Smurfit Westrock a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging, operates in 40 countries with over 500 packaging converting operations and 63 paper mills. We offer an unparalleled portfolio of innovative packaging solutions, ranging from corrugated and consumer packaging to Bag-in-Box® packaging and point-of-sale displays. With the circular economy at the core of our business, we use renewable, recyclable and recycled materials to create sustainable packaging solutions. As a trusted partner to companies across the world, Smurfit Westrock is dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. We are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate. Learn more at .
Fiber Supply Intern – 2025
The Opportunity
Smurfit Westrock's opportunity for Internships with our Fiber Supply team. As a leading provider of paper products and packaging solutions, we seek to hire the best and brightest talent across our organization.
To ensure the continued growth and excellence, we recruit and develop talent across our system, while offering a competitive hourly rate and assistance where needed in lodging for the local area.
What You Will Do
Fiber Supply Forest Resources Intern
An Opportunity to learn Smurfit Westrock’s Fiber Supply Safety Culture and requirements:
Summer Intern Project: Each intern is assigned a project to develop and execute during the intern period. The project will allow the student the opportunity to learn and gain exposure to Smurfit Westrock’s virgin fiber procurement operations. The project will be complete, and findings are summarized through the final project presentation that is then presented to senior leadership at the conclusion of the internship period.
The internship is an opportunity to learn and apply current knowledge through exposure to all facets of the fiber procurement operations and associated supply chains including:
Timber/tract evaluations – timber cruising, soil evaluation, topography impacts, product quality GIS analysis, GPS data collection, and pricing
Markets – internal and external competition and market impacts to logging capacity and fiber pricings
Fiber purchasing techniques and types – direct stumpage (pay as cut/lump sums), open market, residuals, biomass
Fiber handling – Mill woodyards, chip mills, Wet Storage facilities, harvesting operations
Sustainability – Fiber certification requirements, Best Management Practices, ATFS certification process
Learn and display through actions the Smurfit Westrock values, behaviors and the culture of safety and environmental compliance.
Communicate effectively with all stakeholders including peers, the fiber procurement team, management, landowners, and suppliers in verbal and written form related to relevant operations, strategies, and status of execution.
Fiber Supply Intern- Recycle Fiber Intern
An Opportunity to learn Smurfit Westrock’s Fiber Supply Safety Culture and requirements:
Summer Intern Project: Each intern is assigned a project to develop and execute during the intern period. The project will allow the student the opportunity to learn and gain exposure to Smurfit Westrock’s recycle fiber procurement operations. The project will be complete, and findings are summarized through the final project presentation that is then presented to senior leadership at the conclusion of the internship period.
The internship is an opportunity to learn and apply current knowledge through exposure to all facets of the fiber procurement operations and associated supply chains including:
Fiber grade and grade quality evaluations – learning different fiber grades/specifications and quality ratings by grade, visiting supply points to evaluate their product
Markets – understanding relationships of internal and external competition and the impacts to the market based on consumption capacity and fiber pricings
Fiber supplier types – learn difference between retail, grocery, pre/post-consumer generation and short term versus long term relationships
Fiber logistics and bale integrity – understanding importance delivery timing, loading/unloading procedures, and storage capabilities
Sustainability – Fiber certification requirements, Best Management Practices, FSC certification, and chain of custody
Learn and display through actions the Smurfit Westrock values, behaviors and the culture of safety and environmental compliance.
Communicate effectively with all stakeholders including peers, the fiber procurement team, management, and suppliers in verbal and written form related to relevant operations, strategies, and status of execution.
Fiber Supply- Recycle Plant Operations Intern
An Opportunity to learn Smurfit Westrock’s Fiber Supply Safety Culture and requirements:
Summer Intern Project: Each intern is assigned a project to develop and execute during the intern period. The project will allow the student the opportunity to learn and gain exposure to Smurfit Westrock’s recycle fiber procurement operations. The project will be complete, and findings are summarized through the final project presentation that is then presented to senior leadership at the conclusion of the internship period.
The internship is an opportunity to learn and apply current knowledge through exposure to all facets of the fiber plant operations and associated supply chains including:
Recycle Plant Operations – learn strategic approach to controlling cost within budgetary limits to achieve profitability while maintaining routine preventative maintenance to ensure maximum productivity
Quality – understanding of quality control measures and systems to ensure compliance with customer specifications
Fiber Procurement – gain knowledge of fiber acquisition and sales of recycle fiber from new customers and management of existing customer relations
Logistics – understanding importance of delivery timing, loading/unloading procedures, and storage capabilities
Learn and display through actions the Smurfit Westrock values, behaviors and the culture of safety and environmental compliance.
Communicate effectively with all stakeholders including peers, the plant operations and procurement team, management, and suppliers in verbal and written form related to relevant operations, strategies, and status of execution.
What You Need to Succeed
Student must be currently enrolled and pursuing a degree in one of the following: Forestry, Forest Resources, Fiber Supply, Wood and Paper Science or other closely related field.
Eagerness to learn and grow in a fast pace environment, Energetic, self-starting
Ability to communicate in an effective manner (verbal and written skills)
Display integrity and work ethics through applying current level of knowledge to assist with the summer intern project and provide support to the procurement staff as needed.
Student must have strong technical and analytical skills, including a basic working knowledge of GIS &GPS
Research ability, problem solving skills, attention to detail and critical thinking abilities demonstrated thorough a competitive academic record and the interview.
Basic understanding and working knowledge of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office Suite
Clean MVR record and personal automobile insurance liabilities that are within Smurfit Westrock guidelines
Alignment with Smurfit Westrock Values of Integrity, Respect, Accountability, and Excellence
What You Will Learn
Negotiation – The ability to effectively produce outcomes to a situation to the best long-term benefit of the organization. Recognizes the degree of impact both short term and long term to all parties and makes best decisions to secure desired result.
Business Acumen – The understanding of the financial, operational, and commercial impacts to delivering results to an organization. Ability to use that information to drive a strategy with understanding of risk and reward potential in both the long and short term.
Project management – The ability to influence multiple stakeholders through a multi-step project to achieve agreed upon deliverables on time and budget.
Manufacturing supply chain – The interconnection of logistics, inventory, supply & demand and how it impacts choices in the market.
Continuous Improvement/Lean Principles – The tools and thought processes that lead manufacturing businesses to be more profitable, efficient, and effective in meeting the customer needs.
Enterprise Perspective – The development of perspective broadly across the system and competing metrics.
What We Offer
Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence
Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities
Competitive hourly rate and assistance where needed in lodging for the local area.
A potential career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.
Smurfit WestRock is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse workforce: Minorities/Females/ Disabled/Veterans.