Careers | Port Hawkesbury Paper

At Port Hawkesbury Paper, we are the leader in supercalendered paper in North America. Port Hawkesbury Paper’s approach to business and environmental sustainability creates an economic cornerstone and generates innovative careers for eastern Nova Scotia. Our mission is to continually exceed our customers' expectations through a commitment to responsive, personalized service along with reliable and competitive products in the printing and publication paper market. The people behind the paper make the difference.

Scroll to view the following open positions:

Forestry Summer Students
Woodlands Operations Leasing Supervisor
Energy Management Engineer
Process Engineer
Mechanical Maintenance Engineer
Instrumentation Technician/Technologist
Electrical & Instrumentation Engineer
Electrical Technologist

Forestry Summer Students

Port Hawkesbury Paper is currently seeking individuals for summer employment opportunities to assist with various projects within our Woodlands unit. Flexible Work term: April 29 to August 30, 2024 (18 weeks)

As the largest Crown license manager in Nova Scotia, the PHP Woodlands Unit team is directly responsible for the forest management and sustainability of more than 500,000 hectares of forested lands; and plays a significant role in private land forest management in Eastern Nova Scotia. Port Hawkesbury Paper also holds several environmental certifications.

What we offer:

As a summer employee with PHP, you can apply the skills and knowledge from your education plus add to that the new skills you learn here on the job! There are a variety of experiences you may be involved with which include:

Silviculture

Regeneration & plantation surveys
Plantation quality assessments
Pre-harvest assessments
Sampling spacing and manual weeding sites

Harvesting

Harvesting supervision audits
Road construction
Bridge installation

While working in this position, you will be involved in a combination of field work where you stay challenged getting your boots dirty and your mind active on problem-solving challenges that come your way. Combine this with the office side where you learn how to use programs needed to run a Woodlands department. You will have the opportunity to work with experienced professionals who will provide you with training as well as other students to apply your new skills and share experiences.

The work area includes the seven Eastern counties of Nova Scotia, stretching from the eastern tip of Cape Breton Island to the Eastern Mainland. You will get to experience a variety of forest and ecotypes from the Highland Mountains, Bras D’or Lakes, St Mary’s River, Cabot Trail and Margaree River of the Boreal Forest to the Acadian Forests of Mainland Nova Scotia with its diverse forests and watersheds such as the James River.

What you bring:

A high focus on safety
Motivated TEAM player with a strong work ethic and attention to detail
Ability to work alone in the woods
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Valid driver’s license

While not working, you can hike and bike many trails, kayak or canoe waterways, swim at the many sandy beaches, visit several historic parks like Louisbourg, or go camping in the famous Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Enjoy the many festivals and events unique to each of the small communities in the area and larger centers like New Glasgow, Antigonish, Sydney and Port Hawkesbury.

Qualified applicants should email their resume and cover letter to Human Resources at HR@porthawkesburypaper.com on or before November 18, 2023. Salaries range from $17.50 to $21.00 per hour and are based on experience. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

Woodlands Operations/Leasing Supervisor (Mainland)

Do you want something more than just a job? Are you looking for a career in forestry where people are empowered to grow? That opportunity is waiting for you as a Woodlands Operations/Leasing Supervisor at Port Hawkesbury Paper.

Living and working in our Eastern Mainland N.S. region, you would report to the Operations Superintendent in District 2 East. Working in this position, you are responsible for the purchase of standing timber from private woodlot owners and overseeing harvesting, road construction and silviculture performed by our woodlands contractors - helping to meet the district’s supply chain goals and the planning of operations for those woodlots.

Opportunities Provided:

While working within the framework of the Sustainable Forest Management Long Term Plan, you would be practicing your skills at timber cruising, road planning, GPS’ing, environmental protection, harvesting, and silviculture as well as communicating and negotiating with woodlot owners and contractors.

Complimenting your field skills, you will utilize and expand your office experience by using programs such as LRM, LIMS, Microsoft Office, GIS, ArcMap and Survey 123. Your ideas, knowledge and leadership will help contribute to the team’s daily decision-making processes and the company’s continuous improvement.

