Student Associate - Global Continuous Improvement

TOPPAN Packaging • Charlotte, NC

23d • $16 - $20 • Onsite

About The Position

The Student Associate supports the rollout, standardization, and effective use of digital applications across TOPPAN Packaging Americas’ global manufacturing sites. The primary focus is POKA, the company’s connected worker platform, with additional support for other operations applications as needed. Reporting directly to the Global Continuous Improvement & Safety Manager, the associate puts the manager’s priorities, rollout approach, platform structure, and global standards into practice and works with plants to encourage consistent adoption and use.

This is an onsite position based at the Charlotte, North Carolina office in South End. The role is intended for a college junior, senior, or graduate studying Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field. Compensation depends on college year: $15.50 for freshmen, $16.25 for sophomores, $18.00 for juniors, and $19.50 for seniors.

TOPPAN Packaging Americas designs and manufactures sustainable, high-performance flexible and thermoformed packaging solutions for food, beverage, medical, and consumer goods industries. It operates as part of the global TOPPAN group, with 22 manufacturing facilities across North America, Latin America, and Europe.

Requirements

• Be a college junior, senior, or graduate.
• Major in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Be organized and detail-oriented, and be comfortable tracking multiple projects and following up with different teams.
• Communicate clearly and enjoy working with people across different countries, cultures, and time zones.
• Be comfortable with Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams, and able to learn new digital applications quickly.
• Have an interest in manufacturing, continuous improvement, digital tools, and employee training.
• Be able to work independently within established guidelines, suggest improvements, and seek alignment before changing shared standards.
• Be adaptable and comfortable supporting different operational priorities as business needs evolve.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with POKA, SharePoint, Power BI, Power Automate, or similar applications; experience is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Help onboard plants and users to POKA through site setup, training, and launch support.
• Coordinate with site continuous improvement coordinators and local teams to execute rollout plans, track milestones, and follow up on outstanding actions.
• Implement and maintain approved naming conventions, equipment structures, content organization, and templates across sites.
• Review platform setup and content against global standards, help sites correct gaps, and escalate issues or proposed exceptions to the Global Continuous Improvement & Safety Manager.
• Follow up with plants to encourage active and correct use of POKA in daily operations.
• Help address adoption barriers and identify additional training or support needs.
• Help organize work instructions, training materials, and shared knowledge, working with site owners to keep information accurate and current.
• Develop practical user guides, answer routine questions, and coordinate technical issues with appropriate support teams.
• Monitor platform usage, training completion, and adoption; provide regular updates on progress, gaps, and required actions.
• Share best practices across plants and help teams incorporate POKA into daily operations, continuous improvement activities, and safety programs.
• Promote the use of AI across platforms, including POKA AI and Copilot.
• Support evaluation, rollout, and improvement of other operations applications, as well as related reporting and process improvement projects, as directed by the Global Continuous Improvement & Safety Manager.

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.
• Competitive pay and programs supporting employee wellbeing and professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed