About Us
Job Title: Rotary Die Cutter Operator
Department: Converting
Reports to: Converting Supervisor
Location: Converting Floor
Position Summary: The Rotary Die Cutter Operator bears full accountability for machine setup, die changeover, production quality, crew safety, and efficient job execution on the RDC. The Operator owns the run from job receipt through first-article sign-off and manages all in-process adjustments independently. The RDC Operator must have strong mechanical aptitude and die knowledge specific to rotary cutting — the precision tolerances, die wear patterns, and stripping complexities of the RDC distinguish this role from other converting positions. The Operator leads the 1st Assistant and is directly accountable for the quality and output of the crew.
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 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:
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Own complete machine setup for each job: mount and register the rotary die, set anvil clearance and cutting pressure, configure stripping section for blank geometry, and set outfeed and stacking parameters — all verified to spec before the first sheet runs.
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Perform and sign off on the first-article quality check: verify cut dimensions, die cut sharpness and nick placement, score depth and crease quality, blank squareness, and stripping completeness. Do not release to production without a passing first article.
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Make all in-process adjustments independently: cutting pressure, anvil clearance, stripping finger position, outfeed timing, and feed registration. Do not wait for Supervisor direction on adjustments within operator authority.
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Monitor die condition throughout the run: identify cut quality degradation indicating rule wear, creasing channel compression, or anvil cover wear, and communicate tooling condition to the Supervisor before it drives a quality escape.
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Manage anvil cover rotation and condition: track usage, identify wear patterns, and flag cover change needs proactively.
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Log all downtime events in real time with accurate reason codes, duration, and corrective action. Machine stops for die issues, stripping failures, feed jams, and mechanical faults must all be captured and coded — no blanks at shift end.
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Lead the 1st Assistant: assign outfeed, stripping, and quality sampling tasks; set expectations for quality pull frequency; maintain crew accountability for PPE and housekeeping.
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Conduct shift handoff with the oncoming Operator: communicate job status, die condition, any open quality concerns, mechanical issues for maintenance, and crew notes. The oncoming crew must not discover problems the outgoing Operator knew about.
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Identify maintenance needs proactively: mechanical sounds, vibration, cutting pressure instability, and feed irregularities are early indicators. Log and communicate — do not run through a developing mechanical issue.
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Maintain accurate production records: pieces produced, waste percentage, downtime events, job completion status, and deviations from the job ticket.
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Coach the 1st Assistant toward Operator competency: involve them in setup decisions, explain die adjustments and their effects, and provide direct feedback on quality misses.
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Enforce all safety standards on the crew — PPE compliance, LOTO adherence, safe die handling, and cut-resistant glove use during die work. The Operator is accountable for crew safety behavior.
RDC- Specific Technical Knowledge – Required
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nicks (purpose, placement tolerance), ejection rubber, and board-specific die configurations.
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Die wear diagnostics: dull rules (crush vs. tear on the cut edge), collapsed creasing channels (score cracking vs. flat score), anvil cover wear (uneven cut depth across the sheet), and how each defect appears in the finished blank.
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Cutting pressure mechanics: the relationship between die height, anvil clearance, and crush pressure, and how over- or under-pressure manifests as quality defects or accelerated die wear.
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Stripping section mechanics: how stripping fingers, hold-downs, and waste chutes are configured for different blank geometries; why complex interior cutouts and tight bridges strip differently than simple blanks.
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Feed system: how sheet registration, feed gap, and timing affect cut position relative to the blank — and how to diagnose and correct registration drift.
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Board interaction: how board caliper variation, moisture content, and warp affect cut quality and die pressure requirements across different board grades.
What Success Looks Like – Ongoing
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Every job passes first-article without Supervisor involvement. Setup issues are caught and corrected before the first-article is presented.
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Die condition is communicated proactively — the Supervisor knows a die is approaching end of useful life before a quality escape happens, not after.
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Downtime is logged with accurate reason codes and corrective action on every event, every shift. Reason code data is reliable enough to identify recurring failure patterns.
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Changeover time trends toward benchmark for the job type. The Operator knows where time is being lost and actively works to reduce non-value-added changeover steps.
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The 1st Assistant is visibly developing. The Operator is teaching setup logic and die diagnostics — not just directing task execution.
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Quality escapes trend toward zero. Product that does not meet spec does not reach the outfeed without being caught and held.
Qualifications and Skills /Education and Experience
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Minimum 2–3 years of experience as an RDC Operator or advanced 1st Assistant with demonstrated setup capability on a rotary die cutter in a corrugated or converting environment.
