Position Title: Controls Technology LeaderCategory/Shift:
Salaried Full-Time
Pay Rate:
$133,100 - $149,500, plus annual incentive bonus plan
PL15
Multiple factors, including Individual experience, skills and abilities will determine where an employee is ultimately placed in the pay range.
Physical Location:
Grande Prairie Pulp Mill
53024A Resources Road
County of Grande Prairie No.1
Directions: Travel 12 kms south of Grande Prairie on Resources Road.
To learn more about the Northwest Alberta region, please visit Work NW Alberta
The Job You Will Perform: The Controls Technology Leader is responsible for administering, maintaining, and advancing the mill's process control technologies, while providing leadership for capital projects, major repairs, and system lifecycle planning. This role ensures control systems are safe, reliable, compliant, and aligned with operational and strategic business goals.
Primary Responsibilities - Controls Technology & Leadership- Provide overall technical leadership for the mill's controls technology, including Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), control networks, and process control applications.
- Develop and maintain short- and long-term controls technology plans, including lifecycle management, upgrades, and replacements.
- Ensure all controls systems comply with Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) standards, legal requirements, and internal technology standards.
- Provide technical support for optimization of existing processes, troubleshooting, and reliability improvements.
- Provide controls, engineering support for process improvements and Management of Change (MOC) reviews.
- Review, approve, and ensure accuracy of controls-related engineering documents, standards, and specifications (DCS, PLC, instrumentation).
- Provide final approval for all hardware and software connected to or loaded on control systems.
- Ensure control documents, standards, and system architecture information are current, accurate, and accessible.
- Support mill reliability initiatives in collaboration with maintenance, electrical, and instrumentation teams.
Controls Technology Outcomes- Maintain a Controls Master Plan that documents:
- Existing control systems and architectures
- Lifecycle cost-benefit and value engineering analyses
- Direction, timelines, and strategies for upgrades and replacements
- Ensure all new and existing control systems:
- Meet legal, technology, and business requirements
- Are designed for optimal use, safety, and maximum production
- Are inspected, documented, and corrected if non-conforming
- Do not introduce reliability risks due to age or obsolescence
- Are managed in accordance with IIOT (Industrial Internet of Things) standards
- Ensure controls technology is fully integrated into the Management of Change (MOC) system.
- Maintain a clear support matrix defining primary, secondary, and support responsibilities for control systems.
Project Duties - Provide controls leadership for capital projects and major repairs, from scoping through commissioning.
- Ensure controls scope is accurately represented in project estimates, schedules, and specifications.
- Coordinate with project leaders, regional engineering, and multidisciplinary teams.
- Select, manage, and oversee engineering consultants, contractors, and vendors.
- Review vendor documentation, drawings, software, and system architecture.
- Support construction, commissioning, startup, and system handover activities.
- Safely manage controls related activities during the construction and implementation phases.
Team Leadership & Development- Ensure the Controls Team meets all safety training and performance expectations.
- Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and leadership to controls personnel.
- Assist with identifying and maintaining the team's technical skill base.
- Support training of new personnel and cross-functional team members as required.
- Manage team objectives, career plans, training plans, CSAs, and Individual Development Plans.
- Ensure expectations related to safety, attendance, overtime, discipline, vacation, and expenses are upheld.
The Skills You Will Bring: Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology (Electrical, Controls, Automation, or related discipline preferred).
- 5-10 years of experience in industrial controls, automation, or process control systems.
- Strong experience in DCS, PLCs, control networking, and process control applications.
- Proven experience supporting capital projects, system upgrades, and MOC processes in an industrial environment.
- Ability to work effectively in a pulp and paper or heavy industrial setting.
Technical Skills- Strong understanding of process control theory and instrumentation.
- Experience with Honeywell TDC3000 or similar DCS platforms.
- Experience with PLC systems (e.g., Modicon or equivalent).
- Working knowledge of IT/networking concepts related to industrial control systems.
- Familiarity with construction methods, commissioning, and startup activities.
- Ability to review and interpret engineering drawings, control narratives, and specifications.
Leadership & Professional Skills- Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent planning, prioritization, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to work across organizational boundaries and influence stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced industrial environment.
