Assistant Superintendent, Lime Kiln

ND Paper; Rumford (ME); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

ND Paper in Rumford, Maine seeks an Assistant Superintendent of the Lime to lead the lime kiln and recausticizing operations with a strong emphasis on safety, reliability, and efficiency. You will guide frontline teams, drive performance improvements, and ensure regulatory compliance in a fast-paced mill environment.

Ideal candidates bring deep lime kiln knowledge, 5–10 years of pulp and paper manufacturing, and proven leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field is preferred.
• 5–10 years of pulp and paper manufacturing experience required.
• 3–5 years supervisory or leadership experience in lime kiln, recausticizing, or related ops.
• Strong understanding of lime kiln operations, combustion systems, and recausticizing processes.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations and emissions compliance related to kiln operations.
• Proven ability to lead teams and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and industrial process systems.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate safety as a core value and establish a safe work environment by actively leading the safe execution of work.
• Demonstrate safety as a core value and actively lead safe work practices throughout the department
• Promote and maintain compliance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements
• Lead daily operations of the lime kiln and recausticizing area to ensure safe, stable, and efficient production
• Monitor and optimize kiln performance, fuel consumption, lime quality, and process efficiency
• Collaborate with maintenance and engineering teams to improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, production, quality, cost reduction, and environmental performance
• Ensure compliance with environmental permits, emissions requirements, and operational standards
• Develop, coach, and support operators and frontline leadership to improve department performance and accountability
• Manage staffing, scheduling, training, and employee development within the department
• Analyze process trends, operating data, and performance metrics to identify improvement opportunities
• Support outage planning, shutdown coordination, and capital improvement projects
• Maintain effective communication and collaboration across operations, maintenance, engineering, environmental, and safety teams
• Participate in incident investigations and ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained
• Maintain departmental budgets and manage operating costs effectively
• Lead by example and reinforce a culture of accountability, teamwork, and operational excellence
• Foster employee engagement and continuous learning
• Provide timely coaching, performance feedback, and development opportunities
• Support labor relations initiatives and administer policies and procedures consistently
• Drive operational discipline and adherence to standard operating procedures

Skills

Leadership

Safety leadership

Operations management

Team coordination

Communication

Problem-solving

Continuous improvement

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Pulp & Paper Technology preferred

Tools

Industrial process control systems

Job description

Position Summary

Key Responsibilities & Expected Results

The Assistant Superintendent of the Lime is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the lime kiln and related recausticizing processes within the pulp mill. This role provides leadership and direction to operations personnel while driving safety performance, environmental compliance, production efficiency, quality, reliability, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Position Summary

Key Responsibilities & Expected Results

The Assistant Superintendent of the Lime is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the lime kiln and related recausticizing processes within the pulp mill. This role provides leadership and direction to operations personnel while driving safety performance, environmental compliance, production efficiency, quality, reliability, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate will possess strong operational leadership skills, technical knowledge of lime kiln and recaust operations, and the ability to lead teams in a fast-paced industrial manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrate safety as a core value and establish a safe work environment by actively leading the safe execution of work.
• Demonstrate safety as a core value and actively lead safe work practices throughout the department
• Promote and maintain compliance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements
• Lead daily operations of the lime kiln and recausticizing area to ensure safe, stable, and efficient production
• Monitor and optimize kiln performance, fuel consumption, lime quality, and process efficiency
• Collaborate with maintenance and engineering teams to improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, production, quality, cost reduction, and environmental performance
• Ensure compliance with environmental permits, emissions requirements, and operational standards
• Develop, coach, and support operators and frontline leadership to improve department performance and accountability
• Manage staffing, scheduling, training, and employee development within the department
• Analyze process trends, operating data, and performance metrics to identify improvement opportunities
• Support outage planning, shutdown coordination, and capital improvement projects
• Maintain effective communication and collaboration across operations, maintenance, engineering, environmental, and safety teams
• Participate in incident investigations and ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained
• Maintain departmental budgets and manage operating costs effectively

Leadership Expectations

• Lead by example and reinforce a culture of accountability, teamwork, and operational excellence
• Foster employee engagement and continuous learning
• Provide timely coaching, performance feedback, and development opportunities
• Support labor relations initiatives and administer policies and procedures consistently
• Drive operational discipline and adherence to standard operating procedures

Attributes for Success

• Hard work - tackle each task with determination, passion and creativity; the willingness to put in whatever effort is required to successfully complete the job at hand.
• Pursuit of Excellence - strive to consistently exceed expectations in our day-to-day work and outperform our competitors in the marketplace, regarding work and company achievements as a collaborative goal with the desire to go above and beyond.
• Integrity - treat the company and teammates with upmost respect, operating on strong moral codes to drive company values and culture.
• Sense of Urgency - drive forward each day with speed, agility, and flexibility to capture unrealized opportunities and avoid potential risks for the business.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit - act like an owner, challenging the status quo, asking the right questions, and actively seeking ways to innovate and improve.
• Adaptability - be fluid with ND Paper’s continuous evolution while driving change in a fast-paced environment, equipped with the ability to acclimate quickly.
• Servant Leadership - set an example by implementing meaningful leadership with heart, empathy, foresight and stewardship.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Pulp & Paper Technology, or related field preferred
• Minimum of 5-10 years of pulp and paper manufacturing experience required
• Must have 3-5 years supervisory or leadership experience in lime kiln, recausticizing, recovery, or related operations
• Strong understanding of lime kiln operations, combustion systems, and recausticizing processes
• Knowledge of environmental regulations and emissions compliance related to kiln operations
• Proven ability to lead teams and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and industrial process systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with process optimization and reliability improvement initiatives
• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience
• Experience working in a unionized manufacturing environment preferred

Safety Expectations

• Ensure all work is performed safely and in compliance with company policies and procedures
• Promote proactive hazard recognition and risk reduction
• Support ergonomics, injury prevention, and safe operating practices
• Reinforce compliance with Lockout/Tagout, confined space, hot work, and other critical safety procedures