Director, Farm Relationship and Procurement

Description Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose. 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, Président® 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 is currently hiring a Director, Farm Relationship & Procurement. This position is hybrid and can be located in Bedford, NH, Buffalo, NY, or Chicago, IL. The Director, Farm Relationship & Procurement will be accountable for building and leading Lactalis USA’s direct producer strategy and network, ensuring a sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective milk supply. This executive leadership role oversees farm relationships, producer payroll and incentive programs, sustainability initiatives, contract negotiations, forecasting, and budget management. The Director serves as the primary liaison between Lactalis and its producer network while partnering closely with senior leaders across Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, and Marketing. This role reports to the VP, Milk Collection (USA) and leads a team of Farm Relationship Managers. From your EXPERTISE to ours Lead Lactalis USA’s direct producer strategy, including recruitment, onboarding, retention, and long-term network development across conventional, organic, and specialty milk categories. Provide leadership, coaching, and development to the Farm Relationship Management team, fostering accountability, engagement, and high performance. Serve as the primary executive contact for producers, ensuring transparent communication and strong alignment with business objectives. Lead contract negotiations with producers to secure competitive, market-aligned agreements that balance quality, sustainability, cost, and supply reliability. Manage contract execution, compliance, and renewal processes in partnership with Legal and Procurement Operations. Represent Lactalis in dairy councils, producer organizations, sustainability forums, and other industry groups. Own direct milk supply forecasting, budgeting, and monthly financial reporting in partnership with Corporate Finance. Monitor milk costs, incentive payouts, route efficiency, and program performance while driving operational and financial improvements. Provide market intelligence and financial insights that support strategic decision-making across the organization. Oversee producer payroll administration to ensure compliance with Federal Milk Marketing Orders and USDA requirements. Design, implement, and govern producer incentive programs, including quality, component, and sustainability initiatives. Lead producer sustainability engagement efforts, supporting National Dairy FARM Program participation and Scope 3/ESG objectives. Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, and Marketing leadership to align producer capabilities with customer expectations and brand commitments. Translate producer insights into actionable business strategies that strengthen Lactalis’s competitive position and support long-term growth. Work Conditions Travel may be required up to 40% of the time. Extended hours may be necessary based on business and project needs. Company-provided tools, equipment, and/or allowances will be available as required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This position requires physical presence in the office in accordance with the Company’s Hybrid Work Policy. Requirements From your STORY to ours Education Bachelor's degree required, or equivalent combination of education and 15+ years of relevant experience. Degree concentration in Business, Agriculture, Dairy Science, or a related field preferred. MBA preferred. Requirements 15+ years of experience in dairy procurement, producer relations, cooperative leadership, or dairy processing environments. 10+ years of people leadership experience preferred. 5+ years of senior leadership experience. Proven success in contract negotiations and financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L accountability. Demonstrated executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and represent the organization externally. Knowledge of the organic dairy market required. FARM Certification preferred. Skills / Knowledge Strong leadership, communication, and relationship management capabilities. Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams. Deep understanding of producer sustainability programs, including FARM pillars and ESG frameworks. Strong knowledge of Federal Milk Marketing Order pricing, USDA requirements, and producer payroll processes. Expertise in procurement strategy, supplier management, category management, cost management, and negotiation. Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to convert data into actionable insights. Experience leading organizational change and cross-functional initiatives. Competencies Leadership and impact through positive influence, accountability, and team engagement. Talent development, coaching, and performance management. Milk management expertise, including producer support, payments, logistics, and supply chain coordination. Strong understanding of the agricultural business environment. Advanced supplier relationship management and procurement leadership. Strategic negotiation and commercial management capabilities. Analytical problem-solving and data-driven decision-making. Change management and stakeholder alignment expertise. Commitment to Lactalis values of Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. Demonstrated leadership behaviors centered on Care, Share, Dare, and Inspire. 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. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.