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Reliability Manager

Smurfit Westrock · Hopewell, VA

Level
Manager
Team
Reliability
Degree
Preferred
Experience asked
8+ years
Industry
Packaging
Posted
30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A management reliability role at Smurfit Westrock (packaging) in Hopewell, VA.

They ask for
8+ years · degree preferred
Tools it names
Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, DMAIC

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Reliability Engineer roles in Virginia: typical posted base $106k–$126k.

Median of the low and high ends of 3 live postings that list pay, out of 18 reliability engineer openings in Virginia, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Virginia plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 17 other live reliability postings in Virginia.

Experience asked
More than usual (8+ vs 5+)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Root cause 56%
  • SAP 28%
  • ✓ Team leadership 28%
  • ✓ Lean 22%
  • ✓ Six Sigma 22%
  • TPM 22%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for DMAIC, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 8+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Promotion path mentioned

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Reliability team at Smurfit Westrock

    We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

    Write to Jonathan → (free)
  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 5

    Bring proof to the interview

    One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: Smurfit Westrock in Hopewell

2 other open roles at this site · 1 person we found in reliability roles at Smurfit Westrock.

Full description from Smurfit WestrockAs posted on their careers site.Show

Preferred Qualifications

  • ✓The candidate should have demonstrated capabilities and at least 8+ years of experience in paper or paperboard or container board manufacturing and maintenance processes.
  • ✓Experience in troubleshooting problems and finding workable business solutions.
  • ✓Lean Six Sigma and DMAIC problem solving experience is a plus.
Show full description ↓

Reliability Maintenance Manager

Hopewell, VA

The Opportunity

The Maintenance Reliability Manager at the Hopewell, VA mill will proactively identify and implement maintenance best practices and drive implementation throughout the facility. Primarily responsible for investigating and resolving all reliability issues within the facility. Drives root cause failure analysis process and projects, and actively participates in critical maintenance initiatives across the facility. The Reliability Manger will serve as the Assistant Maintenance Manager for the facility which will prepare the person in this role to be the next Maintenance Manager.

The Reliability Manager will promote and advance the Reliability program across the entire mill. Here are some of the ways this will occur:

  • •Use equipment failure analysis to identify repetitive maintenance issues and develop and implement solutions that eliminate problems, improve reliability, and reduce maintenance costs.
  • •Design and execute Reliability Improvement Projects
  • •Use proactive, preventative, and predictive maintenance techniques to avoid and to detect equipment failures.
  • •Champion the Maintenance Reliability Program
  • •Ownership of unscheduled maintenance downtime on root cause failure analysis and developing solutions.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock

  • •Lead the reliability program to continuously improve equipment availability and reduce maintenance costs.
  • •Work with Engineering to ensure maintenance reliability and equipment access is designed into new projects.
  • •Be a tireless and enthusiastic champion of reliability.
  • •Serve as the equipment reliability Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the site.
  • •Assist the Maintenance Manager in mentoring and leading Reliability Engineers, Planners, and members of the mill’s overall Maintenance Department.
  • •Assure predictive and preventive maintenance activities support the mill’s strategic direction.
  • •Support the Pressure Vessel and Tank integrity program for the site, including inspection and repairs.
  • •Lead lubrication and vibration program and optimize the lubrication programs in all process areas.
  • •Request measuring and testing equipment to keep the reliability programs current with the latest technological advances where those advances provide cost-effective upgrades.
  • •Manage and report Key Process Indicators (KPIs) detailing all the results of the Work Management and Reliability programs activities on a weekly basis.
  • •Work closely with purchasing, stores, and engineering to ensure equipment reliability is implemented throughout all project phases including procurement, vendor selection, spare part selection and stocking.
  • •Develop and adopt standards that improve equipment reliability in areas such as Essential Care, PM, PdM, CM, RCPE, equipment procurement, stocked parts, rebuilds, installation and work execution.
  • •Continuously work with Maintenance and Operations to educate, promote, and support program buy-in throughout the mill.
  • •Recommend innovative solutions to increase equipment life and reduce maintenance costs through the analysis of repetitive equipment failures/breakdowns and predictive maintenance analysis.
  • •Manage the Reliability related Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) process.
  • •Review and refine the PM process based on breakdown repair costs, down-time requirements, and production losses from individual pieces of equipment.
  • •Submit recommendations and justification for capital expenditures that support and improve the Reliability Program.
  • •Submit regular reports covering the overall program costs and benefits, the "finds" and improvements made, as well as the strategic way forward for the Reliability Program.
  • •Serve as a leader and example for behavior and performance to all employees.
  • •Resolve mechanical and electrical reliability issues to increase process reliability and decrease cost (mill wide)
  • •Managing maintenance resources or contractors during outages or project implementation

to succeed

  • •Bachelor’s degree in engineering preferred.
  • •Minimum of 8 years of applicable reliability maintenance experience in heavy industrial manufacturing - paper mill experience a plus.
  • •Supervisory experience is a plus.
  • •Strong engineering, analytical and problem-solving skills
  • •Effective communication and leadership skills, team player

Ability to

  • •Build consensus among diverse groups with minimal conflict.
  • •Accomplish tasks through the use of others.
  • •Lead teams of Maintenance employees.
  • •Understand business and financial systems and application of systems and data.
  • •Form effective business relationships/partnerships at various levels within the company to accomplish desired results.
  • •These abilities and knowledge are usually obtained through self-study, company seminars and meetings, computer-based training, and on the job application.

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.
  • •Benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k with match, tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, employee referral bonus, and much more!
  • •A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.

Working Conditions

  • •Duties are performed in an office environment and on jobsites throughout the mill.
  • •Infrequent travel to attend meetings or trai

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