Description:
Reports to: Mill Manager or General Manager
Location: Franklin, VA
Overtime status: Exempt
Summary of Position
The Mechanical Maintenance Manager is responsible for providing leadership, vision, and technical support to the mechanical maintenance team at ST Tissue in Franklin, Virginia. This position oversees mechanical maintenance operations for both the Fiber Recycling Plant (FRP) and the Tissue Mill, ensuring equipment reliability and safe, efficient mill operations.
The Mechanical Maintenance Manager is a key member of the site leadership team and is responsible for coordinating the maintenance and repair of mechanical equipment and systems in order to minimize downtime and support operational goals. This includes oversight of mechanical maintenance technicians and contractors while working closely with operations leadership and the Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) Manager to support safe and reliable production.
This role is accountable for mechanical maintenance planning and execution across the facility, including preventative and predictive maintenance programs, outage planning, capital maintenance work, and reliability improvement initiatives. The Mechanical Maintenance Manager will also oversee mechanical maintenance related to the mill buildings, facilities, and grounds.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Collaborates with the Plant or General Manager regarding maintenance metrics, performance goals, and operational priorities.
- Ensures all safety and environmental policies are observed and actively promotes a strong safety culture throughout the maintenance organization.
- Serves as a safety leader by coaching, mentoring, and demonstrating safety as a core value.
- Oversees mechanical maintenance operations for both the Fiber Recycling Plant (FRP) and the Tissue Mill.
- Supervises and develops mechanical maintenance technicians and contractors supporting mill operations.
- Leads troubleshooting and root cause analysis related to mechanical equipment failures.
- Oversees maintenance of rotating equipment, pumps, gearboxes, conveyors, hydraulic systems, drives, and other heavy industrial machinery.
- Leads developmental and execution of preventative and predictive maintenance programs to improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime.
- Establishes and manages maintenance expense budgets and capital maintenance work, including explaining budget variances.
- Oversees maintenance planning activities including PM tracking, work orders, and requests within the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
- Coordinates closely with the Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) Manager on electrical and instrumentation work affecting mechanical equipment and production systems.
- Leads planning and execution of annual outages and major shutdown events.
- Participates as a strategic member of the mill leadership team to align maintenance strategies with operational and business goals.
- Supervises, develops, and motivates hourly and salaried maintenance employees.
- Supports continuous improvement initiatives related to mechanical reliability, equipment performance, and maintenance practices.
- Occasional travel between ST Tissue operation areas and other company locations may be required to support maintenance operations, projects, or training.
- May be assigned to special projects as needed.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree OR ten (10) or more years of experience in an industrial manufacturing environment.
- Five (5) or more years of maintenance leadership or supervisory experience in manufacturing or heavy industrial operations.
- Strong experience supporting mechanical maintenance and reliability programs in a production environment.
- Experience in paper, tissue, pulp & paper, or other heavy industrial manufacturing environments preferred.
- Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, rotating equipment, hydraulics, pumps, gearboxes, conveyors, and heavy process equipment.
- Experience implementing predictive and preventative maintenance programs.
- Experience using CMMS systems for maintenance planning and work tracking.
- Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Computer proficiency including Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word, and project management tools.
Work Environment/Physical Demands
The work environment characteristics described are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to:
- Hazardous machinery
- Electrical hazards
- Wet environments
- Elevated work areas
- Thermal and chemical hazards
- Dust, fumes, gases, and mists
- Magnetic fields that may affect individuals with pacemakers.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:
- Frequently: Stand; Walk; Ascend and Descend stairs or ladders; use keyboard or calculator
- Occasionally: Lift up to 50 pounds; sit; bend, crouch, and reach above or below shoulder height; make visual determinations involving color changes, depth perception, and focus
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
ST Tissue provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
