Technical Assistant - Power

Smurfit Westrock; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking a Technical Assistant for the Power & Recovery Department at the Fernandina Beach Mill to support operational excellence, training, and continuous improvement. The role collaborates with the Engineering team on new projects and provides leadership coverage during weekend operations.

The position emphasizes safety, environmental stewardship, and accountability, with expectations to lead by example in a fully integrated paper mill setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent Power and Utility experience.
• 5+ years in industrial power generation or utilities preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Weekend work rotating schedule and after-hours support.
• Office and mill floor work environment with PPE required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a training program for Power Department personnel.
• Collect and report daily KPI data to drive efficiency.
• Participate in weekend duty rotation and provide oversight.
• Act as Assistant Superintendent when needed.
• Support design, installation and startup of new equipment with Engineering.
• Plan and execute department outages safely and efficiently.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Description & Requirements

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

Position Summary

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Technical Assistant to join the Power & Recovery Department at the Fernandina Beach Mill. This role is critical in supporting operational excellence, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring the effective training and development of department personnel. The Technical Assistant will also collaborate closely with the Engineering team on new projects and provide leadership coverage during weekend operations as part of the weekend duty team.

This position requires a strong commitment to safety and environmental stewardship, with the expectation to lead by example and promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in these areas.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive training program for Power Department personnel to ensure safety, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Collect, analyze, and report on daily operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to support data-driven decision-making for improving efficiency and reliability across the Power department.
• Participate in the weekend duty rotation, providing oversight and support for Power & Recovery operations.
• Serve as acting Assistant Superintendent when needed, ensuring continuity of leadership and operations.
• Assist in the design, installation, commissioning, and startup of new equipment and systems in collaboration with the Engineering Department.
• Participate in the planning and execution of department outages, ensuring safe, efficient, and timely completion of all scheduled work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent Power and Utility experience.
• 5+ years of experience in industrial power generation, utilities, or a related field is preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills is required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Computer skills/ability to develop proficiency is required.
• Must be able to work weekends as part of a rotating schedule.
• Respond to department issues after hours, weekends, holidays as required.
• This position requires work from the office as well as in operational areas of a fully integrated Pulp and Paper Mill with exposure to heat, noise, and other industrial hazards.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required and must be worn at all times in designated areas. This includes, but is not limited to: safety shoes, hard hat, gloves, hearing protection, and safety glasses.

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.