How to hire a paper mill superintendent

How to hire a paper mill superintendent, step by step

Here's a step-by-step paper mill superintendent hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a paper mill superintendent job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new paper mill superintendent
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your paper mill superintendent job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a paper mill superintendent for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A paper mill superintendent's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, paper mill superintendents from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of paper mill superintendents and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Paper Mill Superintendent	Description	Hourly rate
   Paper Mill Superintendent		$19-62
   Shop Foreman	A shop foreman is responsible for monitoring the daily operations of a shop, ensuring that the staff members perform their duties to address customers' needs. A shop foreman manages staffing schedules, trains new employees, and distributes tasks... Show more	$22-46
   Section Leader	A section leader is responsible for supporting the musical director on delivering the highest quality on musical performance and recitals. Section leaders provide leadership to their assigned musical section, responding to the artists' inquiries and concerns, and organize rehearsals as needed to ensure excellence and satisfy the guests' musical experience... Show more	$23-84

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Capital Projects
   • Machine Uptime

   Responsibilities:

   • Supervise and successfully run the plant continuously even with shortage of manpower
   • Supervise and successfully run the plant continuously even with shortage of manpower

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your paper mill superintendent job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A paper mill superintendent can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, paper mill superintendents' average salary in florida is 43% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level paper mill superintendents 68% less than senior-level paper mill superintendents.
   • Certifications. A paper mill superintendent with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a paper mill superintendent's salary.

   Average paper mill superintendent salary

   $73,867yearly

   $35.51 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level paper mill superintendent salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

4. Writing a paper mill superintendent job description

   A job description for a paper mill superintendent role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a paper mill superintendent job description:

   Paper mill superintendent job description example

   Division Description:

   The Green Bay Mill Division is a vertically integrated paper mill that manufactures containerboard using 100% recycled furnish. The operation consists of one paper machine responsible for the production of linerboard and medium paper used to manufacture corrugated boxes. This family-owned mill is located near the mouth of the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

   Position Overview:

   Reporting to the Production Manager, the Paper Machine Superintendent will utilize process data and operating conditions to drive process solutions for the Green Bay Mill Division. The Paper Machine Superintendent will focus on the areas of operational best practices, technology advancement, process improvement projects, cost improvement projects, capital justification, and planning activities.

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead group problem solving activities, statistical data analysis activities, and facilitate the establishment of operational best practices.
   • Assist in coordinating daily production operations focusing on optimization of safety, environmental stewardship, profit, and productivity.
   • Lead trouble-shooting and problem-solving efforts through the facilitation of team meetings and on-the-floor leadership to effectively change systems and procedures through the process of continuous improvement.
   • Provide leadership to maintain safe working conditions and good housekeeping practices.
   • Analyze process data to develop optimum operating strategies.
   • Work on special projects, both engineering and those dealing with changes in the infrastructure of the mill organization.
   • Provide leadership support to teams and motivate staff to achieve production goals.
   • Identify short and long-range needs, prioritize these needs, and develop a plan to meet these needs.
   • Work on special projects, both engineering and those dealing with changes in the infrastructure of the mill organization.

   Qualifications:

   • Undergraduate degree in Paper Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
   • Minimum of ten years of experience in the paper industry with previous superintendent experience.
   • A high degree of paper machine operations knowledge and its supporting systems.
   • Proven ability to successfully manage multiple projects at one time.
   • Possession of key competencies including conflict management, business negotiation, organization, analytical skills, and decision-making.
   • Ability to delegate responsibilities and provide leadership and training to key personnel.
   • Ability to work with other departments to achieve GBMD's visions and strategies by motivating, inspiring and gaining commitment for a course of action that achieves results.
   • Understanding of how to manage all aspects of operations (safety, environmental, vendors, production, purchasing, etc).
   • Superior verbal and written communication skills and the ability to effectively deliver and reinforce consistent messages at all levels.
   • Ability to communicate and educate others on complex process issues and statistical data.
   • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Power Point, Excel and Outlook)
   • Experience with management and union relations preferred.

   Compensation & Benefits:

   In addition to a competitive wage, the selected candidate will enjoy a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, prescription drug, STD, LTD, company matching 401(k), and access to an employee health & wellness clinic.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find paper mill superintendents for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any paper mill superintendents they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level paper mill superintendents with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your paper mill superintendent job on Zippia to find and recruit paper mill superintendent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with paper mill superintendent candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new paper mill superintendent

   Once you've found the paper mill superintendent candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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