Line Leader

Smurfit-Westrock; Ridgeway (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking an Assembly Line Leader to drive safe, efficient production on the line and coordinate staffing, materials, and workflow. You will work with Operations, Quality, Warehouse, Maintenance, and temporary workers to meet customer requirements and production goals.

The role emphasizes safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement in a contract packaging environment. Prior experience leading production activities is preferred, with strong communication and math skills to

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in manufacturing, packaging, assembly, or production environment.
• Experience leading work activities or training team members in a manufacturing setting.
• Read and interpret safety procedures, operating instructions, and work orders.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production line activities focusing on safety, quality, productivity, and customer requirements.
• Coordinate line setup, verify work orders, and ensure materials are available for production schedules.
• Monitor production flow, troubleshoot issues, adjust equipment, and suggest process improvements to boost efficiency.
• Train and supervise temporary workforce, maintaining a positive, productive environment.
• Maintain inventory accuracy through tracking, reconciliation, and proper line replenishment.
• Perform quality checks to ensure finished products meet customer specs and company standards.
• Maintain accurate production records, labor tracking, and data entry for reporting.

Skills

Team leadership

Production coordination

Quality awareness

Communication skills

Math ability

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Production data entry system

Inventory systems

Job description

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

When you join Smurfit Westrock, you will be joining a team that creates sustainable paper and packaging solutions that help move the world forward. As an Assembly Line Leader, you will play a key role in driving safe, efficient, and high-quality production operations within our contract packaging and assembly environment. This position serves as the daily leader of a production line, coordinating staffing, materials, equipment, and workflow to ensure customer requirements and production goals are met. You will work closely with Operations, Quality, Warehouse, Maintenance, and temporary workforce partners to deliver exceptional operational performance while fostering a culture of safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

How You Will Make an Impact

• Lead daily production line activities to ensure safety, quality, productivity, and customer requirements are achieved.
• Coordinate line setup activities, verify work order specifications, and ensure materials and components are available to support production schedules.
• Monitor production flow, troubleshoot operational issues, make equipment adjustments, and recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency.
• Train, assign, and provide direction to temporary workforce employees while promoting a positive and productive work environment.
• Manage inventory accuracy through product tracking, reconciliation, and proper line replenishment throughout the shift.
• Perform and document quality checks to ensure finished products meet customer specifications and company standards.
• Maintain accurate production records, labor tracking, and system data entry to support operational reporting and performance measurement.
• Partner with Warehouse, Maintenance, Quality, and Operations teams to resolve issues and maintain uninterrupted production.
• Promote adherence to all safety requirements, company policies, SOPs, cGMP standards, and housekeeping expectations.
• Support continuous improvement efforts that drive operational excellence, productivity, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

What You Need to Succeed

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Previous experience in a manufacturing, packaging, assembly, or production environment.
• Experience leading work activities, coordinating production processes, or training team members in a manufacturing setting.
• Strong understanding of production work orders, quality standards, and inventory control processes.
• Ability to read and interpret safety procedures, operating instructions, production documentation, and work orders.
• Basic computer skills with the ability to enter production data and maintain operational records.
• Strong verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively coordinate with employees, supervisors, and cross-functional teams.
• Proficient mathematical skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to identify and resolve routine production issues while maintaining productivity and quality standards.
• Ability to work overtime as required to support operational needs.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in contract packaging, fulfillment, consumer products, or related manufacturing environments.
• Experience supervising or coordinating temporary workforce employees.
• Knowledge of inventory reconciliation, material handling, and production reporting processes.
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), cGMP, ISO, or other quality management systems.
• Experience troubleshooting manufacturing equipment and implementing process improvements.
• Experience utilizing production metrics, OEE performance measures, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Previous leadership experience as a Line Leader, Lead Operator, Crew Lead, or similar production leadership role.

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.