Port Hawkesbury Paper offers competitive compensation (bi-weekly salary range from $2500 to $3100) and a comprehensive benefits package as well as a challenging, rewarding work environment.

Your Added Value:

You will bring with you a post-secondary education in Forestry. An asset would be having two or more years experience working in a team environment while having the autonomy to make your own decisions.

Your skills and competencies:

Ability to work safely in a team environment
Aptitudes in field navigation and mapping
Strong communication, people management skills and integrity
Effective planning, multi-tasking and problem-solving competencies
Extensive organizational and time management skills
Highly motivated, confident in decision-making and self-drive

While not working, hike and bike many trails, kayak or canoe waterways, swim at the many sandy beaches, and visit several historic parks located throughout Nova Scotia. Enjoy the many festivals and events unique to each of the small communities in the area and larger centers like New Glasgow, Antigonish, and Port Hawkesbury.

If this sounds like the career for you, please apply by sending your resume and cover letter to HR@porthawkesburypaper.com. We will reach out to those chosen for an interview.

Energy Management Engineer

Port Hawkesbury Paper is currently seeking a highly skilled and motivated individual to join our team. Reporting to the Energy Director, you will be responsible for active decision-making and cost-effective management of energy use on-site. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, experience working with large data sets, and a Chemical/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering degree (P.Eng required), PHP is looking for candidates with five or more years of experience in a fast-paced manufacturing or related industrial environment. Experience with industrial steam generation/power generation equipment and/or wind turbines will be considered an asset.

Responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

Daily plant monitoring and analysis of power usage and fuel consumption
Work closely with operations on optimization of power usage on-site
Collaborate with power and natural gas suppliers on a weekly and forward-looking basis
Facilitate energy conservation by identifying and implementing various options for saving energy, leading awareness programs, and monitoring energy consumption
Provide support on major maintenance and capital projects
Continuous improvement of all aspects of power generation and use on site
Keep plant leadership aware of any emerging safety or production risks
Tracking and reporting of on-site emissions as well as sustainability reporting
Short and long-term planning and forecasting of fuel use and pricing impacts, as well as fuel, steam and electricity use verification and auditing
Identification and implementation of opportunities for automation with reporting tools such as Power BI
Prepare annual budget information, including fuel budgets, in coordination with woodlands operations and sales team
Support area management with understanding the impacts of changes to the power grid in Nova Scotia
Track tariff performance and business impacts

Skill/Competency Requirements:

Confident in decision-making skills and self-driven
An elevated level of proficiency in mathematics, and spreadsheet/database use
The ability to manage change effectively with a strong multi-tasking ability
Cost-focused and driven to find efficiencies
Strong verbal and written communication skills, organizational skills, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving skills
Ability to work with multiple teams internally and externally and build strong, collaborative relationships
Strategic thinking and planning
Knowledge of Provincial and Federal regulations related to power, GHGs, fuel consumption, etc.
Previous experience with PI Processbook, PI System Explorer, Power BI and other statistical data analysis tools is considered an asset

Qualified candidates should email their resume and cover letter to HR@porthawkesburypaper.com.

Process Engineer

Port Hawkesbury Paper is currently seeking an individual for the position of Process Engineer. Reporting to the Technical Manager, this position will focus on integrated quality and process optimization across site. The ideal candidate will have a Chemical Engineering degree (P.Eng preferred, consideration given to EIT candidates), with three or more years of experience in a fast-paced manufacturing or related industrial environment.

