General Manager (Preprint)

Smurfit Westrock; Lithia Springs (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401k with company match

Job summary

Smurfit WestRock is seeking a General Manager to lead a multi-department plant, directing production, warehousing, maintenance, and preprint operations. You will shape strategy, allocate resources, and build a high-performance culture focused on safety, quality, and cost efficiency.

The role requires strong leadership, budgeting, and collaboration with plant Steering Teams to drive productivity and customer value while aligning with WestRock standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5+ years in manufacturing supervision or plant management.
• Strong safety, quality, and cost control focus.

Responsibilities

• Ensure plant safety program adherence and OSHA compliance.
• Lead the Steering Team and coordinate production, maintenance, and quality.
• Develop budgets, manage resources, and drive continuous improvement.
• Plan and oversee manufacturing schedules to meet customer demand and ROI.
• Coach and develop leaders; drive performance metrics and cost targets.

Skills

Operations leadership

Safety leadership

Continuous improvement

Budget management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Job description

Description & Requirements

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

The Opportunity

The foundations of a General Manager are shaping the work environment, setting strategy, allocating resources, developing managers, building the organization, and overseeing operations. A General Manager is accountable for directing, coordinating, and managing the overall plant operation, including a staff who supervise a total of approximately seventy-five direct and indirect employees in the Production, Warehouse, Maintenance and Plate Making Departments. Assures that the plant's production objectives are achieved Safely, at the lowest cost consistent with quality requirements while maintaining compliance to Federal, State, and Local Safety and Environmental regulations and laws. The General Manager is responsible and accountable for creating a Steering Team to help support all areas of operations; safety, quality cost, productivity, maintaining equipment, hiring, training, employee development, process audits, standardization, employee engagement and discipline. Accountable for efficient, effective, and profitable operations focused on exceeding customer expectations. The primary purpose of this Leadership role is to create a great culture through setting goals, expectations, coaching, and accountability. Support the plant in the continued progress towards a sustainable, high-performing work system. General Manager will report to Director of Operations for developing and executing plans to strategically position Graphic Solutions plants for optimal performance and growth. Build effective partnerships with plants within region to update and improve overall plant manufacturing equipment, troubleshooting customer Preprint manufacturing issues, leverage operations scheduling and best practices to align Graphics Solutions with WestRock Path to One.

How You Will Contribute To WestRock

• Authorized to ensure plant personnel adherence to Safety Program.
• Develops policy, directs, and coordinates safety activities in relation to the company corporate standards and OSHA compliance.
• Recommend and implement continuous improvement initiatives to increase quality, efficiency, and safety.
• Ensure site compliance to all labor, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Coordinates with the Director of Quality the plant's total quality program.
• Authorized to identify and record any problems relating to the product, process, and quality systems.
• Authorized to represent the needs of the customer in internal functions in addressing QMS and EMS requirements for Corrective & Preventive Actions.
• Authorized to initiate actions to prevent the occurrence of any nonconformities relating to product, process, and quality system.
• Coordinates with the Operations Manager the execution of manufacturing schedules based on sales requirements and plant capacity.
• Confers with managers and their subordinates and other plant personnel on the application of continuous improvement methods and meeting production standards, and cost parameters.
• Works with Plant Steering Teams in planning, budgeting, organizing resources, executing work plans, monitors production, coordinates priorities, resolves issues and participates in special projects and work schedules.
• Reviews all recommendations for special machinery and collaborates closely with the Director of Operations regarding product and process improvement and new product launches.
• Oversees the maintenance of safety, quality, building, equipment, plant security and protection.
• Support and enforce all company policies and procedures that relate to the Plant Manager’s areas of authority.
• Provide leadership to all aspects of the manufacturing operations.
• Educate, develop, and motivate a manufacturing work group to achieve required production results.
• Develop and implement operating policies and procedures to achieve stated goals.
• Strive for continuous improvement in manufacturing processes to ensure efficiency and eliminate waste, and implement such plans through people, processes, procedures, and equipment.
• Control and minimize labor overtime, freight, and repair expenses.
• Provide business leadership that demonstrates commitment to plant goals on a day-to-day basis.
• Ensure effective interchange of information between all work groups.
• Create an environment where all employees are encouraged and developed to reach their full potential in meeting company goals.
• Exercise direct supervision over general supervisors and line supervisors with respect to production volume, cost, and quality of production to meet production schedules and delivery dates.
• Meet financial objectives and goals by forecasting requirements, support the annual budget process.
• Direct and lead all operations to achieve monthly profit results with a focus on operations throughput.
• Facilitate and direct maintenance to optimize machinery utilization.
• Responsible for cleanliness of his/her own work area and the general housekeeping of the Company.
• Maintain positive engagement among associates and department managers.
• Complete performance reviews and give feedback to direct reports.
• Resource to provide input into capital projects in support of primary focus areas and business plans for the plants.
• Identify and ensure fully deployed capital is operating at optimal performance and achieving ROI.
• Utilize KIWI to analyze production data to improve productivity and drive efficiency.
• Identify specific barriers to production performance, and provide guidance and support to Graphic Solutions Teams
• Work to provide a link to transfer skills of “How to Corrugate Preprint” to our customers which includes hands on training and support.
• Plant audits in alignment with Cpro Document COR WI-00026 Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Help plants determine current machine capabilities and tolerances against OEM specifications.
• Manage execution and quality delivery of changes across assigned plants through leadership alignment, delivery of training and communications to help achieve desired change outcomes.
• Determines plant policies consistent with organization or corporate policies and directs and supervises the application of such policies to the plant's organization.
• Coach and mentor employees, providing training for important topics such as risk mitigation, Safety protocols, Quality, usage of new equipment, and industry best practices. Coach Plant leadership team to utilize Daily management System (SMART Goals, SWOT, Daily Management System, Action Registers, Weekly WIG’s) to manage performance scorecard and track KPI’s (Safety compliance, Quality, People, Downtime, Make Ready, Run Speed, and Waste)
• Productivity Key Metrics:
• Safety Program / At or below set Target.
• Environmental Program / Meet required Permits.
• QMS / At or below set Target.
• Waste Program / At or below set Target.
• Make Ready Program / At or below set Target.
• Downtime Program / At or below set Target.
• Run Speed Program / At or above set Target.
• Maintenance Program / At or below set Target.

What You Need To Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or high school diploma or GED with a minimum of hour (4) years of equivalent related industry experience; at least 5 years prior supervisory experience
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative management style.
• Budget development and oversight experience.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate people, assess and develop employee skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, with the ability to balance production and maintenance needs.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and listening ability.
• Strong ability to be adaptable and flexible.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills
• Ability to collaborate with teams and lead decision-making processes in a team environment.
• Initiative-taking, results oriented, driven to succeed.
• High accuracy and precision with great diligence and mindfulness.
• Ability to positively influence the culture of our organization.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment.
• Leading and driving change.
• Coaching for performance

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.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.