Summary:

This role is responsible for the engineering of products that are fit-for-use and maximize the profitability by working with mill and marketing to grow and meet market share objectives in NA paperboard market which includes gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements to deliver differentiated products for improved performance and customer value.  The role is responsible for coordinating the flow of product-related activities between the relevant departments with a focus on product development, product improvements, quality consistency, and new customers. 

Responsibilities:

• Acquire system knowledge and competence, both operational and informational, building subject matter expertise and process technical knowledge, leading product improvement efforts 

• Provide specialist product knowledge in identifying customer issues by working with the Customer Solutions, Marketing, Sales and R&D teams 

• Facilitate and manage paper trials at customers for all new Sappi products. Manage product specification of all new products at mill level, track performance to the specifications with brand managers. 

• Ensure the product specification setting, adherence and overall quality assurance of the products. Manage specifications at the mill and track performance and communicate to brand manager, Mill personnel and R&D. 

• Provide technical intel to Marketing, Sales Managers and Key Account Managers on customer needs and requirements and features / benefits of our paperboard.  

• Coordinate with marketing to develop a clear understanding of the total market needs for the portfolio’s products, investigate and understand potential future customer requirements.  

• Consistently monitors quality and customer feedback related to packaging products and give regular feedback to mill personnel. 

• Work with mill and marketing on cost saving and margin enhancement projects  for products while maintaining or improving product performance in the field. 

• Product development to meet current and future market demands and scans the environment for potential portfolio product threats 

• Benchmark competitor costings and product performance 

• Provides sales and marketing with necessary product information that can be used in marketing tools (specifications, product characteristics etc.) 

• Works with marketing on tools to open and support new business and brand extensions 

• Works with marketing brand management on market strategies, plans, budgets, forecasts for assigned products 

• Responsible for product development trials and field evaluations. Selects trial and control rolls to be tested and reports results to appropriate personnel.  Attends trials. 

• Understands Sappi’s manufacturing capabilities, constraints and requirements, in conjunction with brand management and mill specialists 

• Manage processes and requests of a technical nature in support of the sales team via technical team resources  

• Provides Sales team with necessary technical support 

• Participate in various global quality and product platforms within the Sappi group by conducting evaluations and reviews and providing technical input to these platforms 

• Visit customers with sales representatives. 

• Liaison for 3rd party relationships to support new product launches and adherence to specifications. 

• Liaison with mill and Tech Services group

Qualifications:

• College degree and/or recognized equivalent, with technical training and experience in paper making; Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering or business-related field

• Minimum of 5+ years of technical/manufacturing experience, with a focus on cost management and product engineering – ideally within the printing, packaging or paper industries.  

• 3-5 years of relevant business experience, including, product management, quality systems, or manufacturing. 

• Must have a strong technical background with commercial experience. 

• Travel for trials, customer and third-party relationships required