Master Thesis opportunity, Operational Excellence

At Stora Enso, we are continuously improving efficiency across our operations to strengthen our competitive edge and drive operational excellence. As part of this journey, we are offering a master thesis opportunity focused on benchmarking productivity and identifying realistic, profitable improvement opportunities across our production sites.

Innovate for a better climate. Every day.

This project aims to define what “good” looks like in our industry by combining internal performance data with external benchmarks, supplier insights and world-class standards. Your work will help us understand where we stand today and how we can reach and sustain top-tier productivity.

Your Mission

• Establish clear productivity benchmarks using internal and external data
• Analyze the financial impact and savings potential of reaching benchmark levels
• Provide actionable recommendations to improve and maintain world-class productivity

You will visit selected production sites to observe operations, collect and analyze productivity data, and identify improvement areas. You will also engage with suppliers and interview internal and external stakeholders to gain a comprehensive view of the factors influencing performance.

For this position, you can plan your time and work flexibly from home or one of our offices, with additional visits to our factories as part of the project.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a strategic transformation while gaining hands-on experience in operational analysis, benchmarking and industrial productivity. After agreement with your university supervisor, the project scope and design will be tailored to suit your academic requirements, your interests and Stora Enso’s goals. We encourage you to apply as a thesis pair for optimal support and impact. You will belong to the Packaging Solutions business area. The project will be executed during the spring semester 2026, from January to June and therefor consists of 30 HP (Swedish university credits).

What We Offer

By writing your master thesis with Stora Enso you will get industry insights and valuable contacts for future work life while gaining valuable experience in a leading global company. After finishing your master thesis work with us we encourage you to apply for the offered scholarship from Ljungbergsfonden. They offer scholarships to Swedish university or college students for forestry-related projects carried out in collaboration with Stora Enso. Not the least, by joining Stora Enso for your master thesis project you will contribute towards a more sustainable world, as we believe that anything made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow.

Who are we looking for?

We believe you are in the final year of your master’s studies at a Swedish university, preferably within Industrial Engineering, Production Management, Operations Research, Supply Chain, or a related technical or business field. You are analytical, curious, and fluent in English.

How can you apply for this master thesis project?

To apply, submit your application through our recruitment tool. Include your CV and a cover letter. If applying as a thesis pair, send one joint application under one name. Attach both CVs and a shared cover letter. We review applications continuously, so apply as soon as possible and no later than October 13th. The position may be filled earlier, and the ad will then be removed.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding Partner Veera Kaislasalo, veera.kaislasalo@storaenso.com. She is more than happy to answer your questions.

Join the renewable materials company! 

The forest is at the heart of Stora Enso and we believe that everything made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. We are the leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. Stora Enso had approximately 19,000 employees at the end of 2024.

See our film: The high-performing teams behind our renewable materials