Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing - Cheese

Job Type
Full-time
Description
TITLE: Strategic SourcingSenior Manager - Cheese
DEPARTMENT: Corporate Procurement
REPORTS TO: Associate Procurement Director - NORAM Cheese
Lactalis USA is currently seeking candidates to join our team in Chicago.
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 opportunity for career development, we want to hear from you!
Lactalis USA: inviting you to share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE.
From your PASSION to our
The Strategic SourcingSenior Manager - LAN Cheese, under the guidance of the Associate Director Procurement - NORAM Cheese, will assist in the execution of a supply strategy for managing Lactalis' US cheese network and will provide local support to Lactalis Heritage Dairy (LHD) and Lactalis American Group (LAG) as a part of the broader Lactalis North America Procurement organization. This position will be expected to provide a high level of service and support for internal stakeholders by developing a deep understanding of affiliate business needs, providing detailed analysis of spend data and financial results, playing a key role in supplier relationship and performance management, and by providing necessary support for new product innovation and supply chain sustainability. The focus of this position will be primarily in support for activities in the United States, with occasional support provided as needed for general purchasing activities and/or cheese needs of Canada and Global teams.
From your EXPERTISE to ours
Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Responsible for cheese-related purchasing activities and internal customer service for LHD and LAG.
• Participates in the implementation and management of a strategy for the US cheese portfolio, making sure the needs and specifications of the business unit are considered.
• Responsible for the preparation of bid requests, negotiating pricing contracts, and analyzing and summarizing supply agreement/contract proposals for Procurement Director and/or Procurement VP review and approval.
• Review spend, contract and market analysis for all categories.
• Actively supports supplier relationship management, including in the construction of annual supplier performance reviews, monthly order compliance, innovation and productivity project brainstorming, supplier price and SAP contract management. Prepares and presents budgets with support from the Procurement Director. Reviews and presents on monthly performance through Purchase Price Variance (PPV) reports.
• Identifies and executes cost savings initiatives and develops a pipeline of future cost savings opportunities. Delivering cost reduction targets while also optimizing other performance measures such as on-time delivery, product quality improvement, lead-time reduction, etc.
• Provides cross functional support for other internal departments and serves as primary point of contact at business units for questions or problem solving related to cheese supplier management.
• Risk management lead, develops and executes strategies on both buying physical and hedging.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements
From your STORY to ours
Qualified applicants will contribute the following:
Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required (Ag Econ, Economics, Finance, Engineering desired)
• Minimum 7-10 years of experience research, commodities and/or procurement experience required, preferably at a Dairy/ Food company
• Dairy commodities/risk management experience required
• Rigorous data driven/analytical capability and ability to present data to a leadership level
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Good communication and management (direct and cross functional) skills
• Demonstrated success in delivering cost savings through supplier negotiation, component cost evaluation and transparent upstream cost model development
• Strong computer knowledge of Microsoft products (Excel/Word/PowerPoint)
• Proficient using SAP or comparable business systems solutions knowledge
• Experience in global company purchasing environment preferred
• Bilingual (French/English) is an asset but not a requirement

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines within specified time constraints
• Ability to operate in an open and collaborative in a team environment with the ability to motivate
• Ability to adapt in a changing work environment
• Ability to travel within the United States, with occasional travel to Canada and internationally, approximately 20% of the time
• As required provide support for other categories within Procurement

Lactalis Heritage Dairy 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.