Maintenance Supervisor – Pulp & Paper Mill
Job Title: Maintenance Supervisor
Industry: Pulp & Paper Manufacturing
Language Requirement: French & English – Bilingual
Location: [Edmundston, NB]
Employment Type: Full-Time / Permanent
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Maintenance Supervisor to oversee maintenance operations within a pulp and paper manufacturing facility. The Maintenance Supervisor will lead a team of skilled tradespeople and maintenance technicians, ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of mill equipment and production systems.
This position will be responsible for coordinating preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance, troubleshooting equipment issues, managing maintenance priorities, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives. The successful candidate will work closely with Production, Engineering, Reliability, Safety, and external contractors to minimize equipment downtime and maintain production efficiency.
French and English bilingualism is required, as the successful candidate will communicate with employees, contractors, vendors, and stakeholders in both languages.
Key Responsibilities
- Supervise and provide day-to-day leadership to maintenance trades, technicians, and contractors.
- Plan, prioritize, and coordinate daily maintenance activities based on production requirements and equipment conditions.
- Lead preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs to improve equipment reliability and availability.
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and other industrial equipment issues.
- Coordinate emergency and breakdown maintenance to minimize production downtime.
- Support maintenance planning and scheduling, including manpower, materials, tools, and equipment requirements.
- Work closely with Production to coordinate equipment shutdowns, planned maintenance, and repairs.
- Ensure maintenance work is completed safely, efficiently, and according to established procedures and quality standards.
- Monitor equipment performance and identify opportunities to improve reliability, availability, and maintenance effectiveness.
- Participate in root-cause analysis and develop corrective actions for recurring equipment failures.
- Ensure maintenance activities comply with health & safety, environmental, regulatory, and company requirements.
- Lead and participate in safety meetings, toolbox talks, inspections, and incident investigations as required.
- Coordinate external contractors and service providers, including work scopes, site access, safety requirements, and performance.
- Manage maintenance-related parts, tools, materials, and inventory in coordination with the maintenance/planning team.
- Review work orders, maintenance history, equipment records, and performance metrics.
- Support the development and improvement of PM/PdM programs and maintenance procedures.
- Provide coaching, training, performance feedback, and development support to maintenance employees.
- Work with Engineering and Reliability teams on equipment upgrades, modifications, and capital projects.
- Assist with annual maintenance planning, shutdown/turnaround activities, and maintenance budgets.
- Promote a culture of safety, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Typical Equipment / Systems
Experience with some or all of the following would be valuable:
- Paper machines
- Pulping and stock preparation equipment
- Pumps, compressors, fans, and blowers
- Conveyors and material-handling systems
- Rollers, bearings, gearboxes, and rotating equipment
- Hydraulic and pneumatic systems
- Motors and drives
- Boilers and steam systems
- Process piping and valves
- Electrical distribution and industrial controls
- Instrumentation and automation systems
- Mill utilities and auxiliary equipment
Qualifications
- Diploma or degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Maintenance, or a related technical discipline; equivalent industrial experience may also be considered.
- 5+ years of industrial maintenance experience, preferably within a pulp & paper, manufacturing, forestry, chemical, or heavy industrial environment.
- Previous experience in a Maintenance Supervisor, Maintenance Lead, Maintenance Coordinator, or similar leadership role.
- Demonstrated experience supervising skilled trades and/or maintenance technicians.
- Strong knowledge of preventive and predictive maintenance practices.
- Experience troubleshooting industrial mechanical and/or electrical equipment.
- Experience working with CMMS/work-order systems.
- Experience coordinating contractors and maintenance service providers.
- Strong understanding of industrial health and safety requirements.
- Experience with maintenance shutdowns/turnarounds is an asset.
- Fluent French and English – required.
- Strong communication, leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills.