Shipping Supervisor

Job Title: Shipping Supervisor

Department: ND Packaging

Reports to: General Manager

Location: Sturtevant, WI

Position Summary

The Shipping Supervisor owns the outbound execution of every order that leaves this plant. This role is responsible for load planning, carrier coordination, forklift and clamp truck operations, floor inventory accuracy, dock and equipment readiness, and the safety of everyone working in the shipping and warehouse areas. The Shipping Supervisor reports directly to the General Manager and is a key operational link between production, scheduling, and the customer.

Shipping is the last point of control before product reaches the customer. Damage, late loads, short shipments, and carrier failures all reflect here first. This role is expected to run a tight operation - trailers loaded on time, product handled without damage, inventory known and located, and equipment maintained and safe. Reactive firefighting in shipping is a symptom of poor planning; this role is expected to plan ahead and flag problems before they become missed loads.

Compensation

The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. At ND Paper, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.


About Us

ND Packaging is an integrated box plant that is a wholly owned subsidiary of ND Paper. ND Paper is a leading manufacturer of high-quality pulp, paper, and packaging products in the United States, generating over half a billion dollars in annual sales. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited - the largest containerboard producer in the world - ND Paper is part of a global network committed to excellence and innovation. With two integrated pulp and paper mills in Rumford, Maine and Biron, Wisconsin, a packaging plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and two sheeting facilities in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and Fairmont, West Virginia, the ND Paper family produces nearly one million tons of products annually. Our 1,100 dedicated employees are the heart of our operations, and we are committed to fostering positive work environments where individuals can advance and thrive. At ND Paper, we are investing in our future, and that starts with our staff.

Key Responsibilities & Expected Results:

