Digital Mill Operations Lead

01 Stora Enso Oyj; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Professional development opportunities

Sustainability and innovation-driven环境

Job summary

Stora Enso is seeking a Digital Mill Operations Lead to shape and deliver the Future Digital Mill across production sites in Helsinki. You will bridge mill floor operations with business leadership and technology, delivering measurable safety, efficiency, quality and energy improvements.

You will own the multi‑year AI and analytics roadmap, lead a digital team, and collaborate with IT/OT to build a scalable data foundation, while driving adoption and change across the mills.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of AI, machine learning and advanced analytics.
• Solid experience leading digitalisation programs in manufacturing.
• Experience building data architectures: OT systems, MES, ERP
• Proven ability to manage senior stakeholders and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead the digital mill vision and multi-year AI roadmap.
• Scale high-impact AI use cases such as predictive maintenance and process optimization.
• Collaborate with IT/OT and mill management to embed digital solutions in operations.
• Drive adoption and grow digital and AI skills among operators and leaders.

Skills

AI and data expertise

Leadership

Industrial process knowledge

Stakeholder management

Education

University degree in computer or data science or engineering

Job description

We are looking for a Digital Mill Operations Lead to join Digital & Business Technology Solutions at Stora Enso, starting as soon as possible.

You will be joining the Business Accelerator Services Leadership team, focusing on “turning our mills into data-driven, AI-enabled production sites that run safer, leaner and more sustainably”.

You will be located in Helsinki and report to the Head of Business Accelerator Services.

Purpose As Digital Mill Operations Lead, you will shape and deliver the future of how our mills run, guided by our Future Digital Mill agenda. Our ambition is clear: to move towards autonomous, AI-orchestrated mill operations and to set a benchmark for AI-enabled manufacturing in our industry. You combine a bold vision for AI and digitalisation with a deep understanding of process industry operations (pulp, board and packaging material or other, like mining, chemical or metals production). Your mission is to move AI and digital solutions from pilots into everyday mill operations, at scale, delivering measurable results in safety, efficiency, profitability, quality, energy and CO₂. This is a leadership role, where you will have real influence over which digital priorities we pursue, where we invest and how operations change across our mill network. You will be the bridge between the mill floor, business leadership and technology, and your decisions will be central to our long‑term operational competitiveness.

Vision and roadmap

Own the digital mill vision (Future Digital Mill) and translate business and mill priorities into a clear, multi‑year roadmap for AI, advanced analytics, automation and digitalisation across our production sites.

AI in production

Lead and scale high‑impact AI use cases such as predictive maintenance, quality prediction, process optimisation and advanced process control, energy and raw material efficiency, and AI assistants that support operators and engineers in daily decisions.

Data foundation and IT/OT

Together with IT, OT and automation teams, build a secure and scalable industrial data foundation that connects control systems, process historians, MES, laboratory and ERP data, with cybersecurity built in.

Embedding in operations

Work side by side with mill management, production, maintenance and technology teams to make digital solutions part of daily routines – not side projects.

Value and portfolio

Build business cases, prioritise the portfolio, manage budget and track value against clear KPIs such as OEE, profitability, uptime, quality, and energy use; turn successful pilots into standard solutions that can be replicated across mills.

Team and ecosystem

Lead a digital team and manage a network of technology partners, automation suppliers, start‑ups and research institutes.

Change and capabilities

Drive adoption and new ways of working, and grow digital and AI skills among operators, engineers and mill leadership.

Future outlook

Follow emerging technologies – industrial AI, generative and agentic AI, digital twins, edge computing and autonomous operations – and bring the most promising ones to Stora Enso.

What will you bring

• Education: A university degree in computer or data science, engineering (e.g. chemical, process, automation, pulp and paper technology) or similar.
• Digital transformation track record: Proven experience leading digitalisation programs in manufacturing, including taking AI and analytics solutions from pilot to scaled, measurable business value.
• AI and data expertise: Strong knowledge of AI, machine learning, advanced analytics and generative AI, and a good understanding of industrial data architecture – OT systems, process historians, MES, cloud platforms and IT/OT security.
• Process industry operations: Solid experience from process industry operations, ideally in pulp, paper, board or packaging material production, with a strong understanding of mill processes, production economics, maintenance and safety.
• Visionary and hands‑on: You can paint a compelling picture of the future mill and build a realistic plan to get there – and you enjoy rolling up your sleeves to make it happen.
• Leadership and behaviours: An inspiring, collaborative leader and driver who is credible both on the mill floor and in the management team. You are curious, results‑driven and safety‑minded, you lead change with energy and empathy, and you build trust across functions and cultures.
• Stakeholder and partner management: Experience working with senior stakeholders, building business cases and managing technology vendors and partners.
• Languages and mobility: Excellent English skills; Finnish or Swedish is an advantage. Willingness to travel regularly to our mill sites.

We offer

We offer You will be part of our diverse working culture which supports you in exploring new perspectives and developing professionally. You will contribute to a more sustainable world, as sustainability and innovation are at the core of our strategy. To keep you going safely, we support your physical and mental well‑being.

• Career growth opportunities within an international organisation
• Access to modern technologies and digital tools
• Professional development opportunities
• Motivating additional benefits package
• Hybrid work options and flexible working hours
• Inspiring, sustainable, and innovation‑driven work environment

Join the Renewable Materials Company

The forest is at the heart of Stora Enso, and we believe that everything made from fossil‑based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. We are the leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. Stora Enso has approximately 19,000 employees. This is your chance work at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and profitability, contributing to digital solutions that deliver impactful business performance. Everyday.

Watch our film: Be part of a nature positive future

Welcome to work in the renewable materials company! Are you curious and would like to work with innovation in renewable products? Our purpose “Do good for people and the planet. Replace non‑renewable materials with renewable products” underpins our belief that everything that can be made with fossil‑based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow, and highlights Stora Enso’s opportunity to contribute to a greener economy.

Take a look at our open positions! At Stora Enso you will join forces with around 19 000 colleagues - a wide range of people with a diverse set of backgrounds and skills, all focused on the potential of biomaterials, paper, packaging and wooden construction.

Introduce yourself to our recruiters and we'll get in touch if there is a role that seems like a good match.

By joining us, you will contribute towards a more sustainable world, as we believe that anything made from fossil‑based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow.

With our values in Stora Enso, “Lead and Do what’s right”, we expect high performance, speed and agility in every part of our organization.

Safety and wellbeing are our top priority every day.

We inspire you to lead your growth and to set the ambition high.

We believe diversity strengthens our competitiveness and contributes to better decision‑making. Diverse working teams help us to explore different perspectives and challenge our way of thinking. We work actively to increase diversity in the workplace and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. Stora Enso is an equal opportunity employer and follows non‑discriminatory practices.

To prepare yourself for our recruitment process, please explore the page provided: Applying for a job - Careers | Stora Enso