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Superintendent, Paper Manufacturing

Superintendent, Paper Manufacturing

Country:  United States
City:  Cloquet
State:  Minnesota
Location:  Mill Cloquet
Division:  Production
Posting date:  Apr 20, 2026

Sappi North America
Sappi Cloquet, established in 1898, produces high-quality graphic papers used in premium magazines, catalogs, books, direct mail and high-end print advertising for the fashion, automotive and travel industries, as well as speciality papers. Cloquet manufactures Verve, a dissolving pulp used for the textile and home goods markets. Energy saving and clean water initiatives at Cloquet have won environmental recognition, aligning with the mill's commitment to sustainability.

Sappi North America
Sappi Cloquet, established in 1898, produces high-quality graphic papers used in premium magazines, catalogs, books, direct mail and high-end print advertising for the fashion, automotive and travel industries, as well as speciality papers. Cloquet manufactures Verve, a dissolving pulp used for the textile and home goods markets. Energy saving and clean water initiatives at Cloquet have won environmental recognition, aligning with the mill's commitment to sustainability.

The PM4 Superintendent develops and leads personnel and business processes for PM4, stock prep, and the quality lab to fully support paper production. This role requires a relentless drive to improve safety, quality, and operating efficiency. The Superintendent leads and coaches personnel to make safe and environmentally sound operating, technical, and maintenance decisions, and to execute plans that achieve defined performance measures. The role also directs targeted cost‑improvement strategies that minimize expenses while ensuring results, and develops forward‑looking plans to support capital and operational improvements. Additionally, the Superintendent serves as a key interface between PM4 Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Technical, and other groups, coordinating daily maintenance activities and planning and executing maintenance outages.

 

Responsibilities

Safety

  • Champion efforts to eliminate business unit injuries.

  • Lead by example and foster a culture of responsible safety and environmental performance through the development and implementation of an area business plan.

  • Track progress toward safety goals and ensure timely follow‑up on safety concerns.


Environmental

  • Ensure operations comply with all environmental permit requirements.

  • Communicate environmental expectations to supervisors and teams and hold them accountable for compliance.

  • Ensure environmental excursions are documented, investigated, and resolved with appropriate corrective actions.


Production / Quality / Cost

  • Fully support paper production goals through effective control of performance measures and achievement of availability targets.

  • Coordinate maintenance activities for PM4, stock prep, and the quality labs.

  • Develop a business plan outlining operational, technical, and maintenance strategies and targets for each area. Lead teams, staff, and supervisors to meet these goals and track progress.

  • Develop forward‑looking plans to achieve long‑term strategies through capital and operational optimization.

  • Manage variable and fixed cost budgets, including forecasting, and identify and implement improvements to maintain budget compliance.

  • Coordinate department activities across the mill to ensure resources are allocated effectively to meet mill performance goals.

  • Prioritize projects and activities to deliver expected results.


Communication, Leadership, and Development

  • Demonstrate effective supervision and leadership of personnel and/or project work, including the ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and implement projects and plans.

  • Communicate expectations to staff, supervisors, and teams, and hold them accountable for meeting those expectations.

  • Provide coaching and supervision to promote the development of effective operating teams.

  • Collaborate with other operating superintendents to establish common daily and weekly operating priorities, assign resources, and track progress.

  • Communicate team progress toward achieving area business goals.

  • Serve as the primary interface between PM4 Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Technical, and other groups, coordinating daily activities and planning and executing maintenance outages.


Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical, Paper Science, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or equivalent technical training and experience providing familiarity with pulping, bleaching, and related chemical processing equipment.

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, demonstrating strong knowledge of the pulp and paper industry. Knowledge of paper machine operations preferred.

  • Strong PC skills, including Word, Excel, Windows, SAP, MICS, Proficy, and SPC applications (or similar).

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.

  • Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to persist through difficult situations.

  • Demonstrated performance in supervision of personnel and/or project work.

  • Strong analytical abilities and excellent problem‑solving skills.

The PM4 Superintendent develops and leads personnel and business processes for PM4, stock prep, and the quality lab to fully support paper production. This role requires a relentless drive to improve safety, quality, and operating efficiency. The Superintendent leads and coaches personnel to make safe and environmentally sound operating, technical, and maintenance decisions, and to execute plans that achieve defined performance measures. The role also directs targeted cost‑improvement strategies that minimize expenses while ensuring results, and develops forward‑looking plans to support capital and operational improvements. Additionally, the Superintendent serves as a key interface between PM4 Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Technical, and other groups, coordinating daily maintenance activities and planning and executing maintenance outages.

 

Responsibilities

Safety

  • Champion efforts to eliminate business unit injuries.

  • Lead by example and foster a culture of responsible safety and environmental performance through the development and implementation of an area business plan.

  • Track progress toward safety goals and ensure timely follow‑up on safety concerns.


Environmental

  • Ensure operations comply with all environmental permit requirements.

  • Communicate environmental expectations to supervisors and teams and hold them accountable for compliance.

  • Ensure environmental excursions are documented, investigated, and resolved with appropriate corrective actions.


Production / Quality / Cost

  • Fully support paper production goals through effective control of performance measures and achievement of availability targets.

  • Coordinate maintenance activities for PM4, stock prep, and the quality labs.

  • Develop a business plan outlining operational, technical, and maintenance strategies and targets for each area. Lead teams, staff, and supervisors to meet these goals and track progress.

  • Develop forward‑looking plans to achieve long‑term strategies through capital and operational optimization.

  • Manage variable and fixed cost budgets, including forecasting, and identify and implement improvements to maintain budget compliance.

  • Coordinate department activities across the mill to ensure resources are allocated effectively to meet mill performance goals.

  • Prioritize projects and activities to deliver expected results.


Communication, Leadership, and Development

  • Demonstrate effective supervision and leadership of personnel and/or project work, including the ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and implement projects and plans.

  • Communicate expectations to staff, supervisors, and teams, and hold them accountable for meeting those expectations.

  • Provide coaching and supervision to promote the development of effective operating teams.

  • Collaborate with other operating superintendents to establish common daily and weekly operating priorities, assign resources, and track progress.

  • Communicate team progress toward achieving area business goals.

  • Serve as the primary interface between PM4 Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Technical, and other groups, coordinating daily activities and planning and executing maintenance outages.


Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical, Paper Science, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or equivalent technical training and experience providing familiarity with pulping, bleaching, and related chemical processing equipment.

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, demonstrating strong knowledge of the pulp and paper industry. Knowledge of paper machine operations preferred.

  • Strong PC skills, including Word, Excel, Windows, SAP, MICS, Proficy, and SPC applications (or similar).

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.

  • Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to persist through difficult situations.

  • Demonstrated performance in supervision of personnel and/or project work.

  • Strong analytical abilities and excellent problem‑solving skills.

Salary is determined by a number of factors including the value of the job to the organization, market forces, internal equity and skills brought to the job.

Sappi provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Sappi complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Salary is determined by a number of factors including the value of the job to the organization, market forces, internal equity and skills brought to the job.

Sappi provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Sappi complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

ABOUT SAPPI

Sappi is a leading global provider of everyday materials made from woodfibre-based renewable resources. As a diversified, innovative and trusted leader focused on sustainable processes and products, we are building a more circular economy by making what we should, not just what we can.

HR Contact for Questions:

Name:  Danna Dahn
Email:  danna.dahn@sappi.com
Telephone number:  218-879-2393

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