Area Maintenance Systems Leader Area Maintenance Systems Leader

Sappi•Cloquet, MN

About The Position

We’re looking for a Area Maintenance Systems Leader to join our Paper Machine 4 (PM4) Team at the Cloquet Mill. This position plays a key role in ensuring safety, reliability, and performance across Paper Manufacturing. As a core member of the team, you’ll lead maintenance strategies, support production goals, and drive continuous improvement in a high-impact environment.

Requirements

Strong experience with and knowledge of Paper Machine operations and maintenance.
Experience managing contractors, from scope development through execution and final invoicing.
Familiarity with maintenance systems—planning, scheduling, lockout/tagout, and backlog management.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (especially Excel), PI systems, and CMMS platforms (SAP preferred).
Background in preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to enhance equipment reliability.
Budgeting, cost forecasting, and project management experience.
Excellent communication, organizational, and team-building skills.

Nice To Haves

Supervisory or team leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Champion a Safety First culture by leading through example and engaging the team in safety initiatives.
Serve as the primary liaison between PM4 Operations, Maintenance, and Contractors, owning the asset care strategy and maintenance coordination for the equipment and infrastructure of the utilities department.
Prioritize daily work, taking into consideration risk, budget and operational needs. Collaborate with maintenance stakeholders to ensure the mill work management system processes are followed.
Lead the coordination of minor maintenance outages. Support major outage activities.
Oversee the department’s maintenance budget, including forecasting, tracking, and cost control.
Lead reliability improvement initiatives aimed at increasing uptime, reducing variability, and lowering costs.
Troubleshoot and resolve equipment, process, and quality issues.
Implement and optimize preventive and reliability-based maintenance practices.
Support capital projects, process improvements, and team development activities.
Provide leadership and coaching to maintenance and operational teams to build technical and leadership capability.