Senior Operations Manager

Senior Operations Manager – Beverage Packaging Systems

The Beverage Packaging Systems (BPS) group designs, builds and provides technical support for our advanced packaging machinery created for our customers. The Senior Operations Manager will have full responsibility for the performance and profitability of the BPS machine assemble and build in Smyrna, Georgia.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:

• Lead all production, innovation, and new platform development related functions for our North America-based machinery team
• Ensure all packaging machines are delivered to our global customers with impeccable quality, on time and within budget, which is the core function of this role
• As one of the critical innovation platforms for Smurfit Westrock, you will ensure our innovation and development resources are well aligned to the company's innovation framework ensuring the most optimized solutions across our packaging materials, designs, converting and packaging machinery
• P&L responsibility and direct leadership of Smurfit Westrock employees, on-site contractors
• Provide safety leadership to ensure the facility safety execution meets company requirements and ensure all machinery produced and shipped meets local safety regulations at the time of commercialization
• Engage with our customers in support of our technical sales activities as well as factory acceptance test (FAT) and site acceptance test (SAT)
• Champion the development activities for new packaging systems (materials, carton design and machine platforms) for the BPS team, aligning with the company's stage gate processes and prioritization
• Provide the global capacity required to meet competitive lead-times for the annual anticipated volume of machines
• Reporting to this position will be Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Assembly, Quality, and Data Analytics

What you need to succeed:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or similar technical degree
• 10+ years of management and leadership experience in a manufacturing facility
• Strong technical background in high-speed machinery
• Proven experience in budget and financial management
• Strong track record of goal setting and demonstrated ability to build, develop, lead, and motivate diverse teams through transformative change
• Ability to initiate projects in pursuit of greater profitability, anticipate potential problems and address them early
• Ability to facilitate the development of others' knowledge and skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of capital management (P&L and capital budgets) and analyzing financial data
• Must possess excellent strategic planning and analytical skills
• Foundational commercial and financial business acumen
• Leadership skills and experience required to drive the global machinery strategic agenda throughout the BPS organization (transformational change management)
• Ability to operate with the customers' best interest in mind
• Ability to respond quickly to changing demands, processes, and evolving information
• Communicate effectively with the ability to adjust communication style based on audience
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish rapport with all levels of the organization
• Solid influencing and negotiation skills
• Excellent motivational skills and multitasking abilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Advanced technical knowledge and layman translation skills
• Air travel up to 20%, including domestic and international travel

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.