Responsibilities:

Daily process monitoring and optimization of key performance indicators
Integration with operations to support day-to-day troubleshooting
Collaboration and integration with personnel site-wide and at all levels to fully understand problems, their impact across site, and the feasibility of potential solutions
Planning and execution of trials as needed to better understand and optimize the process
Proactive equipment and process monitoring, including the use of simulation and data visualization tools
Detailed troubleshooting to identify root causes and actionable improvements
Leading small improvement projects that drive cost-effective operation
Preparation and facilitation of process safety assessments such as risk reviews
Assisting with P&ID updates, management of change, and operating procedures
Identification and communication of any emerging safety or production risks

Skill/Competency Requirements:

Ability to work safely in a team environment
Strong communication skills
Excellent organizational and time management skills
The ability to manage change effectively with strong multi-tasking ability
A working knowledge of MS Office software
Previous experience with PI Processbook, PI System Explorer, Power BI and other statistical data analysis tools is considered an asset

Qualified applicants should email their resumes and cover letter to HR@porthawkesburypaper.com. All applications must be received no later than November 9, 2023. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those considered for an interview will be contacted. Selected applicants will proceed through an assessment and interview process.

Mechanical Maintenance Engineer

As a Mechanical Maintenance Engineer at PHP, you will be responsible to provide technical support to the maintenance department during day-to-day maintenance, major maintenance projects and shutdowns. You will become a leader in continuous improvement and implementing precision maintenance techniques. You will use your technical knowledge to diagnose problems and implement solutions. You will coordinate equipment overhauls always looking for ways to improve reliability. Coordinate project implementation with operations and maintenance while interfacing with consulting engineers, vendors and contractors. There will be short periods of assisting or filling in for the Mechanical Maintenance supervisor. Working closely with various groups, you will be an out-of-the-box thinker, constantly looking for continuous improvement opportunities while adhering to and promoting safe work practices.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate will have a Mechanical Engineering degree (PEng is preferred) with three or more years of Mechanical Engineering experience in a fast-paced manufacturing or related industrial environment. Previous maintenance experience while leading and performing in a highly technical and production-oriented workplace is considered an asset.

Please contact us if you meet the qualifications above and have:

Commitment to a safe work culture
Knowledge of Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring Techniques
Ambition, motivation, and determination – driven to exceed targets and expectations
Strong verbal and written communication skills, organizational skills, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving skills
Ability to manage through teamwork and influence
Ability to adapt to tight deadlines and frequent changes in priorities
High energy
Solid decision-making skills

Compensation: Port Hawkesbury Paper offers a competitive salary with a comprehensive benefits package, and a challenging and rewarding work environment.

Our HR team is actively recruiting for this role. To be considered, please apply by sending your resume and cover letter to HR@porthawkesburypaper.com. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those considered for an interview will be contacted. Selected candidates will proceed through an assessment and interview process.

Instrumentation Technician/Technologist

Port Hawkesbury Paper is currently seeking a skilled and motivated individual to join our Maintenance team. This position reports to the Electrical and Instrumentation Supervisor and is responsible for the preventative maintenance, repair and troubleshooting of production equipment and plant systems.

Responsibilities:

Troubleshooting & making changes in DCS & PLC systems
Changing out & overhauling control valves
Installation/change-out of positioners and actuators on valves
Changing & calibrating transmitters, hydraulic valves and setting up hydraulic pumps
Willing to work shiftwork, overtime and after-hours call-ins as needed

Experience/Education Requirements:

Electrical Engineering Technology (Instrumentation and Controls) background and/or Red Seal Instrumentation
Strong skills in Hydraulics
A minimum of 5 years of recent experience in an industrial manufacturing environment is recommended
Experience with troubleshooting and maintenance in an industrial setting
Ability to read and understand P&IDs, pneumatics, hydraulics and electrical schematics

Skills/Competency Requirements:

Ability to work safely as part of a team
Capable of performing in a highly technical and flexible work environment
Knowledgeable and experienced with troubleshooting complex hydraulic and pneumatic systems
Experience using DCS/PLC systems
Effective organizational and time management skills
Strong problem-solving abilities
Highly motivated, confident in decision-making ability and self-driven
Strong communication skills

Compensation: Pay rate per Collective Agreement. Port Hawkesbury Paper offers competitive compensation with a comprehensive benefits package, and a challenging, rewarding work environment.

