OpenNash Jobs
International Paper · United States

Project Manager of Lean Excellence

United StatesManager or lead$137,400 - $185,000Operations

Listed on International Paper’s official careers site. Posted August 31, 2026. Check that it is still open and apply there.

Apply on International Paper’s careers site →

Job description

Position Title

Project Manager of Lean Excellence Pay Rate : $137,400 - $185,000 Multiple factors, including Individual experience, skills and abilities will determine where an employee is ultimately placed in the pay range.

Category/Shift

Salaried Full-Time Physical Location : Remote or 6400 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN The Job You Will Perform: The Project Manager of Lean Excellence will propagate scalable operational improvement across the Containerboard business through lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and disciplined execution. The Lean Leader will serve as a hands-on change agent, partnering with mill teams to deploy lean tools and methodologies, lead Kaizen events, and embed standard work and problem-solving capabilities into daily operations.

The ideal candidate will have significant and relevant direct manufacturing experience using and leading continuous improvement tools, systems, and methodologies. The candidate must be a proven shop floor leader who is comfortable influencing others, coaching teams, and delivering measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery and cost.

Key Responsibilities

  • Implement lean tools such as 5S, Kaizen, Standard Work, Visual Management, SMED and Value Stream Mapping
  • Drive waste elimination, process flow optimization, and variation reduction
  • Facilitate structured problem solving using A3, DMAIC, 5-Why, RCFA, and similar methodologies
  • Deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost
  • Process Optimization & Execution
  • Use data to identify gaps in performance versus best practices and work with the mill team to execute an improvement plan
  • Document best practices and share improvements to leverage results
  • Understand and apply financial drivers and key performance indicators

Culture & Capability Building

  • Assist with implementing and managing systems that will sustain improvement efforts
  • Lead and coach CI events / kaizen through hands-on participation
  • Assist with developing and effectively delivering training materials in multiple formats to ensure team members throughout the organization are trained in CI concepts and philosophy
  • Evaluate and drive opportunities for appropriate CI and lean tool applications
  • Provide support, assistance, and communication to the mill leadership teams regarding CI initiatives This position will require 75-90% travel The Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge You Will Bring: Bachelor's degree preferred in business, engineering, operations management, or related field Minimum
  • 5 years of manufacturing experience with proven change leadership skills
  • Demonstrated success utilizing and deploying lean tools
  • Strong analytical, facilitation, coaching and change leadership skills
  • Ability to influence without formal authority across multiple functions
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office

More jobs at International Paper

Forklift Operator

United States

Similar jobs at other companies

Lean Solutions

Fastenal · Fond Du Lac, TBD, WI

Lean Six Sigma/Continuous Improvement Site Lead

Lockheed Martin · Chelmsford, MA

Lean Advisor I

Deutsche Post · Westerville, Ohio, United States of America

OpenNash lists jobs from employers’ own careers sites and does not handle applications. Dates come from the employer where stated; “first seen” and “last checked” are our own observations.