Paper Mill Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Minerals Technologies Inc. is a global, technology-driven specialty minerals company that develops, produces, and markets a wide range of minerals and mineral-based products and services.

Our products are an essential part of everyday life for millions of people around the world. They are used in consumer goods in paper and packaging, food and pharmaceuticals, household and personal care, pet care, automotives, and many more, as well as in industrial settings like steelmaking, metalcasting, construction, infrastructure, and wastewater remediation.

We are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MTX, headquartered in New York City, and have over 150 locations worldwide, with ~4,000 employees in 34 countries and 12 R&D centers.

We put people at the center of everything we do -- working safely, communicating openly, and managing our resources and businesses responsibly.

Company: Specialty Minerals Inc., a Minerals Technologies company, is the largest supplier and global leader in providing Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) and Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC) specially designed for customers' application needs.

Position: Mill Manager

Location: Lucerne Valley, CA

Compensation: $130k - $150k annually based on experience, additional incentive bonus

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay, commensurate with experience
• Health/Dental/Vision plans
• 401k company match
• Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability & Long-Term Disability
• Educational Assistance
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Vacation Pay, Holiday Pay, Personal Days, and Sick Days

Job Summary

The Mill Manager leads all mill production operations at the Lucerne Valley facility, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective production while meeting quality and customer requirements. This role is responsible for fostering a strong safety culture, driving operational excellence, advancing continuous improvement initiatives, and developing a high-performing team. The Mill Manager collaborates closely with Sales, Marketing, Maintenance, Quality, and other departments to support business objectives, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.

Operations Management

• Lead the daily operations of the mill, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable production.
• Supervise, coach, develop, and schedule employees to maximize productivity and performance.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and quality standards.
• Manage production rates, labor utilization, and operating costs to achieve budget and performance targets.
• Evaluate processes and systems to identify opportunities for operational improvements and cost reduction.
• Support the planning, design, budgeting, and execution of maintenance and capital improvement projects.

Leadership & Employee Development

• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous learning.
• Lead performance management, employee development, and succession planning efforts.
• Foster positive employee relations consistent with MTI values and leadership principles.
• Support and strengthen High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) throughout the department.

Safety & Compliance

• Champion a safety-first culture focused on risk reduction, accountability, and incident prevention.
• Ensure compliance with all company safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead safety audits, investigations, corrective actions, and continuous safety improvement initiatives.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence initiatives, including 5S, Kaizen, TPM, problem-solving, and employee suggestion programs.
• Encourage and support employee participation in continuous improvement activities.
• Drive sustainable process improvements that enhance safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet operational and customer objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The requirements listed in the sections that follow are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to perform the duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions (primary duties) of the job.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of leadership or management experience in manufacturing, mining, industrial processing, or a related industry.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, managing operations, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong business acumen with a customer-focused mindset.
• Excellent communication, leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Thorough understanding of manufacturing operations, safety management, and quality systems.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, and employee engagement programs.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other business systems.

Working Conditions

• Combination of office and production plant environments.
• Regular exposure to manufacturing areas, including noise, dust, moving equipment, and varying weather conditions.
• Ability to travel occasionally, as needed.
• Must be able to communicate effectively, analyze operational issues, make sound decisions, and maintain a high level of professionalism and integrity.

Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Hard hat
• Safety glasses
• Steel‑toed safety footwear
• Lockout/tagout (LOTO) lock
• Additional PPE as required by site policies and work activities

Federal Applicant Information