Mgr II, Mfg Ops

Smurfit Westrock plc; Lanett (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision coverage

HSA with company contributions

401(k) with company match

Paid time off & holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock Lanett is seeking a Finishing Manager to lead the folding and gluing department at our Lanett, AL facility. You will oversee daily operations, safety, quality, and production goals while managing a team of about 100 hourly employees.

You will drive continuous improvement, oversee asset utilization and capital projects, and collaborate with the plant leadership on budgets and standards. A strong background in manufacturing leadership and quality compliance is essential.

Qualifications

• Requires at least 5 years of manufacturing experience.
• Supervisory leadership experience preferred; experience with process & mechanical troubleshooting preferred.
• Bachelor-level or higher technical degree is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning, scheduling, and maintenance of department assets (folder gluers, robotic palletizer, wrappers, labelers, packers).
• Lead annual capital investments planning and installation within budget.
• Collaborate with Plant Manager on budgets and cost standards.
• Develop short- and long-term department strategies to improve efficiency and OEE.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards (Safe Quality Food).
• Manage product quality to meet customer expectations and company standards.
• Implement timely corrective actions for non-conforming products.
• Analyze data to identify root causes of efficiency losses and drive improvements.
• Foster continuous improvement through best practices and change leadership.
• Maintain a safe workplace and uphold core values (Safety, Loyalty, Integrity, Respect).
• Provide leadership to ~100 employees and identify training needs.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Adaptability

Accountability

Collaboration

Integrity & Respect

Problem solving

Data-driven decision making

Education

High School diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related technical field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

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.

Finishing Manager - Lanett, AL

The Opportunity:

The Finishing Manager will provide oversight and leadership to our folding and gluing department in Smurfit Westrock Lanett’s Consumer Packaging facility. This position is responsible for day to day management of the Finishing Department: Ensuring a safe work environment, product quality, achieving production goals, managing performance of hourly team members, making sound operational decisions, solving problems, and managing conflict. This role serves as a member of the plant leadership team and will contribute to achieving safety, quality, productivity & financial objectives.

How You Will Impact Smurfit Westrock:

• Oversee planning, scheduling, execution, and maintenance of department assets, including folder gluers, robotic palletizer, wrappers, labelers, packers, and other ancillary equipment.
• Provide input and oversight for annual capital investments including planning, coordination, and installation for area of responsibility while ensuring items are completed on time and within budget.
• Collaborate and assist the Plant Manager with development of annual budgets and standards for cost control.
• Develop and implement the short- and long-term department strategies to enable operating efficiency.
• Manage departmental compliance with all food safety and quality requirements, e.g. Safe Quality Food.
• Oversee the department’s product quality, ensuring it meets the customer’s expectations and Smurfit Westrock’s standards.
• Develop and implement timely and sustainable corrective action for internal or external non-conforming products.
• Must be able to analyze data and determine root causes for efficiency deficits and drive change through the department to improve OEE, cost, and waste utilizing statistical tools and continuous improvement methods.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement by creating a culture of innovative problem solving, implementing best practices, and acting as an effective change agent.
• Ensure that a safe workplace is always maintained and that the habits and practices of every employee hold safety as the top priority.
• Provide leadership to a production department of approximately 100 employees ensuring adherence to Smurfit Westrock’s core values of Safety, Loyalty, Integrity, and Respect.
• Determine training needs and administer appropriate training programs for department employees.

What You Need to Succeed:

• Adaptability: Demonstrates agility, flexibility, and a willingness to modify one’s approach to achieve desired results; responds quickly to changing demands, processes, and updated information.
• Accountability: Holds self and others responsible for actions and results; Strong bias for results.
• Growth and Results Orient ed: Delivers personal and/or organizational results by successfully influencing others (i.e. co-workers, other teams, external partners, etc.), delivers on time high-quality work to achieve maximum results.
• Leadership: Leads and motivates a team of people to achieve performance excellence; ability to read people and situations and adjust approach as needed; proactively leads and enforces initiatives that drive organizational effectiveness; teaches others how to build trust-based relationships.
• Collaboration: Works effectively with others to complete a task or achieve a common objective; ability to cooperate in both interpersonal and team relationships to support positive team culture and maintain mutual trust, candor, and respect for others. Works through conflict constructively.
• Integrity & Respect: Exhibits the highest personal standards of authenticity, honesty, integrity, and positive respectful relationships with others.
• Technical Skills:
  • Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Teams)
  • Problem solving ability in a fast-paced highly technical manufacturing environment
• Experience:
  • Required: A minimum of 5 years of relevant manufacturing experience
  • Preferred: Prior supervisory leadership experience, technical background with process & mechanical trouble shooting experience, folding carton experience, continuous improvement background
• Education:
  • Required: High School diploma or G.E.D.
  • Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or other relevant technical field

What We Offer:

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
• Competitive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
• A career with a global packaging company where sustainability, safety, and inclusion are foundational to how we operate.
• Competitive total rewards package including medical, dental, and vision coverage options starting on your first day.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions and flexible spending account (FSA) options.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match and automatic contributions to support your long-term financial goals.
• Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage for financial protection.
• Mental health support and wellness programs designed to promote overall well-being.
• Generous paid time off, including company holidays, vacation, and paid parental leave.
• Tuition reimbursement and ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Additional voluntary benefits such as legal services, identity protection, pet insurance, and more.

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.