Manager- Divisional Maintenance Excellence

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive. Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people. The Division Maintenance Excellence & Reliability Leader is responsible for establishing, leading, and continuously improving maintenance and reliability strategies across a division representing approximately $2 billion in annual revenue and more than 50 manufacturing facilities. This role serves as the division's Maintenance Excellence Champion, providing strategic leadership, governance, and technical direction to improve asset reliability, maintenance productivity, equipment performance, and overall manufacturing effectiveness. Will develop and deploy standardized maintenance and reliability processes, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and build organizational capability across the maintenance and engineering functions. This position plays a critical role in developing current and future Reliability Engineers, Plant Engineers, and Maintenance Managers while partnering with mill leadership teams to improve operational performance and asset utilization. The role will manage multiple Reliability Engineers to be deployed as Plant Engineers/Maintenance Managers. What you will be doing: Maintenance and Reliability Strategy Develop and lead the division-wide maintenance and reliability strategy to support business objectives, operational excellence, and long-term asset sustainability. Establish and maintain standardized maintenance excellence processes, systems, and best practices across all manufacturing facilities. Drive implementation of reliability-centered maintenance (RCM), predictive maintenance (PdM), preventive maintenance (PM), root cause analysis (RCA), and asset management programs. Champion a culture of reliability and continuous improvement throughout the division. Equipment Reliability Improvement Lead initiatives to improve equipment reliability, asset performance, uptime, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) across the division. Analyze reliability performance metrics, identify improvement opportunities, and develop action plans to reduce failures and production losses. Partner with operations, engineering, and plant leadership teams to improve critical asset performance and eliminate systemic equipment issues. Ensure consistent application of reliability engineering principles and failure elimination methodologies. Maintenance Productivity and Performance Establish division-wide maintenance KPIs, benchmarks, and performance expectations. Drive improvements in maintenance productivity, work execution, planning and scheduling effectiveness, wrench time, and maintenance cost performance. Lead optimization of maintenance work management processes, CMMS utilization, and workforce effectiveness. Support facilities in achieving operational reliability targets while balancing cost, risk, and asset life cycle considerations. Organizational Capability and Talent Development Serve as the functional leader for Reliability Engineers, Plant Engineers, and Maintenance Managers across the division. Develop succession plans, competency models, career progression frameworks, and training programs for maintenance and reliability professionals. Coach, mentor, and develop technical leaders to strengthen division-wide maintenance and engineering capabilities. Establish communities of practice and knowledge-sharing forums to accelerate adoption of best practices. Capital and Asset Management Collaborate with engineering and operational leadership to ensure reliability and maintainability are incorporated into capital projects and equipment design standards. Support long-range asset management planning and replacement strategies for critical equipment. Provide technical guidance on major equipment failures, outage planning, and reliability improvement investments. Evaluate emerging technologies and maintenance tools that enhance operational performance and asset reliability. Financial and Business Impact Partner with plant and division leadership to improve financial performance through enhanced reliability, increased productivity, reduced downtime, and optimized maintenance spending. Develop business cases and prioritize reliability improvement opportunities to maximize return on investment. Monitor maintenance and reliability performance across the division and communicate results to senior leadership. Safety and Compliance Promote an uncompromising commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance. Ensure maintenance and reliability programs support safe operating conditions and effective risk management. Support implementation of maintenance standards that align with company safety and operational requirements. This position will be in Hartsville, SC with some consideration for remote work depending on skillset and location. We'd love to hear from you if: Education Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a related technical field required. Advanced degree or professional certifications in Reliability Engineering, Maintenance Management, or Asset Management preferred. Experience Progressive maintenance, reliability, engineering, or manufacturing leadership experience within heavy industry, pulp and paper, forest products, chemicals, metals, or similar asset-intensive environments. Demonstrated success leading multi-site maintenance and reliability improvement initiatives across large manufacturing organizations. Experience developing maintenance excellence systems, reliability programs, and organizational capability. Proven ability to influence and drive results through plant leadership teams and cross-functional stakeholders. Technical Competencies Extensive knowledge of maintenance and reliability best practices, including preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance methodologies. Strong understanding of reliability engineering, asset management, root cause analysis, and failure elimination processes. Experience with CMMS platforms, maintenance planning and scheduling systems, and reliability analytics. Working knowledge of rotating equipment, power systems, process equipment, utilities, and manufacturing operations. Leadership Competencies Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business objectives into actionable reliability and maintenance strategies. Strong coaching, mentoring, and talent development capabilities. Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to work effectively across all organizational levels. Demonstrated ability to lead change, drive standardization, and achieve sustainable operational improvements. Additional Information Travel requirements include our paper mill, recycling and converting operations with 50%-75% likely travel. Additional duties as assigned Compensation: This is a progression position depending on experience and business needs. The annual base salary range for this role is as follows: Manager-Divisional Maintenance Excellence - $138,320 to $155,610 plus an annual target bonus of 12.5% of base salary. Senior Manager -Divisional Maintenance Excellence- $160,720- $180,810 plus an annual target bonus of 14.5% of base salary. #LI-CB1 At Sonoco Products Company, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive pay and benefits. *Benefits listed below are for employees located in the U.S. Specific benefits and wellbeing programs may vary depending on your location (within the U.S. or global), or if you are a union employee. Benefits Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options 401(k) retirement plan with company match Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services Paid time off and holidays to recreate, rejuvenate and care for the health of yourself and family Variety of company paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans including life, personal accident, and disability insurance Tuition reimbursement We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic. Founded in 1899, Sonoco (NYSE: SON) is a global leader in value-added, sustainable metal and fiber consumer and industrial packaging. The Company is now a multi-billion-dollar enterprise with approximately 22,500 employees working in 270 operations in 40 countries, serving some of the world’s best-known brands. Guided by our purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life., we strive to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and excellence to provide solutions that better serve all our stakeholders and support a more sustainable future. Sonoco was proudly named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek. Sonoco Privacy Policy

