Manager of Lean Excellence

International Paper Company; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Life insurance

401(k) plan and retirement contributions

Paid Time Off and Educational Development

Student Loan Repayment Assistance

Job summary

A leading packaging solutions firm is seeking a skilled individual to enhance operational efficiency and consistency across its organization in Huntsville, Alabama. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree, significant manufacturing experience, and a track record of implementing lean initiatives. This role requires strong analytical and coaching skills, with travel up to 75%. The firm offers an excellent benefits package, promotional opportunities, and a commitment to sustainability.

Qualifications

• Significant operational and change management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success implementing lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Ability to travel 50-75% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives that improve efficiency and operational consistency.
• Report to business leadership on lean road maps and adoption.
• Facilitate structured problem solving using various methodologies.

Skills

Analytical skills

Coaching and mentoring

Change leadership

Influencing without authority

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, operations management, or related field

Job description

Multiple factors, including Individual experience, skills and abilities will determine where an employee is ultimately placed in the pay range.

Category/Shift:

Physical Location:

Remote

or

6400 Poplar Avenue

Memphis, TN

The Job You Will Perform:

Lead initiatives that improve efficiency, scalability, and operational consistency across the organization

Align strategy and tactics with the Corporate Lean Team and site-level operations leadership

Report to members of the business leadership team on status of lean road maps and adoption within each facility

Use data to identify gaps in performance versus best practices and work with the mill team to execute an improvement plan

Document best practices and share improvements to leverage results

Understand and apply financial drivers and key performance indicators

Implement lean tools such as 5S, Kaizen, Standard Work, Visual Management, SMED and Value Stream Mapping

Drive waste elimination, process flow optimization, and variation reduction

Facilitate structured problem solving using A3, DMAIC, 5-Why, RCFA, and similar methodologies

Deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost

Implement and manage systems, including daily management, that will sustain improvement efforts

Lead and coach kaizen events through hands‑on participation

Develop training materials and effectively deliver those materials in multiple formats to ensure team members throughout the organization are trained in CI / lean concepts and philosophy

Evaluate and drive opportunities for appropriate CI and lean tool applications

Provide overall support, assistance, direction and communication to the mill leadership teams regarding CI initiatives

The Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge You Will Bring:

Bachelor's degree preferred in business, engineering, operations management, or related field

Significant operational and change management experience in a manufacturing environment

Demonstrated success implementing lean manufacturing initiatives

Strong analytical, facilitation, coaching, and change leadership skills

Ability to influence without formal authority across multiple functions

Proficiency with Microsoft Office

• This position will require 50-75% travel

About Us

The Benefits You Will Enjoy: International Paper offers a benefits package that includes health, welfare and retirement plans including Medical, Dental, Life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Short-term and Long-term Disability, 401(k), Company-funded retirement contributions, Paid Time Off, Education & Development (including Tuition Reimbursement), Student Loan Repayment Assistance, and Voluntary Benefits including insurance for home, auto, vision and pets

The Career You Will Build: Leadership training, promotional opportunities

The Impact You Will Make: We continue to build a better future for people, the planet, and our company! IP has been a good steward of sustainable practices across communities around the world for more than 125 years. Join our team and you’ll see why our team members say they’re Proud to be IP.

The Culture You Will Experience: International Paper promotes employee well‑being by providing safe, caring and inclusive workplaces. We have team members all around the world with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. These are our strengths. We are committed to creating a culture where all individuals are respected, valued, engaged and have an opportunity to do their best work every day. We invite you to bring your uniqueness, creativity, talents, experiences, and safety mindset to be a part of our increasingly inclusive and diverse culture.

The Company You Will Join: International Paper (NYSE: IP) is the global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. With company headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) headquarters in London, UK, we employ more than 65,000 team members and serve customers around the world with operations in more than 30 countries. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Net sales for 2024 were $18.6 billion. In 2025, International Paper acquired DS Smith creating an industry leader focused on the attractive and growing North American and EMEA regions. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com. International Paper is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. International Paper complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail] or [phone].

Job Info

• Job Identification 2001804
• Posting Date 04/01/2026, 08:34 AM
• Job Schedule Full time
• Job Shift Day
• Locations Statewide Alabama, Huntsville, AL, 35824, US