Mgr, Lrng & Org Dev

Smurfit Westrock plc; Spanish Fork (UT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock plc is seeking an Area Learning & Development Manager to drive the effective execution of the Corrugated Division Learning & Development program at the plant level across an assigned area. The role emphasizes safety, quality, productivity, and reliability through hands-on learning and measurement.

The ALD Manager will align regional learning strategy with plant execution, report to the Senior Manager, Learning & Development, and influence through collaboration with Technical

Qualifications

• Experience managing training systems in manufacturing or operations.
• Ability to monitor training effectiveness using data dashboards and metrics.
• Strong stakeholder management without formal authority.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills at all levels.
• Willingness to travel approximately 40%.
• Experience with Learning Management Systems; Cornerstone preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own onboarding, OJT, certification, and training planning across assigned plants.
• Conduct regular learning health checks to validate execution quality and close gaps.
• Partner with plant and area leadership to align learning with safety, quality and productivity.
• Apply a risk-based approach to plant support based on quarterly risk assessments.
• Coach site leaders and ensure trainer effort aligns with business impact.
• Provide oversight to Technical Trainers and ensure documentation is maintained.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Results oriented

Manufacturing environment

Communication & facilitation

Execution discipline

Empathy & curiosity

Tools

Cornerstone

Learning Management System

Dashboards

Microsoft Office

Job description

Locations

UT Spanish Fork

Employment Type

Full Time

Date Posted

04-Aug-2026

Relocation Support

No

Description & Requirements

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.

The opportunity:

The Area Learning & Development (ALD) Manager is responsible for ensuring the effective execution and business impact of the Corrugated Division Learning & Development program at the plant level across an assigned area. The scope of this role spans Operations, Commercial, and other functional teams, with primary emphasis on manufacturing operations. This role is focused on driving measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and reliability through learning.

ALDs serve as the primary connector between regional learning strategy and day-to-day plant execution, ensuring learning expectations are consistently implemented and aligned to business outcomes across functions. This role reports to the Senior Manager, Learning & Development and operates through influence rather than authority, including a dotted-line relationship to Technical Trainers.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:

• Own execution quality of onboarding, on-the-job training (OJT), job certification, and training planning across assigned plants.
• Conduct regular learning health checks to validate execution quality, identify gaps, and drive corrective action.
• Partner with plant and area leadership to align learning efforts to safety, quality, productivity, and reliability priorities.
• Apply a risk-based approach to plant support and presence based on quarterly plant risk assessments.
• Coach site-level leaders on expectations and execution of hourly employee development programs.
• Provide oversight and coaching to Technical Trainers through a dotted-line relationship, ensuring trainer effort is focused on business impact.
• Utilize approved learning systems to assign, track, and report on training.
• Ensure training documentation is stored, maintained, and used as part of the learning process.
• Maintain an effective operating rhythm with key stakeholders including Plant Managers, RLD, HR, Safety, Quality, Reliability, CI partners, and other key stakeholders as appropriate.
• Escalate issues appropriately when barriers cannot be resolved through influence, data, and evidence.
• Capture and communicate learning impact, wins, and best practices across the area.
• Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and reliability through effective hourly workforce development.
• Improve consistency and effectiveness of onboarding, OJT, certification, and training planning across plants.
• Reduce skill gaps and operational risk by strengthening skill visibility and training execution.
• Increase effectiveness and consistency of Technical Trainers across the area.
• Additional duties as assigned.

What you need to succeed:

Critical Skills / Capabilities:

• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence without authority.
• Results-oriented mindset with a focus on business outcomes over training activity.
• Ability to work effectively in manufacturing environments and engage hourly teams.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills across all organizational levels.
• Strong execution discipline, prioritization, and time management skills.
• Empathy, curiosity, and sound judgment when working with diverse teams.

Technical Skills:

• 3–5 years of experience managing or executing training systems in a manufacturing or operational environment.
• Experience using Learning Management Systems; Cornerstone experience preferred.
• Ability to leverage dashboards and tools to monitor training effectiveness and skill gaps.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Other Qualifications:

• Equivalent experience accepted in lieu of formal degree.
• Manufacturing experience preferred but not required; paper or packaging industry experience preferred.
• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed organization.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 40%.

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.