Area Learning & Development Leader - Manufacturing Ops

Smurfit Westrock; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking an Area Learning & Development (ALD) Manager to drive learning programs across plant operations in the Corrugated Division. You will partner with plant leadership to align onboarding, OJT, certification, and training planning with safety, quality, productivity, and reliability goals.

Responsibilities include conducting learning health checks, coaching site leaders and Technical Trainers, using Cornerstone LMS and dashboards to monitor training effectiveness, and

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience managing or executing training systems in a manufacturing or operational environment.
• Experience using Learning Management Systems; Cornerstone experience preferred.
• Ability to leverage dashboards and tools to monitor training effectiveness and skill gaps.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Responsibilities

• Own onboarding, on-the-job training (OJT), job certification, and training planning across assigned plants.
• Conduct regular learning health checks to validate execution quality, identify gaps, and drive corrective action.
• Partner with plant and area leadership to align learning efforts to safety, quality, productivity, and reliability priorities.
• Apply a risk-based approach to plant support and presence based on quarterly plant risk assessments.
• Coach site-level leaders on expectations and execution of hourly employee development programs.
• Provide oversight and coaching to Technical Trainers through a dotted-line relationship, ensuring trainer effort is focused on business impact.
• Utilize approved learning systems to assign, track, and report on training.
• Ensure training documentation is stored, maintained, and used as part of the learning process.
• Maintain an effective operating rhythm with key stakeholders including Plant Managers, RLD, HR, Safety, Quality, Reliability, CI partners, and other key stakeholders as appropriate.
• Escalate issues appropriately when barriers cannot be resolved through influence, data, and evidence.
• Capture and communicate learning impact, wins, and best practices across the area.
• Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and reliability through effective hourly workforce development.
• Improve consistency and effectiveness of onboarding, OJT, certification, and training planning across plants.
• Reduce skill gaps and operational risk by strengthening skill visibility and training execution.
• Increase effectiveness and consistency of Technical Trainers across the area.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Influence without authority

Communication

Facilitation

Time management

Empathy & curiosity

Education

Equivalent experience accepted in lieu of formal degree

Tools

Learning Management System (Cornerstone)

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)

Job description

Smurfit Westrock is seeking an Area Learning & Development (ALD) Manager to drive learning programs across plant operations in the Corrugated Division. You will partner with plant leadership to align onboarding, OJT, certification, and training planning with safety, quality, productivity, and reliability goals.

Responsibilities include conducting learning health checks, coaching site leaders and Technical Trainers, using Cornerstone LMS and dashboards to monitor training effectiveness, and