Master Black Belt

Smurfit-Westrock; Evadale (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

401k with match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Career with a global packaging company

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking a Master Black Belt to lead the Operational Excellence Program at the Evadale Mill. You will guide Lean-Six Sigma initiatives, coach belts, and drive productivity with financial impact across the operation.

You will partner with mill leadership to align projects to the annual plan, manage multiple teams, and ensure standard work and documentation are maintained. Must be site-based and hands-on.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or Paper Science preferred.
• 5–10 years of relevant industry experience with progressive growth in leadership and business.
• Passion and drive to improve systems and processes.
• Demonstrated ability to execute complex projects in fast paced environments using a data-based approach.
• Capability to coach, teach, and mentor employees to drive business results.

Responsibilities

• Identify mill productivity priorities with leadership and align with financial plans.
• Lead and/or support Lean-Six Sigma initiatives and training programs.
• Coach Yellow/Green/Black Belt projects and mentor belts.
• Translate process improvements into production specifications and standards.
• Maintain project documentation and ensure DMAIC, Kaizen, and E3 project standards.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Project leadership

Data-driven decisions

Financial modeling

Team coaching

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Problem solving

Change management

Team building

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering

Paper Science background

Tools

DMAIC methodology

Kaizen

Lean tools

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.

Job Code: MOPIP5 + Sr. Mgr, Process Improv, MBB

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a Master Black Belt to work in partnership with the leadership and employees at our Evadale Mill. This individual will lead the Operational Excellence Program focusing on continuous improvement utilizing Lean-Six Sigma Tools and Methodology. This individual will also lead and/or support all Mill Division Initiatives. Must work effectively with leadership and the financial community to translate sustainable process improvements into budgeted financial improvements (productivity impact). The Master Black Belt will coach and support part-time belts on projects and lead multiple process improvement teams concurrently. This position is site based, in person reporting at the Evadale, TX mill and reports to the Regional Master Black Belt.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:

• Work with mill leadership in the identification and alignment of mill productivity priorities, business needs, and project opportunities.
• Align overall productivity project pipeline with annual financial plan and division objectives.
• Consistently identify project opportunities to improve the business.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams in process and systems improvement projects that result in significant financial impact.
• Coach and mentor multiple Yellow, Green, and Black Belt projects per year.
• Identify Lean-Six Sigma training candidates and support local and corporate training programs.
• Work effectively with operations to translate process improvement findings into production specifications and standard work.
• Maintain project documentation within the project management system.
• Ensure standards of project execution for DMAIC, Kaizen, and E3 projects are met.
• Support business unit or divisional initiatives.
• Support mill during upset events and be responsible for a department on the weekend duty roster.

What you need to succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or Paper Science preferred.
• 5 – 10 years of relevant industry experience with progressive growth in leadership and business.
• Passion and drive to improve systems and processes.
• Demonstrated ability to execute complex projects in fast paced and dynamic environments using team-based, data-based approach.
• Capability to coach, teach, and mentor technical and non-technical knowledge to hourly and salaried employees to drive business results.
• Strong financial acumen with ability to create financial models used to support project selection and determine net project value to the P&L.
• Intermediate knowledge of Lean Six Sigma Tools and Methodology.
• Smurfit Westrock Black Belt certification within 2 years.
• Driven with a sense of urgency to achieve results.
• Exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills from the shop floor to executive level.
• Skilled decision maker and systematic problem solver.
• Ability to positively influence and persuade others.
• Capable of providing ad-hoc leadership as needed.
• Team builder.
• Average of <10% travel.

Preferred

• Subject matter expert with paper manufacturing or related industry experience (e.g., Wood, Packaging, etc.).
• Experience in change management and organizational redesign.
• 2+ years as lean six sigma black belt with documented project portfolio.

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.