Sr. Mgr, Proc Improvement

The Opportunity

The Senior Manager, Process Improvement leads multiple, concurrent process improvement deployments and strategic projects that deliver measurable, sustainable improvements in operational and business performance. The role partners with business, operational, and finance leaders to translate Lean Six Sigma opportunities into validated productivity, cost, quality, service, and customer outcomes. The position also serves as a senior practitioner, coach, and mentor who strengthens continuous improvement capability across the organization.

How You Will Impact Smurfit Westrock

• Lead multiple process improvement deployments or special projects concurrently across one or more facilities, functions, or business areas using Lean Six Sigma, DMAIC, Kaizen, and related methodologies.
• Successfully lead multi-deployment programs or special projects over a minimum one-year timeframe, delivering more than $250,000 in validated annual deployment savings or completing special projects with no customer complaints.
• Partner with leadership to align priorities, assess business needs, identify project opportunities, and establish clear charters, milestones, measures, governance, and accountability.
• Translate improvement findings into sustainable production specifications, standard work, process controls, operating procedures, and documented business practices.
• Work closely with Finance to validate project benefits, financial assumptions, net productivity impact, and realized savings reflected in business performance.
• Lead cross-functional teams through current-state analysis, root-cause identification, future-state design, implementation, control planning, and benefits realization.
• Maintain accurate, timely project documentation within the designated project management system and ensure project execution standards are consistently met.
• Identify and manage project risks, dependencies, stakeholder impacts, and customer considerations; escalate barriers and recommend practical solutions.
• Provide clear progress updates, decisions, risks, and recommendations to operational leaders, functional partners, and senior stakeholders.
• Train, coach, and mentor at least one fellow continuous improvement practitioner during active deployments, strengthening practitioner capability and project execution discipline.
• Coach or support Green Belts, Black Belts, part-time practitioners, and project team members on Kaizen, DMAIC, data analysis, facilitation, and change adoption.
• Build a continuous improvement pipeline by consistently identifying and prioritizing opportunities that improve safety, quality, service, productivity, cost, customer satisfaction, and employee effectiveness.
• Support change management, communication, training, and reinforcement activities required to sustain new processes and ways of working.
• Promote a culture of disciplined problem solving, fact-based decision making, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What You Need To Succeed

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, business, quality, supply chain, or a related field; technical degree preferred.
• Typically 8+ years of relevant manufacturing, operational excellence, process improvement, or business transformation experience, including progressive leadership of complex projects and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated success leading multiple deployments or special projects over at least a one-year period with measurable, validated business outcomes.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification required, or the ability to complete certification within 12 months of appointment; Master Black Belt certification preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Lean Six Sigma tools and methodology, including DMAIC, Kaizen, statistical analysis, process mapping, root-cause analysis, control planning, and change management.
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach, and mentor technical and non-technical employees and fellow practitioners to improve capability and business results.
• Strong financial acumen, including the ability to develop financial models, evaluate project value, support project selection, and partner with Finance to validate benefits.
• Ability to execute in fast-paced, dynamic, and matrixed environments using team-based and data-based approaches.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, project management, decision-making, and systematic problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal, written communication, and presentation skills with the ability to influence from the shop floor through senior leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and process improvement or statistical tools such as Minitab, Visio, SharePoint, or comparable platforms.
• Ability and willingness to travel to company operating locations based on project needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in change management, organizational redesign, or large-scale business transformation.
• Two or more years of experience serving as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with a documented portfolio of completed projects and sustained results.
• Formal Black Belt certification from a recognized internal or external certification program; ASQ certification preferred.
• Experience leading customer-facing, customer service, sales, or commercial process improvement initiatives.