Manager, Milk Procurement

Job Description

Job Description

Description :

Lactalis USA is currently seeking candidates to join our Milk Procurement team in Buffalo, NY.

Lactalis Group, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day.

At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION , ENGAGEMENT , and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do.

If you’re looking for a unique experience with a company that offers strong brands, professional expertise, and a dynamic work environment that champions entrepreneurial spirit, hands-on responsibility, and real opportunities for career development, we want to hear from you!

At Lactalis USA we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and we know that our candidates come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.

If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we still encourage you to apply and share with us your STORY , your PASSION , and your EXPERTISE ! You may be just the perfect candidate for this or other roles within our company.

From your PASSION to ours

The Milk Procurement Manager will be primarily responsible for managing milk procurement operations for our Buffalo NY and Walton NY facilities, with the potential to add additional locations in the future.

This role involves developing strong relationships with direct dairy patrons supplying milk to Lactalis manufacturing plants, ensuring a high-quality milk supply, and overseeing accurate component sampling, testing, and recording.

The role will also involve managing the timing of deliveries, logistics, pricing, and milk hauling responsibilities. Supervise direct employees and an Intern as assigned from time to time.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include :

• Develop & execute plans to manage milk inventory within targets, including scheduling milk movement around planned plant down days.
• Foster and further develop existing relationships with Direct and Cooperative Milk Suppliers for Lactalis plants.
• Travel to establish and maintain strong working relationships with co-op testing labs, milk supply managers, and dairy producers.
• Develop relationships with milk haulers and coordinate hauling with farms, including managing logistics on down days (e.g., storms).
• Manage milk procurement budgeting, including tracking and maintaining a large budget as milk is the company's largest cost.
• Ensure timely milk deliveries and assess risks associated with inventory levels to prevent shortages or surpluses.
• Manage payment processes for milk producers, oversee programs for farmers, and engage with prospective farms for partnership opportunities.
• Handle the timing of deliveries, logistics, pricing, and management of milk hauling responsibilities.
• Report weight variance results to cooperatives, direct producers, haulers, and drivers.
• Investigate causes for milk component variances, analyze trends, and make recommendations to reduce variances; complete physical observations in RSPC receiving bays and testing labs.
• Share editing of milk slips in partnership with Milk Accounting, Corporate AP, and Plant Controllers.
• Cross-train to provide support and coverage for responsibilities as assigned, especially for PTO coverage.
• Demonstrate leadership ability in managing the milk procurement annual budget file, ensuring accurate numbers for each Lactalis plant.
• Become proficient in balancing and invoicing farm milk and cream; produce invoice data for Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable when direct producer milk is sold to other plants.
• Provide support on other projects as needed to accomplish tasks as appropriately assigned or requested.
• Work with other departments to achieve weekly overall company objectives.
• Serve as the primary manager of the inbound milk supply to the South Park Plant in Buffalo NY.
• This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, I-Pad, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Supervisory Responsibilities : May Supervise employees in the Milk Procurement Department across NYS including an occasional intern.

Incumbent is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these units in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

Responsibilities include interviewing and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance;

rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Requirements :

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following :

Education

Preferred Bachelor’s degree. Major in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business, Animal Science, Business Management, or Accounting are strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 6+ years’ experience in a manufacturing environment and / or within the dairy industry is highly desirable.
• Must have previous procurement experience. Dairy / Milk preferred, however food ingredient procurement acceptable.

Specialized Knowledge

• An understanding of all phases of the raw milk procurement functions supporting a major dairy / food organization or manufacturer producing a substantial amount and variety of dairy products.
• Managing budgets.

Skills / Abilities

• Excellent presentation and communication skills are required.
• Computer skills needed include Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Dairy.com and DSI Milk Software.
• Strong MS Excel and spreadsheet skills required.

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.