Project Director, Yogurt, Utilities & Environment

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At Lactalis in the USA, we're committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive-whether you're just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we're proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values-Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster 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. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis USA, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Project Director, Yogurt, Utilities & Environment based in Londonderry, NH.

We are seeking a dynamic Project Director to lead and manage our Yogurt, Utilities & Environment Project Management teams. You will be instrumental in overseeing projects related to Yogurt, Utilities, and Environment equipment across all our manufacturing facilities, guiding them from the initial design stages through to successful and complete implementation. A key focus will be on ensuring these projects effectively support plant operations while strictly adhering to local regulatory requirements. This role necessitates close collaboration with fellow Project Directors and plant-based teams to guarantee seamless and well-coordinated project rollouts that minimize any disruption to ongoing plant processes.

You will be the primary point of contact for all financial matters and project schedules related to LUSY Capex projects, providing regular and comprehensive status reports to the LUSY VP of Manufacturing.

This role requires significant travel, estimated at 50-80%, to our various plant locations in NY, WI, CA, ID, NH, VT, AZ, TN, & MI, as well as to the sites of our equipment manufacturers and vendors, both within the United States and internationally.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Provide leadership and direction to a team of Project Managers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Ensure the successful completion of all project management responsibilities within the team.
• Recruit, develop, and evaluate the performance of project management team members.
• Facilitate regular team meetings to ensure alignment on project goals, progress, and challenges.
• Maintain a comprehensive LUSY active project report, providing timely updates on project status (schedule and financial) to the LUSA Director and LUSY VP of Manufacturing.
• Champion continuous learning by organizing and participating in training on relevant global/local regulations and company standards/goals.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the company by analyzing long-term plans and identifying key project opportunities.
• Lead audits of manufacturing plants (Yogurt, Utilities & Environment) to identify and prioritize needs for major maintenance, upgrades, and replacements.
• Prepare comprehensive Capex project documentation for annual stakeholder presentations.
• Monitor and analyze key financial metrics related to LUSY division capital expenditures.
• Establish and maintain a centralized and easily accessible repository for all documentation related to Yogurt, Utilities & Environment projects.
• Actively research and evaluate new technologies to drive innovation and continuous improvement within our manufacturing processes.
• Champion and implement effective project management principles across all team activities.
• Lead and contribute to the development of the annual capital budget.
• Willingness to travel and adjust work hours as required by project demands.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

• A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering.
• 5+ years of progressive experience leading and developing project management teams within a manufacturing environment (food industry experience is a significant plus).
• Deep-seated expertise in Yogurt production systems.
• Comprehensive knowledge of heating, cooling, and air handling systems.
• A strong understanding of Waste Water Treatment Plant operations and systems.
• A track record of successfully optimizing complex industrial systems.
• Experience driving impactful energy saving projects.
• Experience contributing to carbon footprint reduction efforts.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (including macros and pivot tables), and familiarity with AutoCAD for reviewing building, equipment, and P&ID drawings.
• A thorough understanding of regulatory requirements from agencies such as USDA, FDA, OSHA, and DEQ, including PSM and PHA.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a passion for process improvement.
• The ability to conduct thorough audits, perform insightful investigations, and implement effective improvements to manufacturing processes.
• Outstanding communication skills to effectively engage with both internal and external partners.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills, with a proven ability to prioritize, follow up, and drive projects forward.
• A proactive and continuous improvement-oriented approach.
• The capacity to work autonomously and manage responsibilities with minimal oversight.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel extensively, both nationally and internationally, to plant and vendor locations.
• The ability to assess team performance, provide effective training, and address disciplinary matters when necessary.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively (50-80%) to support project needs across various plant locations and vendor sites, both domestically and internationally.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.