Alberta Newsprint Company (ANC), a joint venture of the Stern Group and West Fraser Timber Company Ltd., is a leading manufacturer of premium paper products. Located in Whitecourt, and operating with a non-unionized workforce, the firm’s paper mill—the first in Alberta—produces paper of such high quality that it has become the standard by which other paper products manufactured in North America are measured. The company is a successful, well-financed, progressive organization that is regarded as one of the best companies in the paper industry.

ANC is seeking a Director, Environment to lead the mill’s environmental strategy, regulatory positioning, and external environmental engagement. Reporting to the General Manager and serving on the Senior Leadership Team, this role ensures the organization maintains strong environmental performance while anticipating emerging regulatory and policy developments affecting the forest products industry.

The Director acts as both an internal catalyst for environmental improvement and the organization’s primary representative in environmental discussions with regulators, government, and industry stakeholders.

The Role

The Director, Environment leads the mill’s environmental function and works across departments to strengthen environmental performance, ensure regulatory readiness, and anticipate environmental developments affecting the industry.

This role combines:

strong technical environmental knowledge
operational understanding of industrial processes
strategic and systems thinking
the ability to build trusted relationships with regulators, government, and industry stakeholders

The position offers significant autonomy to shape environmental systems, introduce improvements, and represent the organization externally.

Key Responsibilities

Environmental Performance

Drive measurable improvements in water intensity, emissions, and waste streams
Partner with operations, engineering, and maintenance to identify environmental improvement opportunities
Strengthen environmental monitoring and management systems
Integrate environmental considerations into operational planning and decision-making

Environmental Risk & Compliance

Maintain and oversee robust environmental compliance systems, reporting, regulatory requirements, and certification audit readiness, including PEFC, SFI, and others
Ensure environmental plans and programs remain current
Identify emerging environmental risks and implement mitigation strategies, including those affecting certification compliance

Regulatory Intelligence

Monitor environmental regulatory developments affecting the organization
Interpret legislation and regulatory changes impacting operations
Advise leadership on regulatory implications and upcoming policy developments
Support internal discussions regarding environmental strategy and regulatory positioning

Government & Industry Engagement

Develop and maintain constructive relationships with regulators, government agencies, and industry associations
Represent the organization in environmental discussions affecting the forest products industry
Participate in industry working groups and consultations
Ensure operational realities are understood in policy discussions

External engagement is expected to represent approximately 25–30% of the role.

Environmental Systems & Strategy

Strengthen environmental data systems and performance tracking
Develop environmental improvement plans and recommend environmental capital investments
Build environmental processes that support long-term operational success
Work closely with internal partners including the Energy Manager, Woodlands leadership, and operational departments to integrate environmental strategy across the organization

What Success Looks Like

Optimize environmental performance across the mill
Strong, trusted relationships with regulators and industry stakeholders
Environmental considerations integrated into operational and capital planning decisions
Proactive awareness of regulatory and policy developments affecting the organization
Environmental systems that strengthen the mill’s long-term operational effectiveness

What You Bring

Post-secondary education in environmental science, engineering, forestry, or a related discipline
Significant experience in environmental leadership within industrial or resource-based operations. Experience in pulp and paper, forestry, or similar industrial environments is considered an asset
Strong understanding of environmental regulatory frameworks and compliance systems
Ability to translate environmental information into operational insight
An established network and willingness to build relationships with regulators, government, and industry stakeholders
Systems thinking and the ability to identify improvement opportunities across complex operations

Alberta Newsprint Company will only consider those eligible to work in Canada either by citizenship, permanent residency, or valid Canadian work permit.

We thank all those who apply, but only applicants being actively considered for employment will be contacted.

ANC

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Director, Environment