HR Transformation Specialist

Smurfit Westrock • Atlanta, GA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Smurfit Westrock is seeking an HR Transformation Specialist to design and improve end-to-end employee lifecycle processes, lead cross-functional transformation initiatives, and advance operational excellence across North America Human Resources. The role connects HR Centers of Excellence, HR Operations, Shared Services, HRIS, and business stakeholders to translate HR strategy into simplified, scalable, and sustainable ways of working.

The position will align to one of three HR process centers according to business needs and the selected candidate’s experience: Talent (including talent acquisition, onboarding, performance, learning, development, and succession); Total Rewards (including compensation, benefits, payroll, mobility, recognition, well-being, and retirement); or HR Technology (including HRIS, data and analytics, workflow automation, technology enablement, integrations, and digital employee experience).

The specialist assesses current processes and designs integrated, employee-centered future-state processes; establishes ownership, governance, decision rights, controls, measures, and documentation; and identifies opportunities to simplify or automate work. The role leads transformation from assessment through implementation, adoption, and stabilization, while managing project plans, cross-functional coordination, risks, reporting, and continuous-improvement activities.

The position is based at the Atlanta, Georgia headquarters. Relocation support is not available. Candidates must undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional offer and before starting employment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Technology, Operations, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in HR transformation, project or program management, process improvement, HR operations, HR technology, an HR Center of Excellence, or a related function.
• Experience mapping and redesigning end-to-end processes and implementing future-state solutions.
• Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders, drive accountability, and lead initiatives without direct authority.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and create structure in a complex transformation environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting Talent, Total Rewards, or HR Technology processes.
• PMP, Lean, Six Sigma, Prosci, or related certification.
• Experience working in a large, complex, matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

• Map and assess current-state employee lifecycle processes, experiences, handoffs, systems, and decision points.
• Design integrated, employee-centered, scalable future-state processes aligned with business needs.
• Define process ownership, governance, decision rights, controls, measures, and supporting documentation.
• Identify gaps, bottlenecks, duplication, and opportunities to simplify or automate work.
• Connect the assigned process center with HRBPs, other Centers of Excellence, HR Operations, Shared Services, HRIS, and business stakeholders.
• Facilitate workshops, working sessions, and decision forums to build alignment and resolve cross-functional issues.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, dependencies, and handoffs across teams.
• Influence stakeholders without direct authority, build commitment, and drive accountability for decisions and deliverables.
• Lead process transformation from current-state assessment through future-state design, implementation, adoption, and stabilization.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable transformation roadmaps and implementation plans.
• Anticipate resistance, surface risks, and support change adoption through engagement and communication.
• Implement approved recommendations and sustain changes through governance and performance routines.
• Develop and manage project charters, workplans, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, and success measures.
• Coordinate cross-functional resources, track and report progress, and escalate barriers to enable timely decisions.
• Apply continuous-improvement methods to simplify work, improve service delivery, reduce variation, and establish sustainable standards, controls, and KPIs.
• Use data and stakeholder feedback to identify root causes, prioritize opportunities, and evaluate results.

Benefits

• Comprehensive training and development opportunities.
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.
• Value-driven culture focused on safety, loyalty, integrity, and respect.
• Career with a global packaging leader where sustainability, safety, and inclusion are foundational.

What This Job Offers

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