Maintenance Manager

Smurfit Westrock; Cowpens (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Excellent benefits package

401k with match

Tuition reimbursement

Career development & training

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock in Cowpens, SC is seeking a Maintenance Manager to provide leadership for maintenance operations, ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective mill asset performance. This in-person role collaborates with operations, engineering, and leadership teams to maximize uptime.

You will develop long- and short-term maintenance strategies, manage the CMMS and budgets, and coach the maintenance team to deliver measurable improvements while upholding safety and environmental standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–10 years in industrial maintenance.
• Experience leading maintenance teams.
• Experience with CMMS systems such as JDE/SAP.
• Strong emphasis on safety and maintenance best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance organization to achieve safety, reliability, and cost performance.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term maintenance strategies aligned with operational goals.
• Monitor maintenance KPIs and implement improvements to drive uptime and efficiency.
• Collaborate with operations, engineering, reliability, and mill leadership to maximize equipment uptime.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, regulatory and company standards; foster accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Communication

Strategic thinking

Safety awareness

Education

Associate degree in Electrical Engineering

Associate degree in Mechanical Engineering

Associate degree in Industrial Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

CMMS (JDE, SAP)

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.

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.

Position:

Maintenance Manager

Job Code:

MOMNM4 + Mgr II, Maintenance

Location:

Cowpens, SC

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 Maintenance Manager, you will provide leadership and strategic direction for maintenance operations while ensuring the safe maintenance, repair, and reliability of mill assets. You will work closely with operations, engineering, reliability, and mill leadership teams to maximize equipment uptime, improve operational performance, and support a culture of safety and continuous improvement. This role plays a critical part in achieving reliability, cost effectiveness, and production goals across the mill and is an in-person/onsite position at the mill.

How You Will Impact Smurfit Westrock

• Lead the maintenance organization to achieve excellence in safety, reliability, equipment availability, and cost performance.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term maintenance strategies aligned with Smurfit Westrock's operational goals and values.
• Create and sustain an effective maintenance program utilizing industry best practices to maximize equipment reliability and uptime.
• Monitor and analyze key maintenance performance indicators and implement improvements to drive operational excellence.
• Partner with mill leadership to support production goals, capital planning, forecasting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, regulatory, and company standards while fostering a culture of accountability and care.
• Develop, coach, and engage maintenance team members to achieve departmental objectives safely and effectively.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to maintain productive working relationships and support business objectives.

Required Qualifications

What you need to succeed:

• Associate degree or two-year technical degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 5-10 years of experience in industrial maintenance environments.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing maintenance organizations and driving performance improvements.
• Strong knowledge of maintenance systems, reliability practices, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Office applications and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) such as JDE, SAP, or similar platforms.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, communication, conflict resolution, and strategic thinking skills.
• Ability to work safely in a manufacturing environment, including occasional stair climbing, extended walking, exposure to industrial conditions, and use of required personal protective equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• Five or more years of maintenance management experience in a heavy manufacturing, paper, or industrial operations environment.
• Proven success implementing reliability-centered maintenance strategies and improving equipment uptime.
• Experience developing maintenance budgets, business plans, and capital improvement initiatives.

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.