• Demonstrate safety as a core value and establish a safe work environment by actively leading the safe execution of work.
• Follow all safety and company policies and procedures, including maintaining good housekeeping, reporting any issues, accidents, or incidents immediately, and completing all assigned online safety training each month
• Follow all quality standards and operating requirements to ensure customer specifications are met
• Load Planning & Outbound Execution
  • Own the daily load plan - know what is shipping today, what trailers are assigned, what is staged, and what is not ready. Build the plan the night before or first thing in the morning; do not start the day without it.
  • Coordinate with Scheduling daily to align the load plan to the production schedule; flag orders that will not be ready in time for their committed ship date.
  • Sequence loads to maximize trailer utilization - cube and weight - while protecting product integrity (no crushing, no mixed-stack damage).
  • Verify shipment accuracy before trailer seal: customer, item, quantity, and bundle count against the shipping order. No trailer leaves with an unverified load.
  • Prepare and issue all shipping documentation: bill of lading, packing list, and any customer-required labels or paperwork. Documentation must be complete and accurate - short shipments and mislabeled loads are not carrier problems, they are execution failures.
  • Communicate any load that will not ship on time to the General Manager and Scheduling before the customer is affected - same day, not after the fact.
  • Maintain a rolling 24-48 hour visibility of what is staged, what is in production, and what still needs to be built to support load planning.
  Carrier Management
  • Manage the day-to-day operating relationship with DX (dedicated carrier, approximately 95% of outbound volume) - trailer availability, pickup scheduling, driver communication, and performance issues.
  • Provide DX with a rolling 48-hour shipment forecast updated daily; do not let the carrier be surprised by volume spikes or schedule changes.
  • Track trailer pool status daily: trailers on-site, trailers in transit, trailers at customers, and trailers that are overdue for return. Manage trailer pool so as to not affect load execution. Proactively escalate any issues unable to be resolved independently.
  • Issue a daily flash report to the General Manager covering: loads completed, loads in progress, trailers on hand, and any at-risk shipments for the next 24 hours.
  • Document and escalate carrier performance failures - late pickups, damaged product in transit, missing paperwork - with specific dates, loads, and dollar impact. Do not absorb carrier failures silently.
  • Manage spot carrier relationships for overflow or emergency loads; coordinate with the General Manager before committing to spot freight costs.
  • Participate in the weekly carrier review cadence with the General Manager; bring data, not impressions.
  Forklift & Clamp Truck Operators
  • Directly supervise all forklift and clamp truck operators in the shipping and warehouse areas across shifts; Shipping lead supports daily coordination on non-day-shift coverage.
  • Assign operators to daily tasks - loading, unloading, floor moves, staging, and roll handling - based on workload and operator qualifications.
  • Enforce certified-operator-only operation of all powered industrial trucks. No uncertified operator runs any forklift or clamp truck under any circumstances.
  • Hold operators accountable to safe operating standards: speed limits, load limits, pedestrian right-of-way, spotter use in blind areas, and seatbelt compliance.
  • Coach operators on product handling technique - corrugated is damage-sensitive; clamp pressure, approach angle, and stacking height all matter. Damage caused by operator error is documented and addressed directly.
  • Conduct or oversee pre-shift equipment inspections for all forklifts and clamp trucks; inspections are logged and any defect is tagged before the shift begins.
  • Address attendance, performance, and conduct issues with operators per HR process; escalate to Yolanda (HR) and the General Manager when warranted.
  Shipping Efficiency
  • Track and minimize trailer turn time - time from trailer arrival to sealed and released. Idle trailers in dock doors are a capacity and cost problem.
  • Monitor and reduce load damage rate: product damaged during loading, transit, or unloading that results in a customer claim or internal write-off.
  • Identify and eliminate the top recurring shipping delays each month - whether they stem from staging, documentation, carrier availability, or equipment - and bring a corrective action to the General Manager.
  • Measure and improve dock utilization: doors should not be idle when loads are waiting and equipment is available.
  • Coordinate with the converting supervisors to ensure finished product is staged in the correct location and format for efficient loading - product staged wrong costs time at the dock.
  • Track and report shipping labor hours against loads completed; flag abnormal labor consumption and investigate root cause.
  Damage Prevention & Claims
  • Own the plant's outbound damage rate. Every customer claim for shipping damage is reviewed by the Shipping Supervisor - cause, responsibility (loading, transit, or product), and corrective action.
  • Inspect outbound loads for proper stacking, tie patterns, bundle integrity, and trailer floor condition before sealing. Do not load damaged product.
  • Photograph and document any product damage discovered during loading or upon trailer return. Maintain a damage log.
  • File carrier claims promptly when transit damage is confirmed; track claim status through to resolution. Do not let claims age without follow-up.
  • Coordinate with General Manager on any recurring damage pattern that points to a packaging, handling, or carrier issue requiring a systemic fix.
  Floor Inventory - Corrugated & Paper Rolls
  • Own accurate floor inventory for all finished corrugated product staged in the warehouse and all paper rolls stored in the corrugator bay and staging areas.
  • Know where every staged order is located on the floor at all times - location accuracy is non-negotiable when a trailer needs to be loaded in 30 minutes.
  • Conduct daily inventory walks of the finished goods staging area: verify order identity, quantity, and condition. Discrepancies are logged and investigated same day.
  • Manage paper roll inventory in coordination with the corrugator supervisors: rolls are stored in designated locations, properly oriented, and identified by grade and width.
  • Maintain FIFO discipline in finished goods staging - oldest inventory ships first unless the customer or order requires otherwise.
  • Flag and segregate any finished product that is damaged, held for quality, or past its staging target age. Inventory that has been sitting too long is a cost and quality risk.
  • Reconcile floor inventory to the system record daily; report variances to the General Manager and Scheduling. Phantom inventory causes missed loads; the system must reflect reality.
  • Ensure staging lanes and roll storage areas are clearly marked, maintained, and enforced - product staged in traffic lanes or unmarked areas creates safety hazards and inventory confusion.
  Forklift & Equipment Maintenance
  • Own the operational readiness of all forklifts, clamp trucks, and dock equipment. Equipment that is not maintained is equipment that fails during a load.
  • Ensure pre-shift inspections are completed and logged for every powered industrial truck before each shift. Any defect identified on inspection is tagged; the unit is taken out of service until repaired.
  • Coordinate with Maintenance on scheduled PM work for forklifts and clamp trucks; ensure PMs are completed on time and not deferred without authorization.
  • Track equipment defects and repair history; identify units with chronic issues and escalate to the General Manager if a unit's reliability is affecting operations.
  • Maintain propane cylinder inventory and exchange schedule for LP forklifts; do not allow a load to stall because a forklift ran out of fuel.
  • Keep a simple equipment log: hours, inspections, defects reported, repairs completed. If we do not track it, we cannot manage it.
  Dock Door Maintenance & Readiness
  • Own the condition and operability of all dock doors, dock levelers, dock seals, and trailer restraints.
  • Inspect dock doors and levelers at the start of each week; document condition and flag any door that is not fully operational.
  • Coordinate repairs with Maintenance for dock doors, levelers, and restraints; a non-functional dock door is a capacity loss - treat it as urgent.
  • Ensure dock seals are in serviceable condition - damaged seals allow weather and pests into the plant and reduce trailer stability during loading.
  • Enforce trailer restraint (wheel chock or ICC bar lock) use on every occupied dock door before any forklift enters a trailer. No exceptions.
  • Maintain dock area housekeeping: dock plates stored correctly, seals clear of debris, floor drains clear, dock lighting operational.
  • Coordinate with the General Manager on any dock infrastructure capital needs - door replacements, leveler upgrades, or restraint system upgrades.
  Safety
  • Own the safety of the shipping, dock, and warehouse areas - these are among the highest-risk zones in the plant due to powered industrial truck traffic, pedestrian exposure, and heavy material handling.
  • Enforce pedestrian/forklift separation standards: defined travel lanes, spotter requirements in blind spots, and speed limits are not suggestions.
  • Conduct and document a pre-shift safety observation of the dock, warehouse, and staging areas before operations begin.
  • Ensure all operators are current on forklift/clamp truck certification; maintain certification records and manage renewal schedule.
  • Lead incident investigations for any near-miss or injury in the shipping and warehouse areas; complete documentation same shift.
  • Enforce trailer chocking and restraint before any powered industrial truck enters a trailer - this is the single most preventable cause of serious dock injury.
  • Maintain clear egress paths, fire extinguisher access, and emergency exit visibility throughout the dock and warehouse at all times.
  • Escalate any unresolved safety hazard in the shipping area to the General Manager same day - open hazards do not wait for the next meeting.
  Reporting & Communication
  • Issue the daily shipping flash report to the General Manager: loads completed, trailers on hand, at-risk shipments, and any carrier or equipment issues.
  • Participate in the daily operations meeting; present shipping status concisely - what shipped, what is at risk, what is needed.
  • Provide a weekly shipping summary to the General Manager: on-time shipment rate, damage incidents, trailer pool status, equipment issues, and operator headcount vs. workload.
  • Communicate any change that affects the customer - late loads, short shipments, substitutions - to the General Manager before the carrier departs, not after.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Possesses a strong safety, quality, and operational background in a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Thrives in a fast-paced, continuously changing production environment
• Maintains knowledge of industry-standard specifications and best practices

