The Opportunity:
Smurfit Westrock is seeking a dynamic General Manager to lead operations at our Adams, WI site. This leadership role is responsible for shaping a culture of safety, quality, and operational excellence while driving strategic growth and team development. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity to build a high-performing team, deliver exceptional customer value, and contribute to Smurfit Westrock’s commitment to innovation and sustainability in the graphics and packaging space.
How you will contribute to Smurfit Westrock:
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Setting clear goals and expectations across departments.
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Coaching and developing managers and frontline teams.
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Allocating resources to meet production schedules and customer demand.
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Ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and labor standards.
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Driving continuous improvement in quality, efficiency, and throughput.
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Collaborating with the VP of Operations and the Director of Operations to position both facilities for long-term success.
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Supporting commercial efforts for sales growth.
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Lead with a strong focus on safety, operational excellence, and team development.
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Create a high-performance culture through goal setting, coaching, and accountability.
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Oversee Production, Warehouse, Maintenance, and Plate Making departments.
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Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and labor regulations.
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Champion continuous improvement initiatives to enhance quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
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Collaborate with Operations leadership to execute manufacturing schedules and strategic growth plans.
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Empower employees through development, training, and performance management.
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Utilize SMART goals and KPI scorecards to monitor and improve metrics such as:
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Safety compliance
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Quality standards
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Downtime and make-ready efficiency
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Run speed and waste reduction
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Mentor plant leadership in daily management systems and performance tracking.
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Support capital projects and ensure optimal equipment performance and ROI.
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Promote effective communication and collaboration across all work groups.
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Drive business results through operational throughput and cost control.
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Foster a culture of safety, loyalty, integrity, and respect.
What You Need to Succeed
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Bachelor’s degree preferred; high school diploma or GED with 4+ years of relevant industry experience required.
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Proven track record of 5+ years leading teams in manufacturing, print, or graphics operations.
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Multi-site leadership experience is highly valued.
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Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive performance in a fast-paced environment.
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a collaborative leadership style.
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Experience in budget planning, cost control, and operational forecasting.
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Demonstrated success in coaching and developing talent across all levels.
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Skilled in balancing production, maintenance, and customer delivery priorities.
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Ability to lead change initiatives and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
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Proficient in data-driven decision-making and performance tracking using KPIs.
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Comfortable navigating ambiguity and adapting to evolving business needs.
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Committed to safety, quality, and operational excellence.
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Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other operational excellence methodologies is a plus.
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Familiarity with signage, display, and wrap production processes is highly desirable.
What We Offer
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A values-driven culture built on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
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Comprehensive onboarding and access to Smurfit Westrock’s GM Academy for leadership development.
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Competitive compensation aligned with experience, skills, and performance.
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Full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k) with company match.
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Tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, and referral bonuses.
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Opportunities for career advancement within a global packaging and graphics leader.
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A workplace where sustainability, safety, and inclusion are foundational to daily operations.
