The Continuous Improvement (Cl) Manager plays a key role in supporting Smurfit Westrock’s commitment to operational excellence through a sustainable culture of employee engagement in continuous improvement.
This individual will act as a change agent to elevate business performance and deliver high impact results and develop a culture of continuous improvement. Success in this role requires a leader who can effectively drive change in a fast-paced manufacturing environment utilizing continuous improvement methodologies and tools. Sample responsibilities include identifying / prioritizing improvement activities, tracking financial progress, and coaching / mentoring project leaders and teams. The ability to influence and lead others is key to success.
This role will be based in Devens and may travel to support sister plants in the Area.
How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:
The Cl Manager is responsible for driving improved results of key performance indicators (KPls) through effective implementation of systems, tools, and processes. They are the lead trainer & coach for Smurfit WestRock's Manufacturing Excellence systems & tools. They are responsible to support the health of the system and drive Cl projects to meet plant savings goals.
Specific Responsibilities Include:
Partner with divisional and site leaders within the Area to ensure Cl priorities are aligned with overall business strategy and goals related to Safety, Quality, Cost, Service, and People.Leverage a zero-loss mindset to identify and prioritize areas of improvement.Deliver value by both leading and supporting the focused execution of Cl projects.Manage the pipeline of improvement projects, prioritization, and assignment of resources.Build capability in others through coaching and mentoring project leaders and teams.Support the implementation of enterprise initiatives including Daily Management System, Problem-Solving Practices, and Reliability Excellence.Coordinate regular progress reviews of Cl projects with Finance, project leaders, site, and divisional leadership.Tracking and reporting results including cost savings.Sharing best practices within and outside of the site.Supporting the enterprise L&D Framework, processes, and tools in partnership with the Operations L&D team through day-to-day management of technical floor trainers.What you need to succeed:Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent.A minimum of 5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment with progressive growth in responsibility is required. Paper and packaging industry experience is a plus.Lean Six Sigma Black or Green Belt certification Required with experience in operational excellence tools such as Daily Management System, Reliability, Asset Utilization, and a variety of problem-solving practices.Experience with leading process improvement projects in a fast-paced and dynamic environment utilizing team centered analytical Cl methodologies (lean, six sigma, etc.) with demonstrated results.Experience supporting learning and training teams to ensure technical capabilities & a Cl mindset is delivered to the floor.Strong interpersonal and communication skills from the shop floor to executive level.Ability to positively influence and persuade others.Passion and drive to improve systems and processes.Demonstrated ability to coach, teach, and mentor others to drive business results.Financial acumen with ability to create financial models used to support project selection and tracking to determine net productivity value on the P&L.Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Minitab, SmartSheet, SharePoint, and Visio.Time management and organization skills.What we offer:A 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 and more!
* A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.
Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.