Vice President, Beverage Packaging Systems

WestRock Company; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock seeks a Vice President, Beverage Packaging Systems to define a 3–5 year machinery and automation strategy and align investments to growth platforms. This on-site role will drive technology leadership, improve installed fleet performance, and deliver world-class service capabilities across the organization.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, commercially minded engineering leader with a proven track record in packaging machinery, automation, or manufacturing technology.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience, leading both domestic and global teams.
• Packaging machinery, automation, manufacturing systems, industrial equipment, or related industries.
• Experience leading cross-functional organizations and executing business strategy.

Responsibilities

• Develop a 3–5 year machinery and automation roadmap.
• Align offerings with customer, market, and end-market requirements.
• Assess portfolio gaps and identify investments, partnerships, or capability development.
• Partner with commercial leadership to support growth strategies.
• Translate customer needs into machinery and automation solutions.
• Drive differentiation through technology, performance, and innovation.
• Create workforce development and training strategies to support future requirements.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Commercial partnership

Engineering and automation expertise

Domestic and global business acumen

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or business

MBA preferred

Job description

The Opportunity:

The Vice President, Beverage Packaging Systems will serve as the strategic leader responsible for transforming Smurfit Westrock's packaging machinery and automation capabilities into a competitive advantage for customers and the business. This leader will define the 3-5 year machinery and automation strategy, align investments to key growth platforms, drive technology leadership, improve installed fleet performance, and ensure world-class service capabilities across the organization.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, commercially minded engineering leader with a proven track record of leading industrial automation, packaging machinery, capital equipment, or manufacturing technology organizations. This leader combines strong technical expertise with business acumen, leveraging deep customer insights to develop innovative solutions, drive operational excellence, and deliver scalable, profitable growth. This successful candidate will have experience building and expanding business in both domestic and international markets, positioning Smurfit Westrock for sustained growth and competitive advantage. In this role, this customer centric leader must effectively unlock the balance between fully delivering on our customers' needs and ensuring a sustainable and profitable machinery business.

This role requires a unique combination of:

• Strategic leadership


• Commercial partnership


• Engineering and automation expertise


• Domestic and global business acumen


• Operational excellence

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:

Strategic Portfolio Leadership:

• Develop a 3-5 year machinery and automation roadmap.


• Align machinery offerings with customer, market, and end-market requirements.


• Assess competitive positioning and identify portfolio gaps.


• Recommend investments, acquisitions, partnerships, or capability development initiatives.

Commercial Enablement:

• Partner closely with commercial leadership to support growth strategies.


• Translate customer needs into machinery and automation solution


• Drive differentiation through technology, performance, and innovation

Service Organization Development:

• Evaluate current service organization capabilities.


• Create workforce development and training strategies.


• Ensure technical capabilities support future business requirements.

What you need to succeed:

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience, leading both domestic and global teams


• Packaging machinery, automation, manufacturing systems, industrial equipment, or related industries.


• Experience leading cross-functional organizations.


• Track record of developing and executing business strategy.


• Experience driving growth through technology-enabled solutions.

Preferred Additional Experience

• General Management


• Business Development


• Strategic Planning


• Operations/Supply Chain


• S&OP / Demand Planning


• Finance or P&L responsibility

Critical Leadership Competencies

Strategic Thinking

• Develops long-term vision and translates strategy into execution.


• Identifies market opportunities and competitive threats.


• Uses data and analytics to drive decisions.

Executive Presence

• Commands credibility with senior operations and commercial leaders, customers, and stakeholders.


• Influences across a matrixed organization.


• Successfully manages ambiguity and complexity.

Results Orientation

• Establishes clear objectives and accountability.


• Delivers measurable business outcomes.


• Drives execution while maintaining strategic focus.

Collaboration & Influence

• Build strong partnerships across commercial, operations, engineering, and service organizations.


• Gains alignment without direct authority.


• Promote teamwork and shared ownership.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or business; MBA preferred

Work Environment/Travel

• Based on-site at our Beverage Packaging Systems plant in Smyrna, Georgia


• Up to 25% domestic travel; international travel is minimal but may occur.