Vice President - North American Operations (Management & Executives)

  Evergreen Packaging

  Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Job Description

 

This executive role will have full responsibility for the North American Operations organization.  The executive will lead, direct, and coordinate the full activities of the business with a goal of obtaining optimum efficiency and maximizing profits.  The business requires the application of proven leadership skills in managing an effective team, maintaining effective management practices and processes, and coaching a geographically-dispersed team to great levels of performance.  Additionally, this executive will build strong working relationships with other functional leaders through the region including sales, finance, human resources, new product development, IT, legal and supply chain.  

With multiple manufacturing sites and outstanding technical support, Evergreen Packaging is well positioned to capitalize on future growth and profitability.  This role will require a leader who can formulate and optimize the strategy, organizational structure, and talent to improve business results.  The business has a strong culture of success and an excellent record of profitability over many years.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Develop a clear understanding of the manufacturing environment, trends and competitive pressures; translate these into clearly articulated strategies for optimal efficiencies and growth within the organization.
• Work collaboratively with other leaders to create a balanced and coordinated strategy for the business unit.
• Develop robust plans to drive targeted efficiencies in line with operational capabilities.  Define milestones and metrics to monitor and assess performance of strategic initiatives, particularly operational goals.
• Build and maintain a strong team of focused leaders; this includes recruiting, training, and developing future leaders.  This will require an executive who is an excellent judge of talent, one who has a proven record of attracting top performers and then mentoring them to outstanding levels of performance.   
• Direct the necessary research and critical analyses to continually monitor operational excellence, and other forces impacting the organization.
• Provide outstanding service to customers and meet commitments.
• Gain the trust and confidence of the executive leadership of the company.
• Rapidly grasp the company’s current business, its strategic plans, and the state of the global organization.  
• Establish a vision and lead change; and be responsible for cultivating a culture which is market driven, and intensely competitive. 
• Successfully develop strong, collaborative cross-functional relationships across all levels of the organization. This leader will influence (directly or indirectly) areas of the business that will have an impact on improved operations.
• Provide strategic direction and leadership.  
   

 

Qualifications

 

The selected executive must have a minimum of 12 to 15 years of business experience, coming up through manufacturing in a highly-respected paper or consumer packaging manufacturing organization.  This executive will have implemented successful operational initiatives that have contributed to operational excellence.  

This role requires an individual who is high-energy, takes a creative approach to problems, highly intelligent, analytical, a quick study, and a team player with exceptionally strong leadership skills.  Must have a proven track record of building a well-functioning management team, taking leadership in providing the strategic vision for a business, and demonstrating strong customer focus.  Above all else, must be a strategic business person first, yet one who is comfortable talking strategy one moment and discussing details the next.

Specific trait requirements include:

Leadership - A leader who will have instant credibility and is able to motivate, and retain well-qualified individuals of diverse talents, interests, and cultural backgrounds.  Must have the leadership presence to energize, drive and lead the teams, and to be a natural center of gravity in the business.

Operations Acumen – outstanding business judgment and a proven ability to manage effectively in tough situations, balancing intelligent risk with the need to secure the base of business.

Top Talent/Team Development - Has developed a personal coaching/mentoring relationship with direct teams and delegates key initiatives to accelerate their personal growth.  

Technical Acumen - Clear and demonstrable strength in the understanding of, and absolute comfort with technical products, their development, design, and capabilities.  

Cost Effectiveness - Broad-based process improvement leadership experience in complex businesses is essential.  A proven ability to develop, lead, and culturally drive an environment of high productivity and cost effectiveness is required.  Cost savings through improved efficiency is a critical focus area.  A proven track record optimizing SG&A, working capital, and supply chain is also essential.

Collaborative/Decisive Style - Operates with a management style that encourages and facilitates open dialogue with a wide variety of contributors and stakeholders, both close and across the organization.    
Critical Thinking - Able to work in uncharted areas.  Capable of integrating large amounts of information to address complex issues.  Challenges conventional wisdom when required.  Intellectually aggressive with a strong end-product orientation.  

Interpersonal - Able to quickly establish and maintain excellent interpersonal relationships across all levels of the organization. Creates team atmosphere with internal staff while achieving key objectives.  Maintains positive, professional relationships with external contacts.

Organization - Able to operate independently.  Manages time well, follows through on commitments, and pays attention to details.  Able to work on several projects simultaneously.

Maturity - Able to provide a good balance of risk taking and judgment.  Is assertive and confident.  Recognizes when help is needed because of lack of pertinent knowledge.  Relies on and delegates to peers and direct reports in an appropriate and productive fashion. 

Strategy/Vision - Able to serve as a key strategic partner with senior leadership team on company vision and direction.  A strategic thinker, capable of thought leadership with respect to product mix, pricing and profitability combined with the ability to communicate and translate these into actionable programs. 

Ethics - Able to demonstrate unquestionable integrity, credibility, and character.  Has demonstrated high moral and ethical behavior.

Results Driven - Ability to focus on organizational growth, financial performance, and achieving results.
Teamwork & Collaboration - Builds rapport and collaborates effectively across the organization, and fosters an environment of open and transparent communication. 

Integrity & Trust - Demonstrates honest, respectful, and trustworthy behaviors when engaging with stakeholders, and achieves stated work obligations.

Required:

• A BA/BS degree in Business, Engineering, or related is required.  An MBA or other advanced degree in Business Administration is highly desirable.
• 12 to 15 years of progressive experience in paper or consumer packaging.

 

Additional Information

 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Evergreen Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, religion, creed, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

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