RUMFORD – For the first time in at least three years, the local paper mill is taking job applications for both salaried and hourly employees.

Spokesman for NewPage Corp., Tony Lyons, said the mill is looking for eight to 10 salaried, managerial positions, and an as-yet unknown number of hourly positions.

The starting pay for hourly people is $15.50.

He said the salaried positions will replace some who have left, internal moves within the corporation, and specific skills needed for a variety of managerial jobs.

He said some of the management positions are different from previous positions and include a broadening of skill sets.

“We’re trying to get better and we are taking advantage of the skills out here,” he said Thursday.

The applicant list for hourly employees compiled three years ago is very low, and all laid-off people who wanted to come back have been recalled, leaving a gap in the number of future employees, he said.

He could not estimate the number of hourly employees who will be hired by the end of the year. He said the current total employee number is 1,070 at the Rumford plant.

During past open-application periods, the mill’s former owners have taken applications in person at the American Legion Post in downtown Rumford. This time, applications are being taken only by mail and e-mail.

To apply, resumes must be sent to: NewPage Corporation, Attn: Annette Caron Oswald, 35 Hartford St., Rumford, ME 04276 or to:[email protected].

Lyons declined to comment on the status of business at the plant. He did say, however, that the mill is running three shifts, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All four paper machines and the pulp dryer are operating.