Program Manager - Lansing, MI

Smurfit Westrock Company; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking a Program Manager to serve as the operational leader within assigned Account Teams, coordinating plans, timelines, and budgets to ensure programs are organized, aligned, and completed on schedule.

You will be the central point of coordination between customers, Sales and internal departments, driving project visibility, process consistency, and customer satisfaction while supporting profitable growth and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in industry-related field.
• High school diploma or GED; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Strong project management, planning, and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams.
• Experience with reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and operational analysis preferred.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across departments and with customers.
• Demonstrated ability to lead initiatives and drive projects to successful completion.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the operational leader for assigned accounts and account teams, coordinating planning, communication, execution, and ongoing program management activities.
• Lead cross-functional projects and programs from concept through implementation, ensuring alignment among Sales, Service, Production, Fulfillment, Product Management, Marketing, Engineering, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, account calendars, forecasts, and execution schedules to support customer and business objectives.
• Coordinate and facilitate account team meetings, manage action items, and drive accountability for deliverables, deadlines, and project outcomes.
• Monitor project, program, and account performance through reporting, analysis, and communication of key metrics, milestones, risks, and opportunities.
• Manage new product, program, and process development initiatives, including launch planning, readiness reviews, approvals, and implementation activities.
• Coordinate operational execution activities, including prebuild planning, order readiness, fulfillment requirements, inventory-related activities, and departmental handoffs.
• Oversee the development, maintenance, governance, and accuracy of account-related parts, templates, specifications, online ordering platforms, and supporting documentation.
• Support forecasting, budgeting, estimating, quoting, and cost-management activities while maintaining visibility to program performance, profitability, and operational efficiency.
• Develop customer-facing presentations, reports, business reviews, and other communication materials to support account management and strategic initiatives.
• Serve as a primary point of coordination between customers, sales, and internal departments to ensure timely resolution of issues and achievement of customer expectations.
• Coordinate required documentation, agreements, approvals, compliance activities, and record-keeping to support customer and company requirements.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, standardization, cost reduction, and enhanced customer experience across assigned accounts and programs.
• Participate in customer meetings, presentations, site visits, and business development activities as required.
• Provide backup support for other Program Managers and contribute to team objectives and shared account responsibilities.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

Project management

Planning

Organizational skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Multitasking

Microsoft Office

Excel

Forecasting

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

PowerPoint

Teams

Outlook

Word

Excel

Job description

The Program Managers serves as the operational leader within assigned Account Teams, ensuring plans, timelines, communication, reporting, budgets, and execution activities are organized, aligned, and successfully completed in support of customer and business objectives They act as the central point of coordination between Customer and Sales and internal departments to ensure projects, programs, and ongoing account activities are executed effectively, accurately, and on schedule. This position drives project visibility, operational excellence, process consistency, and customer satisfaction while supporting profitable growth and continuous improvement initiatives.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Serve as the operational leader for assigned accounts and account teams, coordinating planning, communication, execution, and ongoing program management activities.
• Lead cross-functional projects and programs from concept through implementation, ensuring alignment among Sales, Service, Production, Fulfillment, Product Management, Marketing, Engineering, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, account calendars, forecasts, and execution schedules to support customer and business objectives.
• Coordinate and facilitate account team meetings, manage action items, and drive accountability for deliverables, deadlines, and project outcomes.
• Monitor project, program, and account performance through reporting, analysis, and communication of key metrics, milestones, risks, and opportunities.
• Manage new product, program, and process development initiatives, including launch planning, readiness reviews, approvals, and implementation activities.
• Coordinate operational execution activities, including prebuild planning, order readiness, fulfillment requirements, inventory-related activities, and departmental handoffs.
• Oversee the development, maintenance, governance, and accuracy of account-related parts, templates, specifications, online ordering platforms, and supporting documentation.
• Support forecasting, budgeting, estimating, quoting, and cost-management activities while maintaining visibility to program performance, profitability, and operational efficiency.
• Develop customer-facing presentations, reports, business reviews, and other communication materials to support account management and strategic initiatives.
• Serve as a primary point of coordination between customers, sales, and internal departments to ensure timely resolution of issues and achievement of customer expectations.
• Coordinate required documentation, agreements, approvals, compliance activities, and record-keeping to support customer and company requirements.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, standardization, cost reduction, and enhanced customer experience across assigned accounts and programs.
• Participate in customer meetings, presentations, site visits, and business development activities as required.
• Provide backup support for other Program Managers and contribute to team objectives and shared account responsibilities.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in industry-related field.
• High school diploma or general education degree (G.E.D.); bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field preferred.
• Strong project management, planning, and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and related collaboration tools.
• Experience with reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and operational analysis preferred.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across departments and with customers.
• Demonstrated ability to lead initiatives and drive projects to successful completion.
• Reliable attendance and dependability.
• Ability to perform all essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.