Emerging Leader

Sonoco • Dalton, GA

3d • $77,000 - $85,000

About The Position

Sonoco’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is a selective, full-time career program for professionals starting their careers with the company. It offers hands-on experience, leadership development, coaching, and opportunities to connect with business leaders. The program is designed to build leadership skills, technical knowledge, business skills, and understanding of Sonoco’s culture and processes. Participants gain insight into their leadership style and contribute through project work.

The program includes operational development through role-specific technical training; personal development in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and conflict management; and leadership development in communicating vision, increasing engagement, managing change, and establishing trust through results and relationships.

Positions are associated with Dalton, Georgia; Hartsville, South Carolina; Newport, Tennessee; Neenah, Wisconsin; and Columbia, South Carolina. Candidates are matched to positions based on their experience and location needs, and should remain flexible about location preferences. The role may involve relocation immediately or later in a career at Sonoco. The annual base salary range is $77,000–$85,000 for engineering/technical degrees and $68,000–$71,000 for business/non-technical degrees. Sonoco describes its total rewards package as including competitive pay and benefits, with specific benefits varying by location and union status.

Requirements

• Have or expect to obtain a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering by December 2026 or May 2027.
• Demonstrate strong ethics and a passion for innovation.
• Have proven leadership experience.
• Have a desire to work in a manufacturing environment.
• Have technical aptitude.
• Have strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Be open to possible relocation and flexible with location preferences.

Nice To Haves

• Previous internship experience, preferably in manufacturing or a functional area.

Responsibilities

• Complete role-specific technical training as part of operational development.
• Develop self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and conflict management skills.
• Learn to communicate vision, increase engagement, manage change, and establish trust through results and relationships.
• Contribute to Sonoco through project work.
• Remain open to relocation immediately or in the future and flexible about location preferences.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, including FSA and HSA options.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Wellbeing tools and resources, including an Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Company-paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans, including life, personal accident, and disability insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level