Paper Machine Assistant Superintendent

Clearwater Paper; Arkansas City (AR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Clearwater Paper’s Cypress Bend mill in Arkansas is seeking an Assistant Superintendent to coordinate and lead manufacturing operations on the paper machine, ensuring safety, quality, and production objectives are met. The role serves as a technical resource, guiding project and process improvement efforts across the mill.

The successful candidate will have 3+ years in an operations leadership role in a paper or CPG facility, strong coaching and communication skills, and a track record of

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; B.S. Chemical Engineer or Pulp and Paper science preferred
• 3+ years in an operations leadership role in a Paper or Consumer Packaged Goods processing facility
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills with experience in leading change
• Excellent communication skills, comfortable presenting to senior-level audiences
• Advanced systems aptitude and proficiency with Windows-based Excel and Word

Responsibilities

• Set objectives and goals cascaded to the site IBP and aligned to the business plan
• Coach the business unit in the right behaviors and ensure standards across safety, environment, quality, cost, and production
• Lead problem-solving to drive root-cause analysis and sustainable improvements
• Oversee safety initiatives, incident investigations, and follow-up
• Mentor shift supervisors and ensure leadership coverage during the Superintendent's absence
• Develop team in production, safety, quality, and plant efficiency
• Support capital budget processes and implement SOPs and training programs
• Create an environment of trust, open communication, and cohesive teamwork

Skills

Operations leadership

Coaching

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Project management

Education

B.S. Chemical Engineer or Pulp and Paper science preferred

Tools

Excel (Windows)

Microsoft Word

Job description

Where you will work

Our Cypress Bend team is a close-knit group of approximately 275 skilled employees who take pride in what we do. Together, we make bleached paperboard and bleached Kraft pulp, used in the production of folding cartons, commercial print paperboard, carded packaging, and cup stock.

Located in the historic Mississippi River Delta, this facility offers a slower pace with plenty of outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, and biking. Many employees commute from nearby towns such as McGehee, Monticello, Dumas, Dermott and Lake Village, which are known for affordable living, strong local pride and family-friendly schools.

The Cypress Bend team also supports local cultural and the arts, with past contributions to the WWII Japanese Internment Museum and SEArk Concert Association.

What you will do

The Assistant Superintendent will proactively coordinate and lead the manufacturing operations on the paper machine to ensure the achievement of department objectives for Safety, Quality, Production, etc. The successful candidate will act as a technical resource for the operations team, and lead project and process improvement efforts in the paper mill.

Operations

• Sets objectives and goals cascaded and aligned to the site Integrated Business Plan (IBP)
• Coaches the business unit in the right behaviors
• Ensures the business unit works to standards (Safety, Environmental, Quality, Cost, Production)
• Develops the required standards
• Coaches and facilitates loss elimination by using problem-solving tools
• Assures the problems are solved (root cause) and tasks are implemented in a sustainable way
• Accountable for the business unit operational budget
• Defines and executes improvements to support midterm plans

Safety

• Responsible for day-to-day area safety and assists with all area safety efforts
• Reviews all safety incidents and investigates root causes. Assures follow-up items are completed in a timely manner
• Help support the behavioral safety program (where applicable) and ensure that safe work practices are followed
• Lead safety initiatives and provide safety training to ensure safe work practices are followed and enforced
• Work to eliminate employee interactions with equipment
• Address safety concerns with a strong urgency
• Ensure environmental compliance

Leadership

• Mentor shift supervisors to ensure quality leadership of hourly personnel
• Provide leadership coverage during the Superintendent's absence
• Conduct investigations of safety incidents with shift supervisors and hourly personnel
• Develop team in areas of production, safety, quality, and overall plant efficiency
• Ensure employee compliance with schedules, policies, and procedures
• Assist in developing and implementing job-specific training program, Qual-card and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's)
• Participates in the grievance process (where applicable)
• Support capital budget process
• Creates an environment oriented to trust, open communication, creative thinking, and cohesive teamwork
• Communication of Site IBP and cascading objectives and priorities into the business unit
• Responsible for performance management process
• Coaches and develop team members and individuals to ensure a sustained leadership pipeline
• Responsible for the motivation and morale of the business unit to achieve the expected goals
• Collaborates with other areas internal and external to the site

Quality

• Maintain and improve quality standards for all products produced
• Lead quality initiatives and support change to ensure satisfied downstream customers
• Follow up with rejected/obsolete products to ensure timely disposition

Key Competencies & Attributes

• Systematically evaluates business opportunities, targeting those with the greatest potential for producing positive business results
• Identifies more critical and less critical activities and assignments; adjusts priorities when appropriate
• Allocates appropriate amounts of time for completing own and others' work; avoids scheduling conflicts; develops timelines and milestones
• Actively seeks and allocates appropriate decision-making authority or task responsibility to appropriate individuals based on their abilities, availability, motivation, and development needs; considers potential positive and negative impact, business unit priorities, organizational values, and the opportunity to enhance others' knowledge and skills

What you will need

• High school diploma or GED required. B.S. Chemical Engineer or Pulp and Paper science preferred
• 3+ years in an operations leadership role in a Paper or Consumer Packaged Goods processing facility
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills with experience in leading change
• Excellent communication skills, comfortable presenting up to senior-level audiences
• Advanced systems aptitude and excellent computer skills, including Windows-based Excel
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required
• Excellent planning and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel with the ability to learn production-related programs
• Self-directed and energetic, able to lead and motivate others
• Knowledge of industry, machinery, equipment, and processes
• High-speed manufacturing environment, sustained exposure to high-frequency noises, multiple hours standing, walking on concrete surfaces
• Personal Protective Equipment is required in the mill environment
• Dirt, noise, odor, & temperature extremes
• Climbing stairs, ladders, and scaffolding
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing process

Total Rewards Details

We prioritize an exceptional workplace experience, offering a comprehensive total reward package. This position is eligible for our Incentive Plan. Compensation ranges are estimates based on market data. Actual offers account for internal equity and candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, education, experience, and geographic location. Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and more, generally begin after 30 days. Our paid time off will include vacation days, personal days, and company holidays. For more on our compensation philosophy, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition Team [e-mail].

Clearwater Paper will not offer sponsorship for employment-based visa status (including, but not limited to, H-1B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require Clearwater Paper's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

#ClearwaterPaper #Cypress Bend

This role will be open for a minimum of 2 weeks or at the point a successful candidate is selected.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.