in a technical, quality, engineering, process improvement, or operations leadership role in an industrial manufacturing environment * Experience providing technical leadership through direct supervision or cross-functional influence * Experience analyzing manufacturing data to identify and implement process improvements * Experience using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams) What Will Put You Ahead * Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Wood Science, or Business * Experience in lumber or wood products manufacturing * Experience using manufacturing analytics and visualization tools such as Power BI, PI Vision, SQL, or similar platforms * Experience with lumber grading systems, quality management systems, recovery optimization, and fiber yield improvement * Experience diagnosing complex manufacturing process issues using data analysis, statistical methods, and structured problem-solving techniques At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs.
This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions.
Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data.
The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location.
If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy. Hiring Philosophy All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds.
We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers.
Learn more about our hiring philosophy here . Who We Are As a Koch company and a leading manufacturer of bath tissue, paper towels, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, building products and much more, Georgia-Pacific works to meet evolving needs of customers worldwide with quality products.
In addition to the products we make, we operate one of the largest recycling businesses.
Our more than 30,000 employees in over 150 locations are empowered to innovate every day -to make everyday products even better. At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better.
Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company. Our Benefits Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives.
We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most.
Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region.
If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter. Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs.
We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results. Equal Opportunities Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test.
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