Continuous Improvement Manager

Westrock Company, Inc.; Mebane (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

WestRock is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager in Mebane, NC to lead a culture of employee engagement in continuous improvement and act as a change agent to elevate plant performance. You will drive operational excellence, support the WestRock Operating System, and partner with site leadership to deliver productivity gains.

Responsibilities include prioritizing CI activities, coaching project leaders, managing the improvement project pipeline, and coordinating with divisional teams to

Qualifications

• B.S. or A.S. in a technical field preferred but not required.
• Manufacturing experience required; paper/packaging experience a plus.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred; must complete Yellow/Green Belt training within 18 months.
• Knowledge of CI tools and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience leading team-based process-improvement projects in manufacturing with results.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to lead and influence to drive positive change.
• Proven coaching, teaching, and mentoring ability.

Responsibilities

• Partner with site leaders to align CI priorities with business goals.
• Leverage a zero-loss mindset to identify and prioritize improvements.
• Lead and support focused execution of CI projects.
• Manage the local pipeline of improvement projects aligned to productivity targets.
• Prioritize resources to ensure project success with site leaders.
• Coach and mentor project leaders and teams to build capability.
• Support enterprise initiatives including Daily Management System and Problem-Solving Practices.
• Coordinate progress reviews of CI projects with site leadership.
• Liaise with divisional Operational Excellence team.
• Track and report cost/productivity benefits and document savings.
• Share best practices across the site and beyond.
• Support L&D framework and tools in partnership with operations and technical trainers.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Structured problem-solving

Team leadership

Interpersonal skills

Communications

Change leadership

Education

Technical degree (B.S. or A.S.)

Tools

Continuous improvement tools

Problem-solving methodologies

Job description

Continuous Improvement Manager - Mebane, NC

The Opportunity

• The Continuous Improvement (CI) Leader plays a key role in building a sustainable culture of employee engagement in continuous improvement.
• This position will act as a change agent to elevate levels of plant performance and deliver high impact results.
• The CI Leader functions as a member of the site leadership team and is responsible for all operational excellence and world-class manufacturing activities. This role serves as a site resource to drive local CI improvement.
• The role may also liaison with divisional and site resources to execute productivity strategies and ensure CI activities are aligned with business goals related to Safety, Quality, Cost, Service, and People.
• Success in this role requires a leader who can effectively drive change in a fast-paced manufacturing environment utilizing continuous improvement methodologies and tools.
• Sample responsibilities include identifying / prioritizing improvement activities, tracking financial progress, and coaching / mentoring project leaders and teams.
• The ability to influence and lead others is key to success.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock

• The CI Leader is responsible for helping drive business results including productivity by leveraging continuous improvement systems, processes, and tools. She/he will help support the deployment of the standard WestRock Operating System and build a sustainable culture of employee engagement in continuous improvement.

Specific responsibilities Include

• Partner with site leaders to ensure site CI priorities are aligned with overall business strategy and goals.
• Leverage a zero-loss mindset to identify and prioritize areas of improvement.
• Deliver value by both leading and supporting the focused execution of CI projects.
• Manage the local pipeline of improvement projects aligned to productivity targets.
• Work with site leaders to prioritize and assign resources to ensure project success.
• Build capability in others through coaching and mentoring project leaders and teams.
• Support implementation of enterprise initiatives including Daily Management System, Problem-Solving Practices, and Reliability Excellence.
• Coordinate regular progress reviews of CI projects with project leaders and site leadership.
• Function as a liaison to the divisional Operational Excellence team.
• Tracking and reporting of results including cost / productivity benefits.
• Ensuring all projects and savings are properly documented in the WestRock productivity tracker.
• Sharing best practices within and outside of the site.
• Supporting the enterprise Learning & Development framework, processes, and tools in partnership with the operations and support of technical floor trainers.

What you need to succeed

• B.S or A.S in a technical field preferred but not required.
• Prior experience in a manufacturing role is required. Paper and packaging experience is a plus.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification preferred but not required. Will be required to complete WestRock Yellow Belt and Green Belt training within 6 months of hire and become certified within 18 months.
• Knowledge and skill of continuous improvement tools including structured problem-solving methodology.
• Experience with leading team-based process improvement projects for manufacturing applications with proven results.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to lead and influence to drive positive change.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, teach, and mentor others.

What We Offer

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
• Competitive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
• A career with a global packaging company where sustainability, safety, and inclusion are foundational to how we operate.
• Competitive total rewards package including medical, dental, and vision coverage options starting on your first day.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions and flexible spending account (FSA) options.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match and automatic contributions to support your long-term financial goals.
• Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage for financial protection.
• Mental health support and wellness programs designed to promote overall well-being.
• Generous paid time off, including company holidays, vacation, and paid parental leave.
• Tuition reimbursement and ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Additional voluntary benefits such as legal services, identity protection, pet insurance, and more.