Mechanical Maintenance Planner and/or Supervisor

Sappi; Ngodwana; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A manufacturing company is hiring a Mechanical Maintenance Planner and/or Supervisor to lead maintenance teams and ensure safe operations. Candidates should have strong leadership or planning experience, with requirements including an engineering degree and 3+ years in mechanical maintenance. The role offers the opportunity to foster team growth and enhance equipment reliability. Join us to contribute to a safe and efficient work environment while building your career in a supportive culture.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in industrial mechanical maintenance.
• 3+ years in supervisory, planning, or maintenance engineering roles.
• Experience in pulp & paper or similar heavy industrial environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead a mechanical maintenance crew of 10-15.
• Oversee daily work execution ensuring safety.
• Plan and schedule future mechanical work.

Skills

Strong safety leadership

Troubleshooting rotating and process equipment

Excellent communication skills

Leadership

Team-building skills

Education

Engineering degree preferred

Tools

MS Office

SAP

Maintenance planning tools

Job description

Mechanical Maintenance Planner and/or Supervisor

Country: United States

City: Skowhegan

State: Maine

Location: Mill Somerset

Department: Maintenance and Engineering

Sappi North America
Sappi Somerset, is one of the largest, most advanced and high performing mills in North America with one of the lowest mill emissions. Our packaging papers are suited across a range of market segments including health and beauty, confectionery, premium beverages and food packaging. We manufacture labels for cans and jars and our graphic papers are used in direct mail, magazines and catalogs. Nearly $1 billion in the last decade has been invested to expand into sustainable and renewable SBS board grades for folding carton and foodservice, including the rebuilds of PM1 in 2018 and PM2, to be completed in 2025. The Somerset mill focuses on safety, sustainability, quality, and innovation.

About This Opportunity

We are hiring for a Mechanical Maintenance Planner and/or Supervisor and are open to filling this position as either a Supervisor or a Planner depending on the selected candidate’s experience, strengths, and career goals.

• Candidates with strong leadership experience and a background managing mechanical maintenance teams will be considered for the Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor role.
• Candidates with strong planning, scheduling, and reliability experience will be considered for the Mechanical Maintenance Planner role.

We encourage applicants from both backgrounds to apply. The final role scope will align with the skill set of the most qualified candidate.

What You’ll Do — Supervisor

• Lead a mechanical maintenance crew of 10–15 (millwrights, pipefitters, lube techs).
• Oversee daily work execution and ensure safe, efficient maintenance operations.
• Champion safety and foster a culture where every team member goes home injury-free.
• Troubleshoot mechanical issues and guide the crew through complex problem-solving.
• Strengthen mechanical reliability through precision maintenance and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Do — Planner

• Plan and schedule future mechanical work, including preventive maintenance and outages.
• Partner with operations to align maintenance plans with production goals.
• Improve work readiness, materials coordination, and execution quality.
• Support the natural work team with detailed planning and prioritization.
• Identify reliability gaps and help drive long-term mechanical solutions.

What Success Looks Like

• A safe, empowered team that trusts your leadership or planning expertise.
• Smooth, efficient execution of scheduled work and maintenance activities.
• Reduced unplanned downtime and improved equipment reliability.
• Strong communication and productive partnerships with operations teams.
• A team that feels supported, challenged, and proud of its work.

What You Bring

• Strong safety leadership and a commitment to safe work practices.
• Engineering degree preferred, or equivalent industry experience.
• 3+ years in industrial mechanical maintenance.
• 3+ years in supervisory, planning, or maintenance engineering roles.
• Experience in pulp & paper or similar heavy industrial environments.
• Skilled in troubleshooting rotating and process equipment.
• Proficiency with MS Office, SAP, and maintenance planning tools.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and team-building skills.

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.