Sawmill Head Saw Filer

Who We Are

Vanderwell is an Alberta, family-owned company operating in northern Alberta for more than 80 years. We have modern sawmill, planer mill, and pellet mill facilities, which produce dimensional lumber, wood pellets, shavings, and chips for wholesale customers.

We’re a major employer in the local region, we have more than 160 employees working throughout the operation -- mill production, sales & shipping, woodlands, truck and mobile equipment shops, and administration. Contract and part-time employees are also employed in maintenance, transportation, and seasonal activities.

What We Offer

Vanderwell offers stable, long-term employment which provides our employees with a good standard of living. We offer competitive wages with a full benefits plan, as well as optional RSP plans.

The Opportunity

We are currently looking to hire a Sawmill Head Saw Filer for our manufacturing facilities near Slave Lake, Alberta. Job duties include:

• Reenforces safe work practices, identifying and correcting safety behavior and hazards, and ensuring proper safety training for the saw filing team
• Performs precise tasks such as sharpening teeth (filing), shaping gullets (gumming), adjusting cutting widths (fitting), and leveling and tensioning (benching) all types of saws, including circular saws, bandsaws and knives
• Diagnoses sawing defects (e.g., vibration, heat distortion) and works with mill operations to solve cutting performance issues and maximize equipment reliability
• Establishes and enforces quality control standards within the filing shop to ensure consistent and high-quality lumber production
• Troubleshoots, maintains, and calibrates precision saw filing machinery, including automated CNC grinders, stretchers, and specialized measuring instruments
• Changes saws and knives in all machines as well as assists maintenance in sawmill floor alignments

Working Conditions:

• Exposed to noise, dust, falling debris, moving machinery, weather extremes, splinters, slipping and tripping hazards
• Lifting heavy, awkward objects and climbing on equipment may be required
• Required use of PPE appropriate for the task and working conditions

Must have:

• Advanced knowledge of saw mechanics, metallurgy, and the functionality of various sawmill machines (e.g., Cutoff Saws, Barkers, Canters, Head Rigs, Edgers, Trimmers, Chippers, Planers)
• Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills to diagnose complex issues and implement effective solutions quickly
• A valid provincial or inter-provincial Journeyperson Saw filer certification
• Proven safety leadership and strong interpersonal skills for communication, conflict management, and mentoring junior staff

Candidates

If this position sounds like a fit for you, please apply directly through the portal.

We thank all candidates for their interest; only candidates selected to advance in our recruitment process will be contacted.