The Senior Human Resources Manager is a strategic HR leader responsible for aligning people strategy with business objectives while advancing the vision across the site as two business units are integrated. This role translates enterprise priorities into an integrated workforce plan\u2014drivingconsistent standards, strong leadership routines, and a high-performance, trust-based culture.
Success in this role is defined by measurable improvements in engagement, retention, leadership effectiveness, and operational readiness\u2014built through visible partnership with leaders and frontline teams and disciplined execution of people processes.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnership
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, aligning site people priorities to the people strategy and building strong, transparent relationships grounded in credibility and trust
Influence leadership behaviors and decisions to reinforce operating rhythms, standard work, and the desired culture
Translate business strategy into practical, people-centered initiatives that drive consistent execution and employee experience from leadership to the shop floor
Provide insights and dashboards on workforce trends, leadership effectiveness, and cultural health to inform the decisions and site performance commitments
Culture & Engagement Leadership
Act as the leader and steward of site culture, advancing the people focused culture commitments through a high-trust, high-accountability environment
Build authentic relationships with production employees through consistent floor presence, active listening, and responsiveness
Ensure employee voice is heard and acted upon through aligned engagement strategies, listening mechanisms, and closed-loop feedback routines
Coach leadership teams on behaviors that build trust, respect, inclusion, and accountability
Identify and address cultural gaps proactively using data and leader routines, driving sustainable improvements in engagement and retention consistent with targets
Leadership Effectiveness & Relationship Building
Develop strong, trust-based partnerships with plant leadership teams, influencing both what decisions are made and how they are executed
Coach leaders on communication, employee engagement, and consistent application of policies and practices
Drive leadership capability in building positive employee relationships, especially within production environments
Support leaders in navigating complex employee relations situations with empathy, fairness, and consistency
Talent Strategy & Development
Build and execute aligned strategies to attract, develop, and retain a strong and diverse workforce
Lead site talent strategies that support business growth, productivity, and workforce planning expectations
Partner with leaders to strengthen succession plans and build pipeline readiness for critical roles, including frontline leadership
Promote a culture of continuous growth, development, and performance accountability
Identify capability gaps and implement targeted development plans
Change Management & Transformation
Lead change and transformation initiatives with a strong focus on transparency, engagement, and trust-building
Ensure employees at all levels understand the "why," the expected outcomes, and their role in execution, using consistent communication and adoption routines
Partner with leadership to model behaviors that reinforce stability and confidence during change
HR Team Leadership
Lead, coach, and develop HR team members to be both strategic partners and strong employee advocates
Drive consistency in how HR shows up across the organization by implementing a HR operating model\u2014balancing business needs with employee experience [1] [1]
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Ensure compliance with all labor laws, policies, and Company standards; maintain audit-ready documentation and consistent practice
Address employee relations matters with a balanced approach that reinforces fairness, trust, and respect [2] [1]
Qualifications
Bachelor\u2019s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field
8-12+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, preferably in manufacturing or a multi-site environment
Demonstrated success influencing leadership and shaping organizational culture
Strong employee relations expertise with ability to build credibility across all levels of the workforce
Proven ability to connect strategy with execution in frontline environments
References
Visible links
#_ftn1
#_ftn1
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.
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.