Job Information
WestRock Company Senior Program Manager, Innovation in Richmond, Virginia
The opportunity:
The Senior Program Manager, Innovation, will be responsible for managing a broad portfolio of projects. In this role, you will manage a strategic collection of H2 projects that will deliver significant value to WestRock's 5-year strategic plan. In managing the portfolio of projects, you will develop a vision for the program, identify needed capabilities, and communicate program progress towards innovation strategic goals.
As Senior Program Manager, you will organize and lead project teams, assign individual responsibilities, develop project schedules, and determine resource requirements. You will also monitor and report on the status of projects including cost, timing, and staffing. In this role, you will ensure adherence to internal and external quality standards and identify and resolve obstacles to complete projects on time and within budget. You will also manage multiple, interrelated projects. On various projects, you will integrate vendor tasks into the project plan, track and review vendor deliverables.
How you will impact WestRock:
Manage portfolio of program projects and communicate program progress through key leader reviews, including, but not limited to Innovation Product Reviews within WestRock's Integrated Business Planning process
Evaluate opportunities and make new project recommendations, draft project charters to support technology programs
Identify and recommend pilot capabilities needed to advance the technology development within programs
Identify key deliverables, maintaining in scope items, scope changes and documentation; develop comprehensive project plan
Identify resource requirements and create/work with existing project team members, including key stakeholder identification
Create project timelines
Align with project sponsor(s) and stakeholders including key commercial leadership
Monitor team performance through objectives, milestones, evaluation criteria, and progress tracking
Organize and lead regular team calls, ensuring clear agendas, action items (including accountability), and published notes
Manage projects using a variety of tools to ensure project activities, dates, timing, and tracking are clearly understood by all project members and stakeholders and delivered
Manage stage gate to include planning, completion, and review of stage gate deliverable
Manage critical hurdle resolution/risk to include identification of hurdles, leading team workshops and action plans to resolution
Provide technical/planning support for team members on critical work streams
Responsible for task resolution with business, making sure there is ownership of key activities as we transfer from Innovation to the Business Unit
Manage commercialization stage to include defining hand off to marketing/sales
Ensure excellent communication/reviews, via team weekly reports, management reviews, building communication plans, stakeholder analysis
Through the IBP (Integrated Business Planning) process, provide inputs into the IPR (Innovation Product Review) each month, identify project expectations and actions to resolve
Provide strategic direction for projects and lead implementation of strategies to improve success and maintain alignment with project sponsor
Responsible for capital requests, approval and spend management and forecast of remaining spend on monthly basis
Liaison with strategic partners/supplier for invoice management/vendor payment, terms, and conditions for contracting
Works with business segment innovation leadership to identify and support project needs for the segment
Support and participate in monthly IPR meetings for relevant segments
Maintain all needed data and identify exceptions when project timing is impacted by positive or negative past or potential events; identify alternative options to course correct negative changes
Manage the procurement, installation, and startup of approved capital pilot equipment
What you need to succeed:
10+ years of proven work experience in analysis, project management
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field, or equivalent experience
Master's Degree in Business Administration or related field (Science, Engineering, etc.) desired
Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP) highly desired
Training/Certification as a Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt is desirable
Experience in the manufacturing/packaging industry desirable
Ability to translate the organization's innovation objectives into strategy necessary to leverage a key technology platform or focus area
Ability to identify new projects opportunities and launch approved initiatives
Strong communication at all levels with the organization
Ability to manage complex projects that are 1-3 years in length
Ability to influence, lead and facilitate complex, cross functional teams
Strong technical competencies, preferably in Commercial, Carton Design, or Project Management
Deep understanding of Stage Gate process to include stage definitions, gate deliverables, holding gate reviews, and managing gate decisions
Strong business and financial acumen
Ability to understand the business model, define and manage capital required to execute
Advanced computer skills, including understanding of core project management fundamentals and tools and Microsoft Office Suite
Ability to function well as a team player or independently, with excellent interpersonal skills
Results oriented and innovative, with a commitment to excellence
Ability to travel, both domestic and international
Flexibility to work various hours, across global time zones
Adherence to WestRock Values and Behaviors
Adherence to WestRock Safety Guidelines and Practices
Willingness to travel up to 25%.
What we offer:
Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability and excellence
Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities
An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies and potential
A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.
WestRock (NYSE:WRK) partners with our customers to provide differentiated paper and packaging solutions that help them win in the marketplace. WestRock's team members support customers around the world from locations spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Learn more at www.westrock.com.
WestRock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create and maintain a diverse workforce where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. WestRock does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.