Electrical and Instrumentation Engineer

As an Electrical and Instrumentation Engineer at PHP, you will be responsible to provide electrical engineering support on major maintenance and capital projects as well as long-range electrical maintenance planning and management. You would coordinate project implementation with operations and maintenance while interfacing with consulting engineers, vendors and contractors, electrical and instrumentation process support. You will also be responsible for technical support for the electrical and instrument maintenance departments in dealing with ongoing issues, and replacing/upgrading equipment. There will be periods of filling in for the E&I supervisor. Working closely with various groups, you will be an out-of-the-box thinker, constantly looking for continuous improvement opportunities while adhering to and promoting safe work practices.

Requirements:

The ideal candidates will have an Electrical Engineering degree (PEng preferred, consideration given to EIT candidates), with three or more years of progressive experience in a fast-paced manufacturing or related industrial environment. Experience with industrial electrical distribution and process control systems while leading and performing in a highly technical and production-oriented workplace.

Please contact us if you meet the qualifications above and have:

Proficiency with project estimating, scheduling, and project controls
Ambition, motivation, and determination – driven to exceed targets and expectations
Strong verbal and written communication skills, organizational skills, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving skills
Ability to manage through teamwork and influence
Commitment to a safe work culture
Ability to adapt to tight deadlines and frequent changes in priorities
High energy
Solid decision-making skills
Leadership talent
Previous maintenance experience is considered an asset

Compensation: Port Hawkesbury Paper offers a competitive salary with a comprehensive benefits package and a challenging and rewarding work environment.

Electrical Technologist

Responsibilities:

Troubleshooting & replacing electrical equipment such as motors, transformers and VFDs
Troubleshooting & replacing components in PLC & DCS systems
Troubleshooting & installing field devices such as limit switches, transmitters
Repairing & replacing lighting throughout the plant
Testing for electrical isolation for operations and maintenance lockouts
Prioritizing and responding to calls from different operating departments
Willing to work shiftwork, overtime and after-hours call-ins as needed

Experience/Education Requirements:

Electrical Engineering Technology (Instrumentation and Controls) background
Red Seal Electrical is considered an asset
A minimum of 8 years of recent experience in an industrial manufacturing environment is recommended
Experience with troubleshooting and maintenance in an industrial setting
Experience with understanding existing programs and making changes in DCS & PLC
Ability to read and understand P&IDs, pneumatics, hydraulics and electrical schematics
Experience troubleshooting & installing 600VAC motor circuits and VFDs

Skills/Competency Requirements:

Ability to work safely as part of a team
Capable of performing in a highly technical and flexible work environment
Knowledgeable and experienced with troubleshooting complex controls using DCS/PLC systems
Effective organizational and time management skills
Strong problem-solving abilities for dealing with both electrical and mechanical equipment
Highly motivated, confident in decision-making ability and self-driven
Strong communication skills

Compensation: Pay rate per Collective Agreement. Port Hawkesbury Paper offers competitive compensation with a comprehensive benefits package, and a challenging, rewarding work environment.

Trucking & Harvesting Contractors

Port Hawkesbury Paper is hiring trucking and harvesting contractors to work in our forest management area of Cape Breton and eastern mainland Nova Scotia. To enquire more about job opportunities with PHP, please email us at phpwoodlands@porthawkesburypaper.com.

Port Hawkesbury Paper is a forward-looking natural resources company committed to operating at the highest safety standard while caring for the environment and empowering our people to deliver top-quality products & customer service. We see integrity at the core of every relationship and a key principle as we strive for excellence in all we do in an ever-changing world. As a relatively small non-hierarchical organization we deliver big results with no red tape. We are a leader in Thermal Mechanical Pulp and Supercalendered paper production in North America. Port Hawkesbury Paper’s approach to business and environmental sustainability creates an economic cornerstone for eastern Nova Scotia.

At Port Hawkesbury Paper, diversity means understanding, recognizing, and valuing the differences that make each person unique. We see inclusion as an essential part of our productivity, creativity, innovation, and competitive advantage. We strive for a fair and equitable recruitment process, where hiring decisions are based on the qualifications and experience of each applicant.

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