Executive Assistant

Smurfit Westrock; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock in Atlanta is seeking an Executive Assistant to the President & CEO, North America, to provide trusted strategic partnership and executive support in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You will manage complex calendars, coordinate travel, prepare briefing materials, and support board and investor activities while maintaining confidentiality and professional presence.

This onsite role reports to the North America HQ and requires discretion, strong relationship skills, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7+ years of executive support experience, including support of C-suite executives in a complex, matrixed organization.
• Proven experience supporting senior executives in a large public company, manufacturing, industrial, packaging, or related environment.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and project management skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and SharePoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and manage highly confidential information.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage and optimize the President & CEO's complex calendar, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and organizational objectives.
• Coordinate domestic and international travel, including detailed itineraries, logistics, and contingency planning.
• Prepare briefing materials, agendas, presentations, reports, and background information for meetings and business engagements.
• Organize and coordinate executive meetings, leadership forums, customer visits, and special events.
• Screen and prioritize incoming communications, ensuring timely responses and appropriate escalation.
• Manage executive expenses, records, and administrative processes in compliance with company policies.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and gatekeeper to the President & CEO, helping prioritize commitments and optimize time management.
• Assist in planning and coordinating annual operating reviews, strategic planning sessions, leadership meetings, and business reviews.
• Support preparation for board meetings, executive committee meetings, and investor-related activities as required.
• Help identify opportunities to improve executive office effectiveness and administrative processes.
• Partner closely with senior executives and their support staff to coordinate priorities, communications, and deadlines.
• Facilitate information flow among the executive leadership team and key stakeholders throughout the organization.
• Represent the executive office with professionalism and diplomacy when interacting with employees, customers, suppliers, board members, and external partners.
• Manage highly sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion.
• Support internal and external events involving the President & CEO.

Skills

Executive support

Calendar management

Travel coordination

Board communications

Administrative skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Outlook

Teams

PowerPoint

Word

Excel

SharePoint

Job description

PLEASE NOTE: This is an Atlanta-based, onsite position (5 days per week) reporting to our North American Headquarters.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Executive Assistant to the President & CEO, North America serves as a highly trusted strategic partner responsible for providing comprehensive executive support and helping drive operational effectiveness across the executive office.

This role manages complex schedules, coordinates critical business activities, facilitates communication across senior leadership teams, and ensures seamless execution of strategic priorities.

Operating in a fast-paced, global manufacturing environment, the Executive Assistant must demonstrate exceptional judgment, discretion, organizational excellence, and executive presence while interacting with board members, customers, investors, senior leaders, and external stakeholders. The role requires proactive anticipation of business needs, strong relationship management skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with professionalism and confidentiality.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Office Management

• Manage and optimize the President & CEO's complex calendar, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and organizational objectives.
• Coordinate domestic and international travel, including detailed itineraries, logistics, and contingency planning.
• Prepare briefing materials, agendas, presentations, reports, and background information for meetings and business engagements.
• Organize and coordinate executive meetings, leadership forums, customer visits, and special events.
• Screen and prioritize incoming communications, ensuring timely responses and appropriate escalation.
• Manage executive expenses, records, and administrative processes in compliance with company policies.

Strategic Partnership & Business Support

• Serve as a trusted advisor and gatekeeper to the President & CEO, helping prioritize commitments and optimize time management.
• Assist in planning and coordinating annual operating reviews, strategic planning sessions, leadership meetings, and business reviews.
• Support preparation for board meetings, executive committee meetings, and investor-related activities as required.
• Help identify opportunities to improve executive office effectiveness and administrative processes.

Leadership Team Coordination

• Partner closely with senior executives and their support staff to coordinate priorities, communications, and deadlines.
• Work in close collaboration with the Chief of Staff to the North America Region CEO.
• Facilitate information flow among the executive leadership team and key stakeholders throughout the organization.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Represent the executive office with professionalism and diplomacy when interacting with employees, customers, suppliers, board members, and external partners.
• Manage highly sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion.
• Support internal and external events involving the President & CEO.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7+ years of executive support experience, including support of C-suite executives in a complex, matrixed organization.
• Proven experience supporting senior executives in a large public company, manufacturing, industrial, packaging, or related environment.
• Exceptional organizational, planning, and project management skills.
• Strong business acumen and ability to understand organizational priorities.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and SharePoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and manage highly confidential information.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting a CEO, President, Division President, or Business Unit President.
• Experience working within a global organization.
• Experience coordinating board-level or executive committee activities.
• Project management or business operations experience.

Key Competencies

• Professionalism and Discretion
• Sound Judgment
• Confidentiality & Integrity
• Agility & Resilience
• Attention to Detail
• Influence Without Authority

SUCCESS PROFILE

The successful candidate is a proactive, resourceful, and highly professional executive assistant who anticipates needs before they arise, seamlessly manages competing priorities, and serves as a trusted extension of the President & CEO.

They are comfortable operating at the highest levels of the organization, maintain absolute confidentiality, and bring a continuous improvement mindset that enhances the effectiveness of both the executive and the broader leadership team.