Machine Room Assistant Superintendent

AMERICAN EAGLE PAPER MILLS•Tyrone, PA

80d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Machine Room Assistant Superintendent plays a crucial role in the daily operations of the paper mill. This position involves leading paper makers and supervisors in task completion, monitoring machine conditions, maintenance needs, and daily issues. The role also includes assisting in troubleshooting efforts for paper machines, starch supply, and steam/condensate systems. A key focus is on product quality, process development, and optimization. Responsibilities extend to planning and directing shutdowns, coordinating trials, and communicating with vendors to enhance chemical and mechanical paper machine functioning. The role also encompasses ensuring safety and environmental compliance, overseeing operator learning for manufacturing improvements, and developing initiatives to optimize machine availability. Day-to-day process monitoring, troubleshooting, and periodic weekend duty coverage are also part of the role, along with assisting in operator training.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Paper Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent combination of education and hands-on mill experience will be considered.
2+ years of experience in a pulp and paper, or similar heavy-manufacturing/process industry, preferred.
Working knowledge of papermaking processes, wet-end chemistry, refining, and machine room equipment.
Experience with maintenance planning systems (CMMS/work order systems) and basic capex/budget processes.
Familiarity with mill safety and environmental compliance requirements (OSHA, EPA, or equivalent).
Proficiency with standard office and data/reporting software (Excel, mill process control systems, etc.).
Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills; able to diagnose process and equipment issues quickly and drive corrective action.
Effective leadership and coaching ability — comfortable directing and developing operators.
Clear written and verbal communication for shift handoffs, outage reports, and cross-department coordination.
Sound judgment and decision-making under time pressure, especially during outages or safety events.
Organized and detail-oriented, able to manage multiple concurrent priorities (daily troubleshooting, planning, reporting).
Collaborative team player who can also work independently with minimal supervision.
Continuous-improvement mindset — actively looks for efficiency, quality, and cost opportunities.

Responsibilities

Lead Master Paper-Maker and supervisors for daily task completion.
Monitor run condition, maintenance needs, and daily issues with paper machines.
Help Lead trouble-shooting efforts in the paper mill, starch supply system, steam and condensate systems.
Lead with product quality; provide input on process development & optimization.
Plan and direct shutdowns, coordinate trials with quality, and communicate with vendors to improve chemical as well as mechanical paper machine functioning.
Monitor compliance for Safety, Quality, Efficiency, Cost, and Productivity; create and execute action plans to correct items falling outside expected norms.
Ensure compliance with mill safety and environmental requirements, including supporting department safety and production goals and resolving safety, environmental, quality, or operational issues.
Assistance with special projects and emergent action teams.
Oversee operator learning and decisions that deliver measurable and sustainable improvements in manufacturing efficiency, internal/external quality performance, and speed.
Lead input for department goals and objectives and provide supervisor coverage as needed.
Develop/implement initiatives to improve availability by optimizing additives, delivery systems, best practices, fiber sources, refining, and all measured executables.
Day-to-day process monitoring and process troubleshooting.
Periodic weekend duty coverage.
Assist in training operators for the future success of the mill.
Help/support planning and execution of longer-term process system outages and generate equipment outage reports.
Plan, coordinate, and execute daily equipment maintenance activities, such as work order generation.
Manage Machine Room Capex planning.