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Comprehensive working knowledge of rotary die construction, cutting mechanics, die wear diagnosis, and stripping configuration.
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Ability to set up and run an RDC job independently from job ticket to first-article approval across a variety of blank styles and board grades.
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Strong mechanical aptitude: able to diagnose abnormal machine behavior, identify likely root cause, and make mechanical corrections within operator authority.
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Deep familiarity with corrugated quality standards specific to die-cut blanks: cut sharpness, nicking tolerance, score performance, squareness, and dimensional variance.
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Demonstrated ability to lead a small crew with clear communication, consistent quality enforcement, and calm composure under production pressure.
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Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Bilingual in Mandarin a plus.
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LOTO certified; able to conduct LOTO training and verification for the 1st Assistant on this machine.
What Success Looks Like-Ongoing
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Every job passes first-article without Supervisor involvement. Setup issues are caught and corrected before the first-article is presented.
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Die condition is communicated proactively — the Supervisor knows a die is approaching end of useful life before a quality escape happens, not after.
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Downtime is logged with accurate reason codes and corrective action on every event, every shift. Reason code data is reliable enough to identify recurring failure patterns.
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Changeover time trends toward benchmark for the job type. The Operator knows where time is being lost and actively works to reduce non-value-added changeover steps.
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The 1st Assistant is visibly developing. The Operator is teaching setup logic and die diagnostics — not just directing task execution.
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Quality escapes trend toward zero. Product that does not meet spec does not reach the outfeed without being caught and held.
Authority & Escalation Guidelines
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The Operator has authority to stop a job producing out-of-spec product without Supervisor approval. Quality holds are within Operator authority.
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The Operator has authority to pull a die from service if die condition is producing defects that cannot be corrected by pressure adjustment. This decision must be communicated to the Supervisor immediately.
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The Operator does not authorize scrap disposition, customer shipment holds, die repair or replacement orders, or overtime — those escalate to the Supervisor.
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Machine speed adjustments within the job's rated parameters are at Operator discretion. Exceeding rated machine speed requires Supervisor approval.
Physical Requirements
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Frequent handling and positioning of rotary dies — team lift required above 50 lbs.; large-format dies may require mechanical assist.
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Standing and working at machine height for full shift duration (8–12 hours).
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Required PPE: steel-toed boots, safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves during all die handling, hearing protection in designated areas.
Advancement Path
Experienced RDC Operators may advance to Lead Operator, Utility Operator (multi-machine), or Converting Supervisor based on demonstrated leadership, cross-machine capability, and interest in supervisory responsibility. Advancement requires Supervisor recommendation and documented competency across job types and blank configurations.
Working Conditions
Plant Site
Attributes for Success
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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.
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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.
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Integrity - treat the company and teammates with upmost respect, operating on strong moral codes to drive company values and culture.
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Sense of Urgency – drive forward each day with speed, agility, and flexibility to capture unrealized opportunities and avoid potential risks for the business.
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Entrepreneurial Spirit – act like an owner, challenging the status quo, asking the right questions, and actively seeking ways to innovate and improve.
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Adaptability – be fluid with ND Paper’s continuous evolution while driving change in a fast-paced environment, equipped with the ability to acclimate quickly.
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Servant Leadership – set an example by implementing meaningful leadership with heart, empathy, foresight and stewardship.
Attributes for Success
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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.
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Sense of Urgency– drive forward each day with speed, agility, and flexibility to capture unrealized opportunities and avoid potential risks for the business.
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Entrepreneurial Spirit– act like an owner, challenging the status quo, asking the right questions, and actively seeking ways to innovate and improve.
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Adaptability– be fluid with ND Packaging’s continuous evolution while driving change in a fast-paced environment, equipped with the ability to acclimate quickly.
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Servant Leadership– set an example by implementing meaningful leadership with heart, empathy, foresight and stewardship.
ND Packaging Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
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Medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as voluntary benefits such as accident insurance, hospital indemnity, and critical illness for you and your family.
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Financial protection benefits, including life insurance, disability insurance, and business travel accident insurance.
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Tax advantaged accounts such as Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
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Paid holidays, personal days, and vacation days to support work-life balance.
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A 401K retirement plan with a company match and annual fixed contribution
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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 2026 Benefits . Come be a part of our team and grow with us!
Apply
Please submit your resume, and salary requirements to https://us.ndpaper.com/careers
No unsolicited resumes - ND Packaging does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Any unsolicited resume you submit to us will immediately become the property of ND Packaging. If you would like to become a recruiter for ND Packaging, please contact us and we will agree in writing to terms and the specific job roles for which you are authorized to recruit.
