Continuous Improvement Manager

Position Title: Continuous Improvement Manager

Pay Rate: $101,000 to $134,600 (USCORE)

Multiple factors, including Individual experience, skills and abilities will determine where an employee is ultimately placed in the pay range. Variable pay may provide additional opportunities for financial awards. This job is eligible to participate in IP’s annual incentive plan.

Category/Shift: Salaried Full-Time

Physical Location: 5032 S Davy Crockett Pkwy Morristown, TN 37813

The Job You Will Perform: The Continuous Improvement Manager (CIM) is responsible for establishing and sustaining a high-performing operating environment that embeds continuous improvement principles across the manufacturing facility. This role provides strategic leadership for quality systems, safety performance, and operational excellence while ensuring compliance with regulatory and customer requirements. The CIM partners closely with plant leadership to drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, reliability, and productivity.

Lead the development and execution of continuous improvement strategies across manufacturing operations.

Drive adoption and effective use of manufacturing reliability and continuous improvement tools (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, problem-solving methodologies) to improve safety, quality, throughput, and cost.

Coach and influence supervisors and operating teams to build capability, accountability, and ownership of performance metrics. The CIM will manage a manufacturing department and be responsible for leading a team of supervisors to achieve operational goals.

Provide support by leading the plant safety team. Also, support safety initiatives such as safety audits, incident investigations and safety orientation for new hires. Must understand OHSA/EPA regulations.

Provide overall leadership and governance of plant quality systems, ensuring alignment with internal standards, customer requirements, and regulatory expectations.

Manage internal audit programs, including audit scheduling, execution, corrective action tracking, and continuous improvement of audit outcomes

Actively participate in the New Item process, as well as Customer audits and communication. Maintain knowledge of customer specific quality testing, expectations, and requirements.

The Skills You Will Bring:

Bachelor’s degree required.

5–10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, quality, or continuous improvement leadership roles. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in developing, implementing and managing high performance work systems and teams

Knowledge of and compliance with local and corporate policies

Builds Effective Teams

Business Insight

Drives Results

Customer Focus

Manages Complexity

Optimizes Work Processes

The Benefits You Will Enjoy:

International Paper offers a benefits package that includes health, welfare and retirement plans including Medical, Dental, Life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Short-term and Long-term Disability, 401(k), Company-funded retirement contributions, Paid Time Off, Education & Development (including Tuition Reimbursement), Student Loan Repayment Assistance, and Voluntary Benefits including insurance for home, auto, vision and pets

The Career You Will Build:

Leadership training, promotional opportunities

The Impact You Will Make:

We continue to build a better future for people, the planet, and our company! IP has been a good steward of sustainable practices across communities around the world for more than 125 years. Join our team and you’ll see why our team members say they’re Proud to be IP.

The Culture You Will Experience:

International Paper promotes employee well-being by providing safe, caring and inclusive workplaces. We have team members all around the world with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. These are our strengths. We are committed to creating a culture where all individuals are respected, valued, engaged and have an opportunity to do their best work every day. We invite you to bring your uniqueness, creativity, talents, experiences, and safety mindset to be a part of our increasingly inclusive and diverse culture.

The Company You Will Join:

International Paper (NYSE: IP; LSE: IPC) creates sustainable packaging solutions that enable our customers, teammates and shareowners to thrive in an ever-changing world. We are a leader in corrugated packaging, partnering with customers across industries to protect what matters most, strengthen supply chains and create lasting value. Learn more at internationalpaper.com.

International Paper is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. International Paper complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact reasonable.accommodations@ipaper.com or (877) 973-3919.