Senior Process Engineer

WestRock Company; Covington (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401k with match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Job summary

WestRock Company is seeking a Senior Process Engineer in Covington, VA to manage technical projects focused on product and process improvements, cost reductions, and profitability enhancements. You will support operating departments with technical guidance and drive continuous process improvement across the mill.

The role requires strong analytical skills, problem-solving, and the ability to communicate complex data to leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in science or engineering; chemical engineering preferred.
• 15–20 years of experience in a process engineering role.
• Experience in the paper industry is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify and implement process changes and trials to improve efficiency and minimize variation.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and process control engineers to drive improvements.
• Provide analytical support and problem-solving for operating processes.
• Lead trials and data analysis to inform recommendations and decisions.
• Communicate process data to operations and management with executive-level summaries.

Skills

Analytical

Process Improvement

Data Analysis

Problem Solving

Communication

Interpersonal

Time Management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Science

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Plant Information System

Minitab

Job description

Overview

Position: Senior Process Engineer
Job Code: ENPCP4 + Staff Eng
Location: Covington, VA

The Opportunity: The Senior Process Engineer is responsible for managing technical projects aimed at product and process problem-solving and/or improvements, cost reduction, and profitability improvement. Process Engineers provide technical assistance to the operating departments to help them achieve the mill’s goals and objectives while driving continuous process improvement.

Major Job Responsibilities

• Business Excellence

• Determine and implement process changes and/or trials to improve operating efficiency and performance and minimize variation
• Partner with operations, Maintenance, and Process Control Engineers to make process improvements
• Provide operators, other managers, and salaried employees with analytical support and problem-solving related to operating processes
• Drive continuous process improvement within an operating area through the coordination and management of raw material and other process trials (e.g. using an ingredient or process aid/chemical)
• Troubleshoot equipment performance
• Track and analyze data related to any trials, changes and continual production information to inform recommendations and decisions

• People and Culture

• Review and share best practices with peers in technical subject areas including computer software and systems (Plant Information System, Excel, quality data tracker, electronic log sheet)
• Regularly communicate process-related data to operations and management in readily consumable way
• Deliver presentations to operations team and leadership providing an executive-level summary of Process Excellence projects

Critical Skills / Capabilities

• Analytical: Logically processes information to produce insights in a consumable format; aggregates, cleanses, and disseminates data in structured formats to support better business decisions and improved performance
• Process-Oriented: Plans, designs, manages processes while focusing on refining and improving to increase efficiency and effectiveness; understands process inputs, activities, outputs, roles and sequencing
• Problem-Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations; demonstrates tackling a problem by using a logical, systematic, or sequential approach
• Communication: Clearly exchanges thoughts, ideas, and messages through written, verbal, and non-verbal methods that promote an understanding with the target audience; listens carefully and attentively
• Interpersonal: Can relate to and communicate effectively with others to build rapport and relationships
• Organizational Skills: Plans, arranges and/or monitor\'s work to ensure achievement of desired results; establishes a systematic course of action to accomplish objectives
• Time Management: Plans, prioritizes, and manages time spent on accomplishing tasks to increase productivity and efficiency; demonstrates awareness and control over amount of time spent on activities; meets deadlines
• Growth and Results Oriented: Demonstrates an interest, willingness and drive to learn new things; seeks to understand concepts, processes, and ideas within area of functional expertise; naturally inquisitive; sets meaningful goals for personal work productivity

Technical Skills

• Proficient computer skills including experience with the following systems and applications:
• Microsoft Office - Excel (ability to script macros is preferred), Outlook, PowerPoint, Word
• Plant Information System
• Minitab

Other Qualifications

To perform the duties of the job, this role requires:

• Constantly ascending/descending stairs and foot stools up to 3 rungs
• Constantly ascending/descending ladders up to 10 feet tall
• Constantly ascending/descending ladders taller than 10 feet tall
• Constantly reaching by extending fingers on two hands
• Constantly reaching by extending two arms
• Constantly using fingers to grasp with two hands
• Constantly using fingers to pinch with two hands
• Constantly using fingers to type with two hands
• Frequently working atop of elevated surfaces for 10-30 minutes at a time
• Frequently positioning oneself low to the ground in a crouching position for up to 10 minutes at a time
• Frequently positioning oneself low to the ground in a kneeling position for 5-15 minutes at a time
• Occasionally working in spaces up to three feet wide for 10-30 minutes at a time
• Occasionally exerting force by pulling up to 30 lbs of weight
• Occasionally exerting force by pushing up to 30 lbs of weight
• Occasionally exerting force by lifting up to 30 lbs of weight
• The spoken exchange of ideas to be performed loudly 75-100% of the time
• The spoken exchange of ideas to be performed quickly 75-100% of the time
• The safe and accurate preparation and analyzing of data and figures, monitoring of a computer terminal, or inspection of small defects or parts
• A repetitive motion, which entails frequent typing

Work Environment

• Frequently works indoors in an environment that is not climate controlled and has high temperatures
• Frequently stands or walks for 1-2 hours at a time

Heavy industrial environment; required to wear PPE - ear plugs, hard hat, safety glasses, steel toed boots

What you need to succeed

• Required: 15-20 years of experience in a process engineering role
• Preferred: Work experience in the paper industry
• Required: Bachelor’s degree or higher in science or engineering; chemical engineering preferred

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.