Technical Trainer

Smurfit Westrock Company; Sioux City (IA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive training and development

Competitive compensation

Career growth opportunities

Sustainability and inclusion culture

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking a Technical Coordinator to lead site technical training and certification programs. The role partners with site leadership and Operations Learning & Development to ensure operators and craft employees achieve and sustain required technical capability for safety, quality, and performance targets.

The position administers certification requirements, coaches employees, and drives continuous improvement in training content and delivery while aligning with business needs

Qualifications

• Experience leading technical training in a manufacturing/industrial setting.
• Experience administering qualification or certification processes.
• Familiarity with learning management systems and training recordkeeping.

Responsibilities

• Plan, deliver, and oversee technical training and certification activities.
• Partner with site leadership to design onboarding and new-hire integration plans.
• Track, evaluate, and report training effectiveness using standard metrics.

Skills

Training delivery

Coaching

Certification management

Safety compliance

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Learning Management System

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Technical Coordinator leads site training and certification activities to ensure operators and craft employees develop and sustain the technical capability required to meet safety, quality, and performance targets. Reporting to the Site General Manager with a dotted-line relationship to Operations Learning & Development, this role serves as a primary training partner to site leadership and team members. The position exercises independent judgment in assessing skill proficiency, providing coaching and performance feedback, administering certification requirements, and driving continuous improvement in training content and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver and oversee technical training and qualification activities to achieve timely, compliant certification of team members.

Partner with Operations Learning & Development and site leadership to design and execute onboarding and new-hire integration plans.

• Support training metrics and governance by tracking, evaluating, and reporting effectiveness using established standards, audits, and learning systems; recommend corrective actions as needed.
• Direct and assign work to employees during training and certification activities, including determining training priorities and adjusting assignments based on operational needs
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve site learning content (e.g., SOPs, guided workflows, and technical job aids) to support operational standardization.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to trainees and site leaders by building strong working relationships and influencing safe, high-quality work practices.
• Support talent selection by evaluating candidate capabilities, contributing to structured interviews, and providing recommendations to hiring leaders.
• Lead technical evaluation of candidates and provide hiring recommendations that are relied upon by management in selection decisions
• Ensure training support is aligned to business needs, including flexibility to provide coaching or qualification activities outside standard hours when required; reinforce site safety culture.
• Exercise authority to remove employees from work assignments when safety or performance concerns are identified, and initiate appropriate follow-up actions
• Maintain trainer qualifications (e.g., Train-the-Trainer) and lead day-to-day administration of certification processes to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Provide performance input and documentation that is relied upon by management in decisions related to employee progression, qualification status, and overall employment
• Perform other responsibilities, projects, and continuous-improvement initiatives as assigned to support site priorities.

Impact on the Business

• Improve operational performance by accelerating skill development and reducing time to certification.
• Drive training efficiencies that reduce risk, eliminate unnecessary cost, and support continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Capabilities

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated ownership for outcomes, with the ability to set priorities, execute independently, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills; able to assess proficiency gaps, determine appropriate interventions, and take appropriate action
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in directing and evaluating employees. Program-management capability to plan, coordinate, and govern training/certification activities across multiple work areas
• Data-driven approach: able to define measures of effectiveness, analyze trends, and communicate insights and risks to leaders
• Working knowledge of safety, quality, and compliance expectations in manufacturing; able to reinforce standards and elevate issues appropriately

Technical Experience

• Experience leading technical training, facilitation, coaching, and/or on-the-job instruction in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Experience administering qualification or certification processes (e.g., training plans, checklists, skill assessments, documentation, and audit readiness) preferred
• Familiarity with learning management systems and training recordkeeping; ability to maintain accurate data and generate routine metrics/reporting
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Forms) with the ability to create clear training materials and communicate updates to stakeholders

What We Offer

• A culture grounded in integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence
• Comprehensive training and development opportunities
• Competitive compensation aligned with skills and experience
• Career growth with a global packaging company focused on sustainability, safety, and inclusion

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