Team Leader (Shift Supervisor)

Job Description: Team Leader (Shift Supervisor)

Job Title: Team Leader/Shift Supervisor

Reports To: Operations Superintendent

Location: New Mexico Mill FLSA

Status: Non-Exempt (Hourly)

Shift Structure: Shift-based (Provides full mill oversight during non-business hours, nights, weekends, and holidays)

Position Overview The Team Leader functions as the Shift Supervisor and is responsible for leading the Production area, including paper machine and stock preparation operators. Operating within a 100% Recycled Closed-Loop Mill, the Team Leader ensures safe operation, strict quality compliance, environmental stewardship, and optimal production efficiency.

Crucially, during non-business hours, nights, weekends, and holidays when day management is absent, this position assumes full operational command of the entire mill site, from inbound raw materials to outbound finished products, including all utility departments.

Core Responsibilities

- Operational Leadership: Lead shift-wide manufacturing operations, monitoring all production processes to ensure efficiency, volume targets and quality standards are met.

- Non-Business Hours Oversight: Serve as the ranking site leader during non business hours, providing autonomous direction, decision-making, and emergency response management for all mill facilities and utility departments.

- Safety & Compliance: Ensure 100% compliance with safety policies, procedures, and environmental regulations across all personnel and equipment.

- Quality Assurance: Guarantee that all products are manufactured to precise quality specifications to meet or exceed customer expectations.

- Workforce Development: Manage, execute, and follow up on team training plans to build operator skills and cross-functionality.

- Maintenance Coordination: Assist in scheduling, coordinating, and executing shutdown and outage work in partnership with the maintenance department.

Essential Job Functions

• Safety Leadership: Set clear safety performance expectations through personal example; collaborate with managers and supervisors to eliminate workplace hazards.

- Mill Inspections : Conduct regular, documented daily inspections of all mill areas using the inspection round sheet to maintain safety and housekeeping standards.

- Operational Flexibility: Maintain the skills and ability to step in and work any paper machine operator position when operational needs require. Assist in Stock Prep area as when operational needs require.

- Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis: Partner with operators to diagnose operational issues, determine root causes, and implement timely corrective actions.

- Cost & Waste Control: Monitor and control production costs by constantly reviewing material usages and minimizing waste throughout the closed-loop process, and paper making processes.

- Continuous Improvement: Collaborate with crews to develop performance goals for individual crew members and the shift as a whole, driving mill and process optimizations.

- Personnel Management: Work alongside Area Managers and HR to maintain accurate attendance records, address personnel issues, and resolve conflicts.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

- Technical Expertise: Strong, working knowledge of paper mill operations, stock preparation, and interconnected mill departments.

- Autonomous Decision-Making: Proven ability to operate independently and make critical operational, logistical, and safety decisions during non-business hours without immediate on-site management support.

- Analytical Thinking: Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills for real-time troubleshooting and process monitoring.

- Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Proven ability to lead teams, present training materials, and collaborate across departments.

- Computer Literacy: Proficient with Microsoft Office products and standard mill production software.

Education and Experience Qualifications

• Industry Experience: Minimum of 5 to 8 years of work experience in the paper industry, with at least 5 years specifically within paper machine or stock preparation areas.

• Leadership Experience: 1–2 years of previous supervisory or leadership experience preferred, with a track record of managing operations independently.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Paper Sciences or a related technical field is preferred; equivalent industrial experience will be considered.

Cross-Functional & Relational Strengths

The Team Leader must build strong working relationships across the organization:

- Operators: Guide and develop crews to improve mill safety and throughput.

- Maintenance: Coordinate work requests and outage planning.

- Area Managers: Collaborate on operational procedures, safety initiatives, and department goals.

- Technical Manager: Coordinate on quality control, environmental compliance, and trials.

- HR Manager: Address personnel, staffing, and policy issues.

Authority

The Team Leader has the direct authority to manage and direct shift crew members to ensure the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of the paper mill. During non business hours, weekends, and holidays, this role holds final site authority to make immediate operational adjustments, call in emergency maintenance resources, and enforce safety and environmental protocols to protect personnel and mill assets.

Physical Abilities & Environmental Conditions

• Physical Demands: Requires prolonged periods of walking and standing, including on inclines, grated walkways, and stairs. Ability to climb ladders, kneel, stoop, bend, stretch, pull, and work in confined spaces. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

• Environmental Exposure: Regular exposure to an industrial manufacturing environment featuring extreme heat, cold, and wet/humid conditions. Frequent exposure to loud industrial machine noise (hearing protection required).