Senior Manager, Sawmilling

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 300 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ 11,000 people and operate in more than 55 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact.

What does that mean for you? You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our

Hybrid Work Model


**Job Description**:
- Position Purpose:

- This position will be responsible for managing the Weatherboard Plant, which includes a wet mill, timber processing plant, pallet manufacturing as well as the hollow-composite block plant.
- The primary objective of this position is to ensure the efficient and consistent production of quality sawn timber to meet CHEP SSA’s repair timber requirement as well as its new pallet requirement of approximately 600k pallets per annum.
- At the core of this position is the responsibility to ensure the successful backward integration of CHEP SSA’s pooling business and its reliance on a consistent reliable supply of FSC accredited sawn timber and pallets, as supplied from its own plantations.
- The incumbent will be responsible to develop and manage relationships with all 3rd party service providers, Trade Unions as well as customers where onsite activities occur within his/her area of responsibility.
- Key Accountabilities:

- People and Safety
- Promote and drive a culture of Zero Harm.
- Implement and drive the safety strategies across the Weatherboard plant, which includes a robust anti-fire measures are fully deployed, in compliance with Brambles insurance requirements, and checked for emergency switch-on at all times
- Responsible for the GAP, SEMP and Environmental requirements and audit results.
- Recruit, motivate and develop subordinates and ensure a succession plan is in place.
- Develop a motivated and productive workforce through effective people management and communication skills.
- Ensures that good communications and sound relationships are maintained with all employees, shop stewards and respective unions.
- Negotiate annual conditions of employment with the respective trade union.
- Cost and Metrics
- Develop, implement and manage processes to drive efficiencies and cost reductions.
- Managing plant costs, production, ensuring highest physical throughput meeting company objectives.
- Report on all Plant KPI’s and compile monthly reports.
- Ensuring that alternative markets are found for surplus sawn board production (where CHEP SSA’s volumes may be reduced), but ensuring these markets do not conflict with CHEP’s markets
- Ensuring that markets are found for all “B” and “C” grade sawn timber generated from operations, such that waste is kept to an absolute minimum..
- Stock Management / Planning
- Responsible for the management and control of all raw materials, including the purchasing of timber logs from multiple contractual suppliers (Sappi, H Merensky, Braecroft), Wet and Dry Mill operations, target delivery dates by Service Centre locations and maintaining agreed levels of buffer stocks.
- Highlight areas of risk and manage variances to ensure the prevention of any stock losses.
- Participates in regular stock audits, supervises all quarterly and annual stock-count audits and resolves queries.
- Ensures that the plant is efficiently stocked with both hire equipment and repair material to meet customer requirements.
- Quality
- Develop and implement quality systems to ensure all raw material and pallet quality standards are met.
- Conducts quality audits and analyse the data to ensure corrective action is taken for poor quality.
- Follow up and resolve all customer complaints and recommends/implements solutions.
- 3rd Party Service Providers
- Manage and assist 3rd Party Service Providers through Service Level Agreement stipulations and requirements.(SLA’s)
- Effectively develop 3rd party relationships with a continuous focus on reducing costs through cooperative initiatives and amicable business negotiations.
- Ensure 3rd party compliance to all CHEP Operational SOP’s as well as statuary requirements which includes the LRA, BCEA, EE, and OHSACT.

Operational Systems
- Ensures that all legal and statutory requirements (such as labour legislation) as well as Company policies and procedures applicable to the Operations function are implemented and complied with by all staff.
- Ensures efficient and effective operating methods are developed and maintained to achieve productivity, quality and cost