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...

Other Jobs To Apply

Polaris Inc is hiring: Digital Animation Intern in Medina

Neurologist (Remote | $200/hr)

Radiographic Testing/Computed Radiography/Non-Destructive Testing Technician II

Inpatient Coding Specialist, (Remote), Day Shift, Medical Coding

reputed company Production Artist for Remote Hobby Lobby Careers - Graphic Design & Art Department

Regional Sales Operations Manager - EMEA (Remote)

Video Editor/Producer - Remote Entry Level

Senior Medical Records Collector (Remote) (,, United States)

Work from Home Opportunity for Moms

Remote Luxury Fashion Event Account Executive

Senior Director of Marketing (Remote)

Work From Home

Government Travel Advisor Specialists - Sabre Experts ------Remote - Now Hiring

Regional Sales Manager (Remote, Pol)

Client work Deployment Strategist Full‐time Remote (US) View role →

Overnight Remote Customer Support Associate – reputed company Night‑Shift Role with $25‑$35/hr Compensation, No Experience Required, Work‑From‑Home

Online Chat Representative (Remote)

Fractional Accounting Contract

Remote - Graphic Designer (If local to Dallas, Monthly in-office is required)

Technical Director - Remote Work

Healthcare Agent Licensed Trainee (WFH in the following states: AZ. KY. TX. And FL.)

Remote MEDICAL ASSISTANT (FT) REMOTE JOB/WORK FROM HOME - BILINGUAL HIGHLY DESIRED

Program Manager, Government

Remote Norwegian Customer Advisor - Junior

American Remote Jobs, American Express Data Analyst Jobs @ Joblagii ( Senior Analyst )

Remote Outbound Sales Specialist — Flexible Hours

Manager, Care Management – Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma – RN

Delta Airlines Remote Customer Support - Work From Your Own Home

US GAAP CA - FP&A & Financial Reporting (Remote)

Payroll and Benefits Accountant at Innovu: 100% Remote (Pittsburgh, PA)

Netflix Work From Home (Remote) (Software Engineer)

American Airlines Data Entry Clerk (Remote)

Remote Data Entry Specialist – High‑Pay, Flexible Hours, reputed company & Part‑Time Opportunities – Up to $2,500 Weekly Potential

Sales Representative at Sysco: 100% Remote (Lake Saint Louis, MO, O'Fallon, St Peter's, Wentzville)

Remote Full Stack Engineer - Podcast

Remote Salesforce Program Leader - End-to-End Delivery

Underwriting Consultant at Pacific Life: 100% Remote (AZ)

[Hiring] Telehealth RPM @Telenett

The Notary Nomad - Work From Home San Jose, CA

Mechanical Engineer - Fully Remote | Up to $110/hr

Remote Grant Writing Consultant for Municipal Public Works

Remote Part-Time Dental Health Expert

Copy Editor - Fully Remote | Up to $75/hr

Adjunct Faculty, Department of Management - Open Pool

Remote Biology Researcher (PhD) - City and County of San Francisco

Weekend Remote Aesthetic Telehealth NP

Part-Time Educator | Greenwich, CT

TurboTax Product Expert (Work From Home)

Manager, Care Management – Humana Care Support

Per Diem Inpatient RN — Top Pay + $7 Shift Differential