Maintenance Manager

Smurfit Westrock; South Carolina; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive training and development

Benefits package (medical, dental, etc

401k with match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking a Maintenance Manager for our Cowpens, SC mill. The role provides leadership and strategic direction for maintenance operations to assure safe maintenance, repair, and reliability of mill assets.

You will work with operations, engineering, reliability, and mill leadership to maximize uptime and support a safety-focused culture. You will develop maintenance strategies, monitor KPIs, and collaborate with leadership on capital planning and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Associate or two-year technical degree in Electrical, Mechanical, 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 CMMS such as JDE or SAP.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, communication, conflict resolution, and strategic thinking skills.
• Ability to work safely in a manufacturing environment with PPE.

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 equipment reliability and uptime.
• Monitor and analyze maintenance KPIs 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 safety, environmental, regulatory, and company standards while fostering accountability.
• Develop, coach, and engage maintenance team members to achieve objectives safely and effectively.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to maintain productive working relationships and support business objectives.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Reliability practices

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Safety compliance

Education

Associate degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering or related field

Bachelor's degree preferred in Electrical/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering

Tools

JDE CMMS

SAP CMMS

Job description

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.