Production Operator

What if you were given the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference? At International Paper, you control your destiny. We offer challenging assignments and total rewards in countries around the world. When we say infinite possibilities, we mean it. Apply now and join a community that improves people’s lives, the planet and our company’s performance by transforming renewable resources into products people depend on every day.

Pay Rate

$24.17 per hr. starting rate with an opportunity to train and certify for higher wages in the Finished Product, Pulp Mill, Utilities or Woodyard department.

Shift

Our mill is a 24/7 operation which requires flexibility. We operate on the Du-Pont 12-hour shift schedule.

Shift Example

The order of shifts below is starting from Monday to Sunday

DS= Day Shift, 6:00am-6:00pm

NS=Night Shift, 6:00pm-6:00am

• Week 1 : DS-DS-DS-DS-OFF-OFF-OFF
• Week 2 : OFF-OFF-OFF-OFF-NS-NS-NS
• Week 3 : NS-OFF-OFF-OFF-DS-DS-DS
• Week 4 : OFF-NS-NS-NS-OFF-OFF-OFF
  
  

Physical Location:

International Paper

Savannah Mill

1201 West Lathrop Ave

Savannah, GA 31415

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, all communication regarding your application status will be conducted via email. Please ensure you regularly check your email inbox, including your spam/junk folders, for updates and important information from our team.

The Job You Will Perform

As a Production Operator, you will start in an entry-level position and perform general physical activities in the Finished Product, Pulp Mill, Utilities or Woodyard department. You will a part of our training and certification program to learn how to monitor, adjust and control our machines.

This type of training to further your career involves the physical, technical, and mechanical ability to safely perform the following:

• General Physical Activities – Considerable use of whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. Unplugging pulp lines, shoveling chips, turning valves, flushing or cleaning equipment, using wash-up hoses and small hand tools.
• Work in Industrial Conditions — May be warm/hot, dusty/dirty, around hazardous chemicals, noise, heavy machinery or elevated working surfaces with proper safety training and safety protection.
• Handling and Moving Objects – Staging rail cars. Removing finished rolls, manually or by use of forklifts, and placing them on conveyors for transfer to other work areas.
• Operate Equipment Outdoors — Run, maneuver, navigate, or drive vehicles to handle logs and wood chips including but not limited to:
• Skid steer
• Small wheel loader, medium wheel loader (bark handler)
• Chip handler
• Log stacker
• Rotary crane
• Quality Control – Conducting tests and inspections of products or processes to evaluate quality or performance. Inspecting finished products to locate flaws and defects. Continuously watch monitors to detect and correct malfunctions. Think quickly to adjust as necessary to correct production problems and ensure optimal performance. Collect samples to test quality of pulp at specified stages. Record data, such as Kappa numbers, temperatures, pressures, white liqur charges, processing times, or test results. Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained. Collect samples and run tests to record data, such as pH levels, temperatures, pressures, and/or processing times.
• Monitor Material and Surroundings, as well as Adjusting and Controlling Equipment – Start up, shut down operating equipment and ensure proper settings upon desired outcomes or specifications. Watch monitors to detect and correct machine malfunctions. Adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems and ensure optimal performance. Monitor and review information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. Estimate sizes, distances, and quantities. Managing chemical and pulp testing done on our two continuous digesters and be trained to manage the digester processes, both as a field operator and as a control room operator.
  

The Skills You Will Bring

• Minimum high school diploma or GED
• Five years’ equivalent work experience in lieu of diploma/degree
• Critical Thinking — Analyzing situations and using logic to address issues
• Communication — Conveying information and processes effectively
• Team Player — Collaborate and work cooperatively across a multi-functional team
  

This Career Will Require

• Mechanical Aptitude – Capacity to apply mechanical principles to solve problems
• Active Listening – Respect team members, take time to understand, ask questions as appropriate and retain instructions provided
• Adaptability – Being open to change and to considerable variety in the workplace
• Dependability – Being reliable, responsible, dependable, and fulfilling obligations
• Self-Direction – Demonstration of initiative and willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges with minimal supervision
• Stress Tolerance – Accepting feedback, being calm and effective during high-stress situations
• Self-Motivation – Establishing and maintaining challenging goals and exerting effort toward training and moving up to the next position. Use feedback of performance to make improvements or take corrective action
• Persistence – Persistence in the face of obstacles
• Flexibility – Willing to work in any department and any shift schedule including a rotating schedule, weekends, holidays and overtime with last minute notification
  
  

The Benefits You Will Enjoy

International Paper offers a benefits package that includes health, welfare and retirement plans including Medical, Dental, Life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Short-term Disability, 401(k) and/or Pension, Paid Time Off, Education & Development (including Tuition Reimbursement), and Voluntary Benefits including insurance for home, auto, vision and pets.

The Career You Will Build

• On the job training to advance your career and earn higher wages
• Leadership training
• Promotional opportunities including supervisory, training and safety advocate roles
  
  

The Impact You Will Make

We continue to build a better future for people, the planet, and our company! IP has been a good steward of sustainable practices across communities around the world for more than 125 years. Join our team and you’ll see why our team members say they’re Proud to be IP.

The Culture You Will Experience

International Paper promotes employee well-being by providing safe, caring and inclusive workplaces. We have team members all around the world with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. These are our strengths. We are committed to creating a culture where all individuals are respected, valued, engaged and have an opportunity to do their best work every day. We invite you to bring your uniqueness, creativity, talents, experiences, and safety mindset to be a part of our increasingly inclusive and diverse culture.

The Company You Will Join

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is the global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. With company headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) headquarters in London, UK, we employ more than 65,000 team members and serve customers around the world with operations in more than 30 countries. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Net sales for 2024 were $18.6 billion. In 2025, International Paper acquired DS Smith creating an industry leader focused on the attractive and growing North American and EMEA regions. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

International Paper is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. International Paper complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact reasonable.accommodations@ipaper.com or (877) 973-3919.

Savannah, GA 31415