General Manager in London

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions. We are materials scientists, packaging designers, mechanical engineers and manufacturing experts with a shared purpose: Innovate Boldly. Package Sustainably. Guided by our values of integrity, respect, accountability and excellence, we use leading science and technology to move fiber-based packaging forward.

As General Manager, you will be responsible for fostering a high-performance culture that drives employee engagement and operational excellence across the site. You will lead initiatives that promote open communication, recognition, and collaboration, ensuring all team members feel valued, heard, and empowered. By actively engaging with employees at all levels, you will champion a positive work environment, support professional development, and implement strategies that enhance morale, retention, and productivity. Your leadership will be instrumental in creating a workplace where people thrive and contribute meaningfully to the success of the business.

Job Responsibilities/Key accountabilities:

• Lead the management team and take responsibility for all operational activity.
• Define the optimum organization structure and recruit, develop, motivate and manage a manufacturing team that maximizes its performance potential and meets current and future business needs.
• Clearly define and communicate the manufacturing strategy for the site and a framework of operating standards to satisfy business plan objectives and achieve site and regional objectives.
• Manage effective short term business planning and forecasting in line with site and regional goals, to achieve current year profit targets whilst ensuring longer term profitability.
• Assist in defining medium-long term plans to ensure that products and service offerings match existing and emerging market needs and the achievement of business returns in line with the company’s strategic goals.
• Control operations to optimize throughput and efficiency to achieve maximum unit margin whilst minimizing waste and ensuring customer expectations for quality and delivery are met on time and in full.
• Manage the manufacturing and site management processes to ensure best practice techniques are employed to achieve maximum operational efficiency and sustained improvements in quality, service and operating costs.
• Ensure financial controls and reporting practices within the business meet compliance expectations.
• Liaise with senior leadership and corporate functions such as purchasing, quality and sales to align site business objectives and operations to wider business objectives.
• Championing Smurfit Westrock strategy in relation to IBP and Play to Win.
• Develop and implement capital projects which improve/maintain the operational performance of the business on time and within budget.
• Liaise with finance to develop and monitor operational forecasts and budgets to improve plant profitability.
• Manage P&L to control manufacturing and conversion cost within budgetary limits to ensure profitable long-term growth.
• Chair and attend meetings as required, produce data and present reports for a range of audiences.
• Ensure alignment within the wider region.
• Take on other projects and responsibilities as required.
• Work with customers on specific projects to ensure their expectations are met within an approved framework.
• The facilitation of customer facing activities and communications including customer visits and preparation of information to establish and develop professional working relationships with customers.
• To provide governance on quality and ensure strategies in place concerning site compliance activities relating to safety, health and environmental requirements and audit activity to support the company’s products and reputation as an employer of choice and a quality supplier.
• Formulate solutions to minimize lead times, as well as maximize product quality.
• Develop a working relationship with internal Smurfit Westrock departments to deliver the most efficient customer care and service.
• Review customer requirements and specifications to identify improvement opportunities and implement solutions to increase customer satisfaction.
• Provide authoritative guidance and advice to direct reports and mentor and coach employees to develop, motivate, improve knowledge and fulfill their potential to meet current and future business needs.
• Establish consistency in the application of operating standards and compliance with safety, health and environmental legislation and Group policy.
• Manage employment relations and consultation/negotiation processes with staff and their representatives to implement, on an ongoing basis, best working practices and operational methods in order to maintain Unit competitiveness.
• Manage production schedules and manpower planning within budgeted plans to ensure production can meet customer delivery requirements at minimum cost to the business.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and process excellence.
• Develop and coach employees to their full potential and build a talent pipeline to facilitate succession planning and future skills requirements.
• Coach and counsel team members to perform in accordance with Smurfit Westrock culture, values, and standards.
• Communicate new ideas to support fulfillment of department goals and procedures for continuous improvement, retention of customer base, company profitability, and employee job satisfaction.
• Develop and manage defined communication channels across various stakeholder groups to build effective relationships and produce superior products.
• Lead the people agenda to ensure Safety, Health and Engagement targets are achieved, improved and clearly understood by all.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience:

• Demonstrable experience of previous leadership experience in an Operational/Commercial role at a Senior Level.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Demonstrable experience of creating/implementing strategy.
• Project management and problem-solving skills such as 6 Sigma, or another recognized Business Improvement Technique and evidence of having effectively managed significant change.
• Presentation/communication skills.
• Strong emotional intelligence and resilience.
• Competent in using Microsoft Office packages.
• Awareness of current Safety, Health, Environmental and Employment legislation.
• Possess good knowledge of budgeting and planning.
• Ability to productively challenge and debate issues of importance to the organization.
• Persuasive with details and facts.
• Delegates effectively coaching team to maximize potential and deliver high performance.
• Strong budget management/cost control.
• Quality and efficiency focused with a concern for standards.
• Results focused.
• Engages with people and demonstrates an inclusive leadership style.