Director, Strategic Sourcing

About the role

At Lactalis USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive. As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 professionals across the globe. In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands including Galbani®, Président®, Kraft®, Breakstone’s®, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond®, Parmalat®, siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, Mountain High®, Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

Lactalis lives by its core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity—and fosters a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued. Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply and share your passion, story, and expertise.

This leader can be based in any of our U.S. Headquarters: Bedford, NH; Buffalo, NY; Chicago, IL; or Minneapolis, MN.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute long-term purchasing strategies and implement short- and medium-term purchasing strategies, policies, practices, and systems.
• Collaborate with the global procurement team and local internal stakeholders across the organization.
• Lead a team of managers and professionals to ensure organizational goals—including total cost and supply objectives—are met.
• Oversee the development and execution of sourcing strategies across multiple categories, including targets, timelines, and resource plans.
• Manage global strategy and negotiation initiatives by providing pricing specifications, vendor listings, market intelligence, and negotiating at the local level.
• Ensure North American strategies and initiatives are implemented by the team.
• Develop long-term strategies and ensure local short- and medium-term sourcing strategies are executed using in-depth knowledge and analysis of key cost drivers.
• Own the budget portfolio for multiple categories with input from the Senior Director of Procurement and the global Strategic Procurement team.
• Account for the management of all contracts within category portfolios at the zone level, including qualifying vendors, tendering, negotiating, and implementing contracts.
• Lead cost and supply risk management by maintaining up-to-date knowledge of market changes, contracting in advance of concerns, or contracting low and long if price risk is identified, and finding or qualifying alternate vendors or materials.
• Serve as an intermediary for escalated issues with senior local leadership to ensure manufacturing plants follow proper purchasing procedures and communicate changes in purchasing policies and procedures.
• Identify and execute value analysis and vendor transfer savings opportunities as a cross-functional effort to deliver cost reduction targets and optimize performance measures such as on-time delivery, lead time, quality, flexibility, and supply continuity.
• Act as a cross-functional liaison by providing insight to senior leadership within Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, Quality, R&D, Sales, Marketing, and other key functional areas for effective project execution such as new launches, line extensions, and process optimization.
• Lead and manage the Canadian/US zone team by establishing goals and priorities, providing work direction, reviewing performance, supporting supplier interactions, and providing feedback.
• Work with the team to determine training and development needs and establish a high level of capability, knowledge, productivity, accountability, and decision-making within the Purchasing group.
• Champion the transfer of purchasing knowledge between all functional groups.
• Develop essential external supplier relationships to optimize supplier quality and performance, including continuous improvement, innovation, and reduction in total cost of ownership.
• Manage supplier quality and supplier non-conformance concerns.
• Support and manage company acquisitions with the support of the global procurement team.
• May be assigned to special projects by the Senior Director, Corporate Procurement.
• Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of Packaging Procurement team members in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws, including interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints; and resolving problems.

Work Conditions

• Travel up to 50% monthly.
• Extended hours may be necessary depending on project needs.
• Tools such as a computer, phone, and/or allowance(s) may be provided.
• A cell phone is required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties and responsibilities.
• This position requires physical presence in the office in accordance with the Hybrid Work Policy.
• Demonstrate commitment to a safe working environment that promotes the health and well-being of all employees and contributes to the Company’s overall performance and success.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, or another appropriate discipline is required.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of fifteen (15) years’ working experience.
  • Seven (7) to ten (10) years’ experience in a Procurement function, preferably at a food company.
  • Minimum 5 years management experience within plastic packaging categories (Flexible: films, pouches, sleeves).
  • Experience in negotiating complex multi-year agreements through RFP/RFQ bidding processes.
• Certifications and specific knowledge:
  • High level of initiative and strong interpersonal skills.
  • Good leadership and ability to interact with a wide variety of management levels and business situations.
  • Strong planning, project management, leadership, and execution skills.
  • Rigorous data-driven/analytical capability.
  • Strong negotiation skills and ability to positively influence others.
  • Ability to lead and motivate staff.
  • Strong presentation skills and ability to present to groups of various sizes and leadership levels.
  • Foundational knowledge of contract law and legal terms & conditions.
  • Foundational knowledge of financial statements and the impact of the role on the business.
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office, including advanced proficiency in MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options.
• Significant support for insurance costs.
• Generous contributions to retirement plans.
• Paid Time Off from day one.
• Professional growth opportunities, including Education Reimbursement.