Assistant Production Superintendent - Whitecourt, AB (3617667)

Are you an innovative, creative, strategic and hands-on leader ready to take on a an Assistant Superintendent role in a fast-paced, high-performing paper mill in Alberta?As the Assistant Superintendent (Dry End), you will deliver and own the processes toward a safe, reliable, and cost-efficient performance across key assets of the paper machine.

This role is based in Whitecourt, Alberta, which offers the advantages of small-city living with excellent schools and recreation facilities, while being just 110 miles from Edmonton. Whitecourt offers an exceptionally affordable real estate market and low property taxes, combined with the lowest provincial tax rates in the country. Residents have easy access to medical services at the Whitecourt Healthcare Centre, which operates 24/7 and offers a wide range of specialized care. This ensures that families and individuals can access consistent physician staffing and community health services close to home.

Our client

As Alberta's first and only paper mill, Alberta Newsprint Company (ANC) is a premier manufacturer and a successful, well-financed company producing over 1,000 grades of paper and newsprint for customers. They operate as a debt-free joint venture between the Stern Group and West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.. As a progressive leader in the industry, ANC continuously improves their processes through constant innovation and modern technology. They have fully integrated NetSuite for their accounting and Princeton TMX for multimodal shipping. They have also adopted AI tools, rolling out Microsoft Copilot to empower teams to make data-driven decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and operational oversight for Dry End assets, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
• Act as the asset owner for key Dry End systems, managing them with a full business ownership mindset aligned to overall mill strategy.
• Lead and develop the Asset Team through active engagement, coaching, and performance management.
• Ensure safety and quality are always prioritized ahead of production, actively reinforcing safe work practices.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on production optimization, machine runnability, reliability, and cost performance.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex operational and mechanical issues in real time to minimize downtime and maintain production targets.
• Understand and manage upstream and downstream impacts of Dry End decisions across the integrated mill.
• Challenge the status quo respectfully while taking full ownership and accountability for results.
• Take on management on-call duties on a rotating basis
• Other duties, as required.

Dry End Assets:

• Dryer Section
• Calender / Reel
• Winder / Sort Deck
• Core Cutter
• Dye System
• Auxiliary Systems

What You Will Bring to the Role

• Experience contributing to lean high-performance teams on a production process.
• Experience troubleshooting and owning projects or process improvements.
• The ability to learn new technical process, mechanical, thermal and material properties.
• Strong interest or expertise in production optimization, machine efficiency, and process improvement.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex operational issues under real-time conditions.
• The operation runs 24/7; some evening, night, or weekend presence may be required to support crews and operational needs.
• Post-secondary education as an Engineering Technologist or Engineering degree (Mechanical, Chemical, Environmental or Process Control), and/or equivalent industry experience with formal training.

What We Offer

• This is a full-time, on-site key leadership role within a high-performing paper mill
• Competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.
• Supportive leadership culture focused on safety, people development, and continuous improvement.
• Long-term career development opportunities within Mill Operations and broader leadership roles.

Living in Whitecourt, Alberta

Beyond its reputation as the "Snowmobile Capital of Alberta," Whitecourt offers a diverse range of amenities that cater to both families looking for stability and singles seeking social engagement and recreation. They offer a full aquatic center, fitness facilities, an indoor fieldhouse, two indoor hockey rinks and the tallest outdoor playground in Alberta. The community supports a balanced lifestyle with a central downtown area with unique boutique shopping and local cafes.

They also have a great selection of schools, including public, catholic, and bilingual systems. Nestled at the historic confluence of the Athabasca and McLeod rivers, the community offers access to a range of river-based recreation activities.

For more information about this role please call, text or email us at 587-794-3883 for a confidential discussion or send us your resume to [email protected].

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