Maintenance System Leader 1

Sappi; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global company in Lehigh County is seeking a Maintenance Manager to oversee maintenance resources and ensure safety initiatives at the Allentown facility. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, at least 5 years of relevant experience, and expertise in PLC and HMI programming. Responsibilities include managing maintenance activities, developing training programs, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. This role offers a chance to contribute to the organization’s sustainability objectives and improve equipment reliability.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in manufacturing environment in a maintenance / reliability management role.
• Experience with PLC and HMI programming.
• Ability to read and understand blueprints and schematics.
• Ability to read blueprints and schematics; AutoCAD experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support site safety initiatives.
• Manage and direct site maintenance resources.
• Train all relevant personnel on new processes.
• Management of site control system optimization including programming of PLCs and HMIs.
• Train all relevant personnel on new processes and coordinate training programs.
• Support site capital investments portfolio through analysis, scope, and project management.
• Develop site support network of local contractors and skilled labor.
• Responsibility for overall control system concept and design; program, configure, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMI, VFDs.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

PLC programming

HMI programming

AutoCAD

Six Sigma

Project Management

SAP maintenance management

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Self-motivation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

PLC

HMI

SAP

Job description

Sappi North America
Sappi North America, headquartered in Boston with corporate offices in Portland, Maine, is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited, a global renewable resource company that uses every part of the tree to make sustainable woodfiber products. With over 12,000 employees and operations in seven countries, we serve customers worldwide. Our diversified businesses include Packaging, Speciality and Graphic Papers and Dissolving Pulp, offering premium products for various industries. From cosmetics packaging and food industry barrier papers to textiles and the clothes you wear, Sappi’s solutions are vital to the future of sustainable alternatives to plastic and other fossil fuel-based products.

Overview

A successful candidate will provide strategic direction and resource management critical to operate, troubleshoot, start-up, repair and maintain all production and auxiliary assets that support the Allentown converting operation. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, programs and practices for all maintenance resources and contractors. Provide leadership for maintenance, develop reliability programs, all while working intimately with operations to establish goals and objectives consistent with site commitments. This position will collaborate with all Sappi North American facilities and participate in the SNA Maintenance, Reliability and Risk platforms ensuring site compliance to regional and global objectives. Able to develop and implement training programs for site resources, connect with and establish relationships with local contractors and provide long term strategy for site maintenance. An effective candidate will bring expertise in PLC, DCS and other control system platforms, capable of leading control optimization through internal and external resources, and lead troubleshooting / problem solving efforts. This position is responsible for management of mechanical and electrical systems, facility management and management of the site capital investment portfolio as well as directing all Maintenance Technicians.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support site safety initiatives that ensure an accident-free, safe and productive workforce
• Contractor safety management, emergency preparedness, environmental systems, permit design, occupational health and hygiene
• Manage and direct site maintenance resources on daily, weekly, monthly and annual activities
• Lead the team’s efforts to deliver precision maintenance best practices and continuously improve equipment reliability and performance through preventative maintenance objectives
• Management of site control system optimization including programing of PLCs and HMIs
• Train all relevant personnel on new processes and coordinate training programs
• Support site capital investments portfolio through analysis, scope, and project management
• Develop site support network of local contractors and skilled labor
• Responsibility for overall control system concept and design. Ability to program, configure, specify, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMI, VFDs, printer and label systems.
• Establish new equipment specifications – use technical knowledge and expertise to support operations in design, maintenance, scale-up, optimization, automation, troubleshooting and validation of manufacturing processes and equipment
• Process flow analysis – designs and/or performs studies to assist operations in the monitoring or processes, equipment and facilities to optimize efficiencies, increase capacity, incorporate process changes, etc.
• Support resident contractors with emergency repairs through coordination and/or execution of work
• Provide maintenance leadership on the off-shifts – Nights, weekends and holidays as required.

Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in manufacturing environment in a maintenance / reliability management role
• Experience with PLC and HMI programming and familiarity of AB, Rockwell and similar drive/control systems are required
• Ability to read and understand blueprints and schematics. AutoCAD experience preferred.
• Experience in the paper industry including pulp / paper production or converting is a plus
• Project management experience with projects in excess of $1MM preferred
• Methodical problem solving ability with familiarity of Six Sigma, Kaizan and Kepner Tregoe
• Solid personal computer skills, including MS Excel and Access
• Familiarity of SAP as a maintenance management application is preferred
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, oral and written
• Very high attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to self-direct, motivate and challenge oneself without direction
• Build a collaborative workforce thus driving engagement
• Ability to resolve interpersonal conflicts
• Must be able and willing to confront others and hold them accountable
• Level headed, ability to balance multiple tasks and manage conflicting priorities
• Must be able to display professional communication and attitude with internal colleagues and external network of contractors
• Must be highly reliable and committed to customer focus and the success of the business
• Leadership skills with relatable manufacturing maintenance or reliability experience
• Achieve corporate sustainability objectives through adherence to federal and state law, regulations and requirements

Salary is determined by a number of factors including the value of the job to the organization, market forces, internal equity and skills brought to the job.
Sappi provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Sappi complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

ABOUT SAPPI

Sappi isa leading global provider of everyday materials made from woodfibre-based renewable resources. As a diversified, innovative and trusted leader focused on sustainable processes and products, we are building a more circular economy by making what we should, not just what we can.