Power Superintendent

Smurfit Westrock; Texas; On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock Company is seeking a Superintendent, Power to lead the mill's power, utilities, and auxiliary systems. The role ensures safe, reliable operations and alignment with production goals, while driving continuous improvement in safety, efficiency, and cost control.

The position involves leading front-line teams, coordinating maintenance, outages, and capital projects, and working with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Environmental teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 5+ years related experience in manufacturing.
• Ability to drive performance management.
• Familiarity with labor contracts and department policies.
• Demonstrate proactive troubleshooting and drive to resolution.
• Willingness to work 12-hour rotating shifts and overtime.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety, environmental compliance across utilities.
• Own day-to-day power and utilities operations to support production.
• Set and manage performance metrics related to reliability, uptime, cost.
• Coach frontline leaders and hourly employees; ensure clear expectations.
• Coordinate maintenance, outages, and capital projects.
• Support budget planning and cost control of utilities.
• Drive continuous improvement using data and best practices.
• Develop SOPs and training documentation.
• Drive standardization and discipline in utility operations.

Skills

Leadership

Safety leadership

Operations management

Maintenance planning

Cost control

Performance management

Team development

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Code: MOPOM4 + Mgr II, Mfg Ops

The Opportunity

The Superintendent, Power, is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the mill's power, utilities, and auxiliary systems, ensuring uninterrupted support to manufacturing operations and reports to the Department Manager, P&R Mill (Utilities Manager). This role provides leadership over utility plant operations, including power generation, water and wastewater treatment, bark processing, and related systems, while maintaining compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

The Superintendent oversees front-line leaders and hourly employees, sets operational priorities, and ensures assets, people, and processes are aligned to meet production demands, cost targets, and reliability expectations. This role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Environmental teams to drive continuous improvement, manage outages and maintenance activities, and strengthen a culture of safety and accountability across the utility functions.

Major Job Responsibilities

Safety, Environmental & Compliance Leadership

• Promote and model a strong safety and environmental culture, ensuring compliance with OSHA, environmental permits, and company standards across all utility operations.
• Ensure hazards, near misses, and operational risks are proactively identified, addressed, and escalated appropriately.
• Maintain compliance across power generation, water treatment, wastewater systems, woodyard, and auxiliary operations.

Operational Excellence & Reliability

• Own day-to-day operational performance of power and utilities systems to support mill production requirements.
• Set and manage departmental performance metrics related to reliability, uptime, cost, waste, and efficiency.
• Review daily logs, system performance, and operating data to ensure stable operations and timely issue resolution.
• Coordinate operational priorities to support manufacturing demands and minimize disruptions.

People Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead, coach, and develop front-line leaders and hourly employees, ensuring clear expectations and consistent execution.
• Ensure appropriate staffing, training, and skill development to meet operational and compliance requirements.
• Provide timely feedback, conduct performance reviews, and support employee development and succession planning.
• Reinforce accountability while fostering engagement and ownership at all levels of the organization.

Maintenance, Outages & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to plan and coordinate maintenance activities, outages, and system improvements.
• Provide priorities and operational input to support work management, reliability initiatives, and capital projects.
• Participate in daily accountability and coordination meetings to align utility operations with mill priorities.
• Support budget planning and cost control through effective management of utilities consumption, materials, and operating expenses.
• Analyze variances and operating trends to identify opportunities for cost savings and performance improvement.
• Forecast resource needs and support capital planning related to utility systems and infrastructure.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging data, operator input, and best practices to improve safety, reliability, and efficiency.
• Support development and improvement of SOPs, operating procedures, and training documentation.
• Drive standardization and discipline in utility operations to reduce variability and risk.

What you will need to succeed

• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university is strongly preferred; or five or more years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to drive performance management.
• Knowledgeable on labor contract and other department policies/procedures
• Demonstrate proactive and fundamental troubleshooting skills and drive to resolution or apply additional resources until the issue is resolved.
• Aligned with our company values of Integrity, Respect, Accountability, and Excellence.
• You must be available to work 12-hour rotating shift as well as extra days when needed.
• This position is in a manufacturing environment that involves rounds/tasks in operating areas that includes climbing stairs, ladders, and high heat conditions.

What We Offer

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, & potential.
• Benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k with match, tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, employee referral bonus, and much more!
• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.