Blend Supervisor

Position Title:

Blend Supervisor

Pay Rate:

US CORE Salary Structure

Position Level (PL) 9

$69,500-$92,600

Multiple factors, including individual experience, skills and abilities will determine where an employee is ultimately placed in the pay range. Variable pay may provide additional opportunities for financial awards. This job is eligible to participate in IP’s annual incentive plan.

Category/Shift:

Salaried Full-Time

Physical Location:

Hillsboro Preprint

5582 NE Huffman Street

Hillsboro, OR 97124

The Job You Will Perform:

In-Plant Ink Blend Supervisor to work in the Hillsboro, OR Preprint facility. This position will be in the International Paper Specialty Area Enhanced Graphic Solutions (EGS) ink division, reporting to the Complex Preprint Ink and Digital Press Manager in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Specialty Products division provides printing inks, printing plates, and related services to flexographic packaging printers, both within International Paper and outside customers. The In-Plant Supervisor provides ink manufacturing leadership to a team of three technicians, provides technical service and customer support for the Hillsboro Preprint facility, and supports customers in the northwestern and southwestern US and beyond. Hillsboro Preprint manufactures high quality flexographic pre-printed liner for the corrugated packaging industry, using top of the line equipment, software and processes.

Specific key functions include:

• Color matching and reformulation
• Color proofing to press correlation
• Dispensing and blending ink batches for print jobs and pre-print customers
• Press-side technical assistance (toning colors, adjusting ink to improve print quality and run ability, assisting with customer approvals, etc.)
• Work to keep press downtime and ink costs to a minimum
• Order and maintain customer ink inventory
• Re-work return ink inventory
• Filing ink usage and VOC reports and other reports as necessary
• Attend production meetings and other customer meetings as required
• Attend weekly safety, quality and performance calls.
• Provide technical assistance with issues such as ink training, ink improvements, cost reductions, safety training, updating and creating SOPs, SWC program, MSQs, housekeeping/5S improvement, file management/inspections/etc.
• Provide coverage for vacation and upset conditions to support the facility production schedule.

Job Responsibilities Include:

• Actively promote and ensure compliance with safety, quality and other programs and initiatives utilized within the organization.
• Perform all supervisory, technical, manufacturing, and reporting tasks pertaining to ink manufacturing, quality and inventory control, press related issues, maximization of efficiencies related to ink and print, cost reduction measures, and other issues as the customer requires.
• Ensure that safety and environmental related items are properly documented, tracked and maintained according to IP, Local, State and Federal requirements.
• Provide Quality products to our customers
• Manufacture ink batches for customers/print jobs
• Press side technical assistance
• Manage the color management software for ink room QC and press side production per job with key functions being, job preparation, print Quality Control, job history, and performance tracking.
• Maintain Preprint customer ink inventory; Work-off/re-work ink
• File ink usage reports, other reports as necessary.
• Complete monthly Inventory counts, daily reports, manage all inspections.
• Attend production meetings and other customer meetings as required
• Any other technical issues needed by customers and the ink team: Ink training, ink improvements, cost reductions, inventory control, job billing, etc.
• Manage, train and lead in-plant team members and perform quarterly 1:1 documented conversations with the team members.
• Ensure appropriate housekeeping.
• Approve payroll and schedule coverage and overtime.
• Other duties as required.

The Skills You Will Bring:

• High School diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Prior experience in manufacturing, Supervisory or Manager role required. Two years of supervisory experience preferred.

• Candidates should be willing to work in a fast-paced environment and be able to lift 50 pounds repetitively.
• Prior ink experience, ink dispensing systems knowledge, color control and management software knowledge are a plus.                      

• Action oriented
• Customer Focused
• Developing Direct Reports
• Integrity and Trust
• Managerial Courage
• Organizational Skills
• Business Acumen
• Communications
• Math & Computer Skills

The Benefits You Will Enjoy:

International Paper offers a benefits package that includes health, welfare and retirement plans including Medical, Dental, Life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Short-term and Long-term Disability, 401(k), Company-funded retirement contributions, Paid Time Off, Education & Development (including Tuition Reimbursement), Student Loan Repayment Assistance, and Voluntary Benefits including insurance for home, auto, vision and pets. 

The Career You Will Build:

Sales and Leadership training, promotional opportunities within a global company

The Impact You Will Make:

We continue to build a better future for people, the planet, and our company! IP has been a good steward of sustainable practices across communities around the world for more than 125 years. Join our team and you’ll see why our team members say they’re Proud to be IP.

The Culture You Will Experience:

International Paper promotes employee well-being by providing safe, caring and inclusive workplaces. We have team members all around the world with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. These are our strengths. We are committed to creating a culture where all individuals are respected, valued, engaged and have an opportunity to do their best work every day. We invite you to bring your uniqueness, creativity, talents, experiences, and safety mindset to be a part of our increasingly inclusive and diverse culture.

The Company You Will Join:

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

International Paper is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

International Paper complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact reasonable.accommodations@ipaper.com or (877) 973-3919.

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