Maintenance Manager

Smurfit Westrock; Cowpens (SC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401k with match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Competitive salary

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock in Cowpens, SC, is seeking a Maintenance Manager to lead maintenance operations, ensuring safe and reliable mill asset upkeep and uptime. The role partners with operations, engineering, reliability, and mill leadership to drive goals and continuous improvement onsite at the mill.

The Maintenance Manager will develop maintenance strategies, manage budgets, and coach the team to meet safety and production objectives with a focus on cost effectiveness and reliability.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or two-year technical degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering or related field.
• 5–10 years of experience in industrial maintenance.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing maintenance organizations and driving performance improvements.
• Strong knowledge of maintenance systems, reliability practices, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with CMMS such as JDE, SAP, or similar platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead the maintenance organization to achieve safety, reliability, equipment availability, and cost performance.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term maintenance strategies aligned with operational goals and values.
• Create and sustain an effective maintenance program to maximize reliability and uptime.
• Monitor maintenance KPIs and implement improvements for operational excellence.
• Partner with mill leadership to support production goals, capital planning, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure safety, environmental, regulatory, and company standards compliance while fostering accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Maintenance planning

CMMS

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Associate degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

CMMS (JDE/SAP)

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.

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.

What you need to succeed:

Required Qualifications

• 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.