Job Status: Filled

Forest Operations Supervisor (Forestry, Logging & Mill Operations)

Full Time

  Sonoco (http://www.sonoco.com)

  Hartsville, South Carolina, United States

Job Description

Sonoco 

Sonoco is a $4.9 billion global manufacturer of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and provider of packaging services for many of the world's best-known brands. Sonoco employs approximately 20,000 individuals, and has 335 operations worldwide. Founded in 1899 on the belief that People Build Businesses, we value our people and are committed to giving them every opportunity to use their talent and skills to grow themselves, their careers and our Company. We offer world-class benefits, value people and teamwork, celebrate challenges, reward success, are committed to employee satisfaction and work/life balance, and are recognized worldwide for our commitment to growing future leaders. 

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Under direction of the Forest Products Division General Manager, is responsible for all timber growth and production for our Hartsville corrugated paper machine as well as all trade sale markets from all area company owned or controlled timberlands.  Also responsible for budgeted sales and profits from the fee simple and long term accounting departments under his control.  Included is responsibility for all cultural, harvesting, regeneration, environmental and land improvement operations in the operating area.  There are two operational areas at present.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Responsible for the production of budgeted volumes of hardwood and pine pulpwood and hardwood and pine saw timber required to operate our manufacturing units and for sale to outside trade markets at budgeted cost, sales and profits.
  • Jointly working with General Manager, weekly inspect chip inventories to assure adequate supplies of raw material for our paper machine.  Work with chip producers, both internal and external, to ensure supply.
  • Responsible for the management and operations on 40,000-45,000 acres of company owned or controlled timberland to grow and produce, at maximum sustainable levels, the budgeted volumes of timber products.
  • Prepare short and long range forest resources plans for growth, harvest, investment, profit and net cash flow to meet Division and corporate objectives in sustained yield timber production which is currently 50% of No. 10 PM raw material needs.
  • Prepare one year capital expenditure budget for regeneration of harvested timber stands, road and drainage ditch construction and other land improvement projects and equipment.
  • Prepare one year operating budget on schedule and with appropriate supportive data.
  • Responsible for current and accurate administrative records dealing with inventory of lands, growth capacity and timber stands.
  • Responsible for certain records, reports and controls on timberland under his area of jurisdiction to include:
  • Preparation and issuance of annual Forest Management Report on Coxe Land Trust to owners.
  • Preparation and posting, on annual update basis, of stand descriptions and prescriptions, regeneration acreage, costs and other statistical data.
  • Formulate and monitor a program to audit volumes and values of timber products cut and delivered to various markets from our company lands.
  • Responsible for the overall supervision of timber harvesting operations on company owned and controlled lands to include:
  • Supervision of and responsibility for the harvesting of company owned and controlled timber by our independent logging contract crews and compliance with standards set and/or terms of contracts in force.
  • Establishment of cutting and hauling prices fair to both Sonoco and the logging contractor on each specific harvesting area.  Insure that written cutting and hauling contracts covering prices, deliveries and all terms in timber cutting agreement and contracts are in force.  Weekly review of TDR and communication with administrative supervisor to insure proper and correct pricing.
  • Set utilization standards regarding grade, size and length of logs and species separation for each tract.
  • Develop and designate trade sale markets in consultation with FPD General Manager for pine saw timber, pine veneer, hardwood pulpwood/chips and hardwood trade sale logs that will maximize profits and log requirements.  Conduct timber stumpage sales as needed or directed.
  • Develop additional and/or replacement logging capacity through additions of new crews, improved logging techniques and equipment to meet short and long range divisional objectives as required.
  • Establish and enforce logging safety standards in compliance with current Sonoco and OSHA regulations.  Conduct periodic safety inspections of logging jobs and have safety meetings.
  • Monitor and enforce BMPs( best management practices--environmental) for all forest operations as prescribed by South Carolina Best Management Practices for Forestry manual issued by the South Carolina Forestry Commission
  • Monitor and ensure that SFI standards are implemented.  Prepare annual report of forestry activities on Fee lands for AF&PA—SFI Program Participant.
  • Development and implementation of a timber supply plan on company land to ensure adequate stumpage reserves available during critical supply periods (Dec. thru April).
  • Responsible for the scheduling and implementation of all cultural practices on company timberland to include:
  • Control burning of pine stands to reduce hazard and competition.
  • Protection of timberland from wildfire, disease, insects, water impoundment caused by beavers and illegal entry.  Manage beaver control program.
  • Artificial and natural regeneration of timber stands to include contracting site preparation and planting, if necessary.  Oversee chemical applications for site prep and week control.
  • Thinning overstocked stands to ensure maximum growth on highest value trees.  Managing outside loggers performing thinning operations.
  • Responsible for the game management program on our fee simple acreage to include contracting hunting leases, negotiating and collecting fees, erecting gates for protection against illegal entry and generally encouraging good game management and respect for game laws.
  • Responsible for the planning, layout, scheduling and construction of a road system on company land to meet forest management and harvesting objectives.  Also maintain existing 150 mile road system to standards.
  • Direct activities of contractors to include adherence to contract specifications, OSHA and environmental regulations and cost control.
  • Coordinates with other staff personnel in areas of interaction; especially other forest Products Division, corporate environmental activities, safety and accounting staff.
  • Review and approve for payment purchasing requisitions and accounts payable vouchers for authorized capital expenditures and vendor accounts.
  • Leasing of machinery, equipment, land or other capital property requires Division GM review and corporate management approval.
  • Disposal of worn out or unusable capital equipment requires Division GM review and corporate management approval.
  • Any major contractual agreements, including those for services to the company, as well as major sales or purchase agreement, require Division GM review and corporate approval.
  • Any environmental projects subject to government permits requires Division GM review and Paper Division Services Director review and coordination.
  • Maintain professional and technical status by:  meeting annual educational requirements of South Carolina State Board of Registration for foresters and membership thereof, membership in Society of American Foresters, and other organizations as is appropriate.
  • Maintain good relations with adjoining landowners, conservation officers, hunting clubs, timber harvesting contractors and customers of our forest products ever cognizant that you represent Sonoco Products Company and influence our public image.
  • Perform public relations, educational and conservational duties as required.
  • Perform other similar and related duties as required
Required Experience
  • BS degree in Forest Management
Job Location
Hartsville, South Carolina, United States
 
Position Type
Full-Time/Regular
Business Unit: Forest Products