Initiatives Leader

Want to turn material innovation into better manufacturing performance? Ready to lead initiatives from concept through production? Join Essity and use your engineering expertise to improve products, processes, and well-being through meaningful innovation.

About the Role

As an Initiative Material Leader at Essity in Dover, Delaware, you will lead material-related initiatives that connect product development with successful manufacturing execution. The position works across materials, packaging, quality, procurement, engineering, operations, and other technical functions to help bring new products and material improvements into production.

You will evaluate material changes, support qualification and validation, coordinate production trials, and identify opportunities to improve material performance. You may also contribute to broader continuous improvement, equipment, and manufacturing initiatives.

This is an on-site role working primarily first-shift hours, typically 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with limited travel.

What You Will Do

• Material Development: Develop and maintain material specifications, technical data, Bills of Materials, and testing requirements for new and existing products.
• New Product Introduction: Partner with product, packaging, engineering, and manufacturing teams to assess material feasibility and support successful product launches.
• Validation & Trials: Coordinate material aspects of validation and qualification activities, including production trials, test materials, and collection and evaluation of test data.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement material improvements that enhance manufacturing performance, quality, reliability, efficiency, and material utilization.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, research and development, packaging, procurement, supplier quality, operations, and other stakeholders on material development and optimization.
• Supplier & Quality Support: Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to define and optimize material characteristics, investigate material issues, and support effective resolution of quality concerns.
• Technical Leadership: Coach colleagues on material specifications, characteristics, defect reporting, and problem-solving while providing leadership and influence across initiatives.

Who You Are

• You have a degree in engineering, materials science, or a related technical discipline, or a combination of relevant technical education and significant applicable experience.
• You bring 5+ years of relevant engineering experience, ideally within manufacturing, new product development, quality, materials engineering, supply chain, or a related environment.
• You have experience working with SAP and Microsoft Office tools. Knowledge of materials, packaging, manufacturing processes, validation or qualification, project management, and continuous improvement is valuable.
• You combine strong safety awareness with leadership and influencing skills, analytical problem-solving, sound decision-making, stakeholder management, prioritization, communication, collaboration, and the ability to coach others.
• You are comfortable working across functions and with suppliers to translate technical requirements into practical manufacturing solutions.

What We Can Offer You

Our purpose, Breaking Barriers to Well-being, provides meaning to everything we do. Join us to improve well-being for people and drive positive change for society and the environment. At Essity, you'll feel valued, empowered to grow, and challenged to achieve business results in a collaborative and open atmosphere.

Compensation and Benefits:

Expected Compensation:

Competitive annual salary + annual incentive bonus + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors such as knowledge, skills, and experience.

Along with competitive pay you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• United Healthcare PPO / EyeMed Vision Insurance / Delta Dental Insurance
• Wellness program provided through Rally
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match and annual employer base contribution
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• PTO offering with Paid Holidays
• Scholarship program for children of Essity employees. 

Innovate for Good | Excel Together | Be You with Us

More About Dover, Delaware

This position is based on-site at Essity's Dover, Delaware manufacturing location. You will work closely with manufacturing and technical teams, giving you direct visibility into how material decisions, engineering solutions, and improvement initiatives translate into production results.

Additional Information

The Company is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process please contact EssityHRNorthAmerica@essity.com

Together, we are improving lives, every day

Working at Essity is not just a career; it is a chance to directly make the world a healthier, more hygienic and safer place. With impactful innovations coupled with sustainable solutions, we strive to reach more people every year with the necessary and essential solutions for well-being.

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