Key Performance Indicators (KPI's)

• On- Time Shipment Rate
• Outbound Damage Rate
• Shipment Accuracy Rate
• Trailer Turn Time
• Floor Inventory Accuracy
• Equipment Inspection Compliance
• Dock Door Uptime
• Trailer Pool Availability
• Safety Observations Completed

Qualifications and Skills

Required

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in shipping, logistics, or warehouse operations in a manufacturing environment - corrugated or packaging preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supervising forklift and clamp truck operators in a fast-paced dock environment.
• Working knowledge of load planning, bill of lading preparation, and carrier coordination.
• Current forklift/clamp truck operator certification or ability to certify within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to read and interpret shipping orders, production schedules, and floor inventory records.
• Strong organizational discipline - this role manages multiple concurrent workstreams daily and cannot rely on memory alone.
• Clear, direct communicator with the ability to escalate problems before they become customer issues.

Preferred

• 5+ years in corrugated or packaging shipping with direct carrier management experience.
• Experience managing a dedicated carrier relationship and trailer pool.
• Familiarity with dock equipment maintenance requirements: levelers, restraints, seals, and door systems.
• Experience with powered industrial truck battery management and LP fuel systems.
• OSHA 10 or 30 certification.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus given workforce composition

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a dock and warehouse environment: variable temperatures, noise, and powered industrial truck traffic.
• Frequent walking, standing, and movement between dock doors, staging lanes, and office areas throughout the shift.
• Lift up to 50 lbs occasionally; primary material handling is performed with powered equipment.
• Day shift primary with availability to respond to carrier or equipment escalations outside standard hours when required.

Working Conditions

Onsite in a plant site.

Attributes for Success

• Hard work - tackle each task with determination, passion and creativity; the willingness to put in whatever effort is required to successfully complete the job at hand.
• Pursuit of Excellence - strive to consistently exceed expectations in our day-to-day work and outperform our competitors in the marketplace, regarding work and company achievements as a collaborative goal with the desire to go above and beyond.
• Integrity - treat the company and teammates with upmost respect, operating on strong moral codes to drive company values and culture.
• Sense of Urgency - drive forward each day with speed, agility, and flexibility to capture unrealized opportunities and avoid potential risks for the business.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit - act like an owner, challenging the status quo, asking the right questions, and actively seeking ways to innovate and improve.
• Adaptability - be fluid with ND Paper's continuous evolution while driving change in a fast-paced environment, equipped with the ability to acclimate quickly.
• Servant Leadership - set an example by implementing meaningful leadership with heart, empathy, foresight and stewardship.

ND Paper Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as voluntary benefits such as accident insurance, hospital indemnity, and critical illness for you and your family.
• Financial protection benefits, including life insurance, disability insurance, and business travel accident insurance.
• Tax advantaged accounts such as Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• Paid holidays, personal days, and vacation days to support work-life balance.
• A 401K retirement plan with a company match and annual fixed contribution
• Wellness programs with incentives and an on-site clinic available at our Rumford and Biron location.

Enjoy competitive salaries, comprehensive health benefits, and paid time off. Discover more about our benefits and how we support our team by visiting 2026 Benefits . Come be a part of our team and grow with us!

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