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.

Sonoco’s Reels and Plugs division is an industry leader in the production of industrial-grade packaging products for the paper industry. Sonoco Plugs stands out as the leading producer, recycler, and supplier of high‑quality molded wood core plugs—critical components in paper roll production, handling, and packaging. With a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and service, Sonoco supports papermills across North America and exports to major global markets, making it one of the most trusted names in core plug solutions worldwide.

The Business Segment Manager – Plugs is responsible for leading the strategic direction, growth, and performance of the plug product segment within the Reels & Plugs division. This role owns the overall plug business, serving as the primary commercial leader across key customer accounts, with a focus on strengthening mill-level relationships, expanding corporate engagement, and driving profitable growth.

This position operates without direct reports but requires strong cross-functional leadership and influence, partnering closely with regional Account Managers and Customer Service teams to ensure alignment, accountability, and execution of business objectives.

What you'll be doing:

Own the commercial performance of the plug segment, including revenue growth, margin improvement, and market share expansion
Develop and execute segment-level strategic plans aligned with division and company objectives
Identify and prioritize growth opportunities across existing and prospective customers
Establish and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders at customer mills
Expand engagement at the corporate level to influence broader sourcing strategies and long-term partnerships
Serve as the primary escalation point for customer concerns related to the plug segment
Identify new applications, product innovations, and value-added opportunities within existing accounts
Partner with internal teams (engineering, operations, product development) to deliver tailored solutions
Drive pipeline development and conversion of strategic opportunities
Provide direction and commercial leadership to regional Account Managers supporting plug accounts
Drive accountability for execution of segment strategies at the regional level
Collaborate with Customer Service to ensure high levels of responsiveness, accuracy, and customer satisfaction
Align internal stakeholders around priorities, forecasts, and customer expectations
Monitor and analyze segment performance, including sales trends, profitability, and customer activity
Develop forecasts and provide regular updates to senior leadership
Use data and insights to inform decision-making and continuous improvement

This is a remote position with the ideal location in the Southeastern US: AL, GA, SC, TX, AR,LA.

We'd love to hear from you if:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related field required
7–10+ years of experience in sales, account management, or commercial leadership within manufacturing or industrial environments
Experience managing large, multi-site customer relationships (mill experience strongly preferred)
Strong strategic thinking and business acumen
Proven ability to influence without direct authority
Excellent relationship-building and communication skills across all organizational levels
Demonstrated success in driving growth within existing accounts
Ability to navigate complex customer organizations and decision-making processes
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
Ability to “own the business” while working through others
Effective alignment of regional teams to a unified segment strategy
Deep understanding of customer operations and needs at both mill and corporate levels
Consistent delivery of growth and customer satisfaction

Compensation:

The annual base salary range for this role is from $121,834 to $137,064, plus annual commission plan.

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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.