Continuous Improvement Director
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At Graphic Packaging International, we produce the paper cup that held your coffee this morning, the basket that transported those bottles of craft beer you enjoyed last weekend, and the microwave tray that heated your gourmet meal last night. We’re one of the largest manufacturers of paperboard and paper-based packaging for some of the world’s most recognized brands of food, beverage, foodservice, household, personal care and pet products. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, we are collaborative, diverse, innovative individuals who create inspired packaging while giving back to our communities.
With over 25,000 employees working in more than 130 locations worldwide, we strive to be environmentally responsible in our industry and in the communities where we operate. We are committed to workplace diversity and offer compensation and benefits programs that are among the industry’s best to reward the talented people who make our company successful.
If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we’d love to hear from you.
A World of Difference. Made Possible.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Senior Director, Continuous Improvement serves as the enterprise leader responsible for driving operational excellence and performance transformation across a paperboard manufacturing division producing more than 3.7 million tons annually of coated recycled and virgin paperboard packaging products.
This executive position provides strategic leadership for all continuous improvement activities across a network of five paperboard mills, including three integrated kraft pulp and paperboard operations featuring wood processing, pulp manufacturing, chemical recovery, power generation, and coated paperboard production, as well as two state-of-the-art recycled paperboard mills.
Reporting to the Vice President of Manufacturing, the Senior Director will lead the division's continuous improvement strategy and execution, delivering sustainable improvements in manufacturing cost, productivity, quality, reliability, yield, and overall business performance. The role has direct leadership responsibility for the Continuous Improvement Managers at each mill and serves as the principal architect of the division's Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Operational Excellence systems.
This leader will be expected to drive significant value creation while building a culture of accountability, disciplined execution, and continuous performance improvement across the organization.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and execute a multi-year Continuous Improvement roadmap aligned with division financial, operational, and strategic objectives.
- Serve as a key member of the Division Manufacturing Leadership Team, influencing business strategy and operational priorities.
- Partner with mill managers and functional leaders to identify, prioritize, and accelerate high-value improvement opportunities.
- Create a high-performance culture focused on operational excellence, accountability, and sustainable results.
Performance Improvement and Value Creation
- Lead division-wide initiatives to improve manufacturing competitiveness through:
- Cost reduction
- Productivity enhancement
- Asset utilization
- Yield improvement
- Reliability optimization
- Energy efficiency
- Quality performance
- Establish measurable performance targets and ensure achievement of annual improvement commitments.
- Drive cross-mill benchmarking and replication of best practices to maximize enterprise value.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (CONTINUED):
Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Leadership
- Serve as the executive sponsor and champion for Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma deployment across the division.
- Establish governance, standards, and capability-building programs for continuous improvement.
- Lead the development of a robust pipeline of improvement projects that deliver measurable financial returns.
- Ensure disciplined use of data analytics, root cause analysis, statistical methods, and structured problem-solving throughout the organization.
Quality and Process Excellence
- Partner closely with Division Quality leadership to improve process capability, product consistency, customer satisfaction, and quality system performance.
- Drive reduction of process variation, waste, defects, and customer quality claims.
- Promote a culture of fact-based decision-making and process control throughout the mill network.
Organizational Leadership
- Lead, develop, and mentor the division's Continuous Improvement organization, including direct oversight of each mill's Continuous Improvement Manager.
- Build organizational capability in Operational Excellence methodologies at all levels of the business.
- Develop future leaders through coaching, talent development, and succession planning.
- Foster collaboration across operations, maintenance, engineering, quality, and supply chain functions.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related technical discipline required.
- MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.
Experience
- Minimum 15 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience within pulp, paper, paperboard, packaging, or other large-scale process industries.
- Demonstrated success leading enterprise-level operational excellence and performance transformation initiatives.
- Proven record of delivering substantial and sustainable cost, productivity, and quality improvements across multiple manufacturing facilities.
- Deep understanding of integrated pulp and paper operations, paperboard manufacturing, recycled fiber systems, reliability, and manufacturing economics.
- Experience leading large, geographically dispersed improvement organizations.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification.
- Experience within integrated kraft mill and paperboard manufacturing environments.
- Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior leadership and drive organizational change.
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
The successful candidate will be a highly respected operations leader who combines strategic vision with disciplined execution. They will possess strong business acumen, an enterprise mindset, and a demonstrated ability to translate operational excellence into measurable financial performance. Most importantly, they will be recognized as a change agent capable of building alignment, developing talent, and delivering transformational results across a complex manufacturing network.
SCOPE & IMPACT
Operations Supported
- 5 Paperboard Mills
- 3 Integrated Kraft Pulp and Paperboard Facilities + 2 State-of-the-Art Recycled Paperboard Mills
- 3.7+ Million Tons Annual Production Capacity
Direct Reports
- Continuous Improvement Managers at each mill
- Division CI Resources
Works with
- Centers of Excellence Directors for Pulp & Power, Paperboard, Automation, Reliability, and Engineering
- Mill Managers
- Division Quality Management resources
- Company Supply Chain and Converting Management
Operations Supported
- 5 Paperboard Mills
- 3 Integrated Kraft Pulp and Paperboard Facilities + 2 State-of-the-Art Recycled Paperboard Mills
- 3.7+ Million Tons Annual Production Capacity
Direct Reports
- Continuous Improvement Managers at each mill
- Division CI Resources
Works with
- Centers of Excellence Directors for Pulp & Power, Paperboard, Automation, Reliability, and Engineering
- Mill Managers
- Division Quality Management resources
- Company Supply Chain and Converting Management
PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITY
- Enterprise-wide Continuous Improvement performance and results
- Cost Reduction and Margin Expansion
- Productivity and Reliability Improvement
- Quality Enhancement
- Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Deployment
- Sustainable Operational Excellence Culture
This role represents one of the most influential manufacturing leadership positions within the Paperboard Division, with direct responsibility for driving operational performance, competitive advantage, and long-term value creation across a multi-billion-dollar manufacturing platform.
Disclaimer
The candidate must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, with or without a reasonable accommodation. Graphic Packaging retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.
Competencies
Pay Range
$164,000.00 - $273,400.00
Graphic Packaging is an equal opportunity employer and abides by all applicable federal, state provincial and local laws with respect to the recruitment and hiring process. We are committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and hiring process free from discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Should you require an accommodation for a disability, please contact your Human Resources representative or email accommodations@graphicpkg.com.
Recruitment Agency Partnership Notice
We value partnerships and maintain a strict process for engaging external agencies. Due to compliance requirements, we do not accept unsolicited resumes. Agencies must be fully onboarded and have an active, executed agreement in place with Graphic Packaging to submit candidates for open positions. Any unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Graphic Packaging, and no recruitment fees will be owed.
Requisition: 16317
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