Production Supervisor, Paper Mill

Ahlstrom•Kaukauna, WI

21h

About The Position

Ahlstrom is seeking an experienced, hands-on supervisor to lead a paper mill crew during an assigned shift in a 24/7 manufacturing operation. The role is responsible for safe, reliable execution across the mill, setting crew priorities, maintaining operating standards, coordinating staffing and resources, responding to production and equipment issues, and ensuring effective communication and follow-through between shifts. The supervisor balances operational knowledge with people leadership by setting clear expectations, empowering operators to own their work, verifying standards, engaging appropriate resources, and ensuring issues are resolved. The position has significant responsibility for staffing and attendance, shift reporting, safety and quality follow-up, employee training progress, and escalation of operating issues. It provides direct leadership to hourly union employees and works with Human Resources, Operations leadership, Maintenance, E&I, and process resources as needed. The position reports to the Operations Manager. The role follows a 12-hour rotating 2-2-3 schedule and requires availability for the assigned day or night shift, including weekends and holidays within the rotation. Ahlstrom describes itself as a global leader in sustainable specialty materials, with approximately 7,000 employees and 2025 net sales of EUR 2.9 billion.

Requirements

Strong safety leadership and demonstrated ability to hold employees accountable to established standards.
Ability to troubleshoot operating issues and determine when additional technical or maintenance resources should be engaged.
Strong decision-making skills and ability to prioritize competing demands during a fast-moving shift.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Comfort leading employees through operational changes and reinforcing consistent expectations across crews.
Basic proficiency with computerized production, reporting, and timekeeping systems.
Availability to work the assigned day or night shift, including weekends and holidays within the rotating schedule.

Nice To Haves

Previous supervisory or leadership experience in paper manufacturing, pulp and paper, converting, or another continuous-process manufacturing environment.
Experience supervising employees in a unionized manufacturing environment.
Working knowledge of labor agreements, progressive discipline, attendance administration, and employee relations.

Responsibilities

Lead the shift with safety as the first priority and reinforce safe work practices and operating procedures.
Engage employees in identifying and addressing safety concerns; respond to incidents and ensure documentation, communication, and follow-up.
Hold employees accountable for following established safety rules, procedures, and expectations.
Lead day-to-day paper mill operations to support safe, reliable, and efficient production.
Set shift priorities and ensure employees understand expectations.
Monitor operating conditions, production performance, downtime, quality issues, and other operational concerns.
Ensure operators own routine execution and first-level troubleshooting, providing supervisory direction and escalating issues appropriately.
Engage Maintenance, E&I, process resources, and Operations leadership when additional technical or organizational support is needed.
Document open production and equipment issues and ensure effective handoff to the next shift.
Lead, coach, provide feedback to, and hold hourly union employees accountable.
Administer the collective bargaining agreement and established work rules consistently.
Partner with Human Resources and Operations leadership on employee relations, attendance, performance, and disciplinary matters.
Build productive working relationships with employees and union representatives while maintaining management expectations.
Address employee concerns promptly, professionally, and consistently.
Coordinate shift staffing, absences, vacancies, call-ins, and coverage based on operating needs, employee qualifications, and machine requirements.
Monitor overtime and manpower needs.
Support employee training, qualification progression, and development; provide follow-up and coaching to probationary or newly qualified employees.
Complete accurate and timely shift reports.
Review machine, downtime, broke, and other operating reports and follow up on incomplete or concerning information.
Communicate safety concerns, staffing issues, operational problems, quality concerns, and outstanding actions during shift handoffs.
Maintain accurate timekeeping and required shift documentation.