Mgr, HRBP

Multisite HR Manager - OH & KY Locations

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

Lead HR capability and employee-related initiatives to ensure an effective and sustainable talent strategy. Will proactively partner with the business to provide support and transformative leadership in the areas of employment, compensation, talent management, organizational development, and employee relations. Expectations for this role include but not limited to the following:

HR Subject Matter Expert:

• Ensure compliance with all applicable Federal and State Laws including EEO, FMLA, HIPAA, ADA, and other employment related matters.
• Manage, maintain, and drive process improvements to ensure HR systems, processes and records are compliant, accurate, and in support of "One Westrock" HR operating model.
• Proactively engage, elevate potential opportunities, and seek out the best knowledge (leverage the right capabilities) when dealing with complex matters.
• Maintain in depth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risks, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Partner with legal department as needed/required.

HR Generalist:

• Administers all compensation related activities for assigned locations including annual performance review process, incentive programs, promotions, etc. Ensure that salary recommendations are aligned with WestRock Compensation Guidelines and proper approvals are obtained.
• Manage and resolve complex employee relations issues and hotline calls. Conduct effective, thorough, and objective investigations.
• Maintains the Human Resource Information System to ensure management has access to accurate and appropriate people information to run the business. Provided additional HR data and reports to managers as requested.
• Partner with BU management & play an active role in finding, attracting, and retaining talent.
• Ensure effective and timely pre-employment and on-boarding activities and requirements for all new or transferring employees.

HR Leader:

• Effectively influences others through leadership, communication, data, and insights which result in clear understanding of opportunities and stakeholder alignment.
• Partners with the business to develop short and long-term action plans which support the organization's overall vision and strategies. Appropriately balances business needs and uses economic thinking when developing alternatives.
• Serve as strategic partner by developing key performance indicators (KPIs) and leveraging data analytics to identify opportunities and recommend ways to solve them.
• Demonstrates critical thinking, problem solving, and judgement skills solve complex issues; focuses on identifying root causes to create solutions in a timely and decisive manner; reconciles conflicting and/or incomplete information to develop solutions.

Transformative Leader:

• Serve as change agent as WestRock continues to expand with a goal of providing world-class customer and employee experience.
• Operate with a continuous improvement mindset; where possible make decisions, which support "One Westrock" model. Seek to eliminate waste and improve processes to drive efficiencies and valued outcomes.
• Provide guidance and insight to key changes with an emphasis on workforce implications with 2nd and 3rd order consequences.

Talent Management:

• Own the talent management process. Provide visibility to broader internal talent landscape, support leaders to enable employees to maximize their potential and contributions.
• Develop talent strategies to increase workforce diversity, retain and attract top talent, optimize core and pivotal talent, and ensure a robust talent pipeline for the future.
• Proactively leads and enforces initiatives that drive organizational effectiveness; teaches others how to build trust-based relationships.
• Foster a continuous learning environment through developing and improving the knowledge and skills of yourself and the organization.
• Promote employee and organizational development including leadership development, succession planning, performance management programs, skills gap analysis, and individual career development.
• Partners with supervisors regarding coaching moments. Provides appropriate knowledge to assess and determine employees' training needs, works with employees to produce continuous development plans, and partners with supervisors to provide regular feedback and coaching to help employees develop in current and future roles.

Culture / Organization Health:

• Lead by example, visible role model to Westrock's core values.
• Consult and advise Leadership on topics of interest that could have a major impact on employee morale / organizational health.
• Works effectively with others to complete a task or achieve a common objective; ability to cooperate in both interpersonal and team relationships to foster enthusiasm and maintain mutual trust, candor, and respect for others.
• Works through conflict constructively, able to navigate through and resolve complex employment issues.

Behavior Expectations - How the work will be accomplished:

• The ability to analyze data (real time, historical, unstructured, structured, qualitative) to identify patterns and generate insights to inform and make decisions.
• Lead by example, demonstrate and drive a corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
• Effective communication skills (both written and orally) required to effectively engage and develop strong trusting relationships to gain alignment, support, and achieve desired results.
• Gain cooperation and earns respect from others; encourages positive interaction; appropriately handles own emotions and conflict; demonstrates resilience, open mindedness, and self- awareness.
• Take initiative to identify and anticipate business / HR needs and make recommendations for implementation.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills, effectively envision, develop, and implement new strategies to address competitive, complex business issues.
• Provides accurate and timely information, demonstrate high sense of ownership, respond to matters timely, and follow up ensure completion.
• Manages workload; demonstrates ability to prioritize assignments by meeting routine and unexpected deadlines; handles multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Demonstrates "Stop, think, ask" mentality; Recognize when to make a decision independently and when to engage your supervisor or appropriate knowledge expert. Utilize appropriate communication channels and consults with supervisor about relevant information and potentially sensitive issues.

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.

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. The salary range for this position is $106,500.00 - $177,500.00, depending on your role, level, and location. The range listed is also the expected pay for roles in Illinois and Colorado. The benefits for this role include short-term bonus incentive, health, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and paid sick leave as required by applicable state/local law, 15 days of paid vacation, and 11 days of paid holidays, subject to annual change. Your pay will be based on factors such as your skills, experience, and education. To learn more about this posting, please contact your recruiter during the hiring process. You may apply online at Smurfit Westrock External Careers and the application window is expected to close by 31-Aug-2026.