Maintenance Supervisor

Career Opportunities:
Maintenance Supervisor (5700)

The Maintenance Mechanical Supervisor plays a pivotal role in keeping the mill running safely and reliably—leading a skilled union maintenance team to deliver world‑class equipment uptime and performance. This is a hands‑on leadership role where your ability to drive safety, accountability, and execution directly impacts production, cost, and culture on the floor.

• Champion a safety‑first culture—ensuring all work is completed safely, every time
• Lead daily safety engagement including toolbox talks, job briefings, and stretch routines
• Drive accountability for safe behaviors, hazard identification, and near‑miss reporting
• Partner with leadership and union teams to maintain a strong, compliant safety culture

• Supervise and direct mechanical maintenance across the mill to ensure maximum uptime and reliability
• Plan, prioritize, and assign daily and shutdown work based on production needs
• Ensure effective preventive and predictive maintenance programs are executed
• Identify and eliminate repeat failures through root cause thinking and continuous improvement
• Partner with engineering on capital projects, upgrades, and equipment improvements

• Lead, coach, and develop a crew of maintenance mechanics in a unionized environment
• Set clear expectations around safety, quality, productivity, and accountability
• Manage scheduling, overtime, and staffing to meet operational demands
• Handle employee relations including coaching, discipline, and performance management consistent with CBA and company standards
• Build a culture of ownership, craftsmanship, and pride in work

• Collaborate daily with operations leadership to align on priorities and equipment needs
• Coordinate maintenance activities to minimize downtime and production disruption
• Ensure strong communication across shifts and departments
• Drive disciplined use of maintenance systems (JDE/CMMS) for work tracking and data accuracy
• Manage maintenance resources effectively to reduce unnecessary overtime and contractor spend
• Improve planning and execution to maximize internal workforce utilization
• Drive improvements in work practices, efficiency, and shop organization
• Maintain documentation, equipment records, and budget awareness

• Equipment is reliable, safe, and available when operations need it
• Maintenance work is planned, efficient, and executed with discipline
• Team members are engaged, accountable, and consistently following safety expectations
• Strong partnership exists between maintenance and operations
• Continuous improvement is visible in uptime, cost control, and work execution

• 3–5+ years of maintenance supervision experience in manufacturing (paper, pulp, heavy industrial preferred)
• Proven success leading teams in a 24/7 operation
• Experience working in a union environment strongly preferred
• Background in mechanical systems (rotating equipment, hydraulics, pneumatics, process equipment)
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US on a full‑time basis

• Professional/Technical Degree required
• Bachelor's degree preferred
• Good written and verbal communication skills as well as teamwork skills
• Fluent written and spoken English
• Confident leader who sets clear expectations and holds teams accountable
• Strong coaching skills with the ability to balance fairness and firmness
• Comfortable managing employee relations and navigating labor environments
• Strong understanding of preventive/predictive maintenance practices
• Ability to prioritize work and manage competing demands under pressure
• Experience with CMMS systems and maintenance planning tools

Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal opportunity is a sound and just concept to which we are firmly bound. Ahlstrom will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with our company based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non‑disqualifying disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.