General Manager - Assembly Operations

Smurfit Westrock Company; Knoxville, Northern (TN, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401k with match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Referral bonus

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock Company is seeking a General Manager to oversee the assembly packaging facility, including strategic planning, financial accountability, and resource management. You will lead production scheduling, budget planning, and cross‑functional teams to achieve cost, safety, and quality targets.

Responsibilities include directing managers, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring OSHA compliance while maintaining strong workforce relations and a safe work environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum seven years of related industry experience.
• At least 3 years in multi-departmental management.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen and 5S methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Plan and direct production scheduling and set priorities based on customer needs.
• Minimize costs and optimize use of manpower, equipment, materials and capital.
• Create and implement strategic plans supporting company initiatives.
• Ensure a safe and compliant work environment; lead safety programs and OSHA compliance.
• Develop and manage facility budget and track spending vs. budget.

Skills

Plant management

Leadership

Multi-departmental management

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

5S

AS400

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree or GED

Tools

AS400

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Opportunity

The General Manager is responsible for the overall operation of the Assembly packaging facility, including strategic planning, financial accountability and resource management.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:

• Plan and direct production scheduling and establish production priorities based on customer needs.


• Initiate plans and processes that minimize costs and effectively utilize manpower, temporary labor, equipment, material, and capital to obtain plant objectives and performance goals


• Create and Implement strategy plans that support Smurfit Westrock strategic initiatives


• Responsible for providing a safe and secure work environment. Direct, maintain and enforce the safety and environmental programs for the department; assure compliance with OSHA and Smurfit Westrock regulations and guidelines; provide leadership and guidance as needed


• Create facility budget and manage spending against budget and review financials as needed


• Supervise the facility’s managers and supervisors; responsible for employee training and development


• Establish individual/group goals with accountabilities and evaluate work performance for direct reports; review and approve performance evaluations for indirect reports


• Build an effective partnership with plant hourly employees in an effort to improve overall plant production


• Handle employee relations issues in accordance with Divisional and Corporate policies/procedures; assist in the recruitment and selection of assembly personnel as well as terminations


• Works with Customer, Permanent, Manufacturing, and Sales groups to achieve Smurfit Westrock strategic objectives


• Assist on estimating assembly jobs/cost/ and analytics


• Drive continuous improvement initiatives; monitor all control procedures, recommending improvements to


• Director/Senior Director of Assembly


• Participate in Six Sigma projects to increase overall production and cost savings for the facility


• Perform all other duties as assigned

What you need to succeed:

• Bachelor’s Degree is preferred or High school diploma or GED


• A minimum of (7) years of equivalent related industry experience; at least 3 years of prior multi-departmental management experience.


• Proven track record handling full plant budgeting, forecasting, capital expenditures and reporting.


• Effective written, verbal and presentation skills to various levels of the organization.


• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen and/or 5S methodologies


• Proficiency with AS400, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook) as well as customer proprietary software programs

What we offer:

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability and excellence


• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities


• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies and potential


• Benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k with match, tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, employee referral bonus, and much more!


• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.