Senior Manager, Strategic Category

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, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Senior Manager, Strategic Category based in Bedford, NH, Chicago, IL, Buffalo, NY, or Minneapolis, MN.

The Senior category manager as a key member of the North American Strategic Procurement team is responsible for developing and implementing short-, medium- and long-term purchasing strategies that deliver best-in-class results in the areas of people, processes, costs, as well as the implementation and ongoing integrity of purchasing policies, practices, and systems. He/she works in strong collaboration and has to develop relationships/network with the global procurement team. This position advises on short, medium-term and long-term sourcing strategies, and assures progress against project timelines and deliverables. This person used to work in a global and matrixial organization. Ensure that overall focus is consistent with overall goals of the organization and that services provided by the team are responsive to the areas of the company within the USA and Canada. He/she operates under the leadership of the Senior Director Direct Procurement. 

Requirements

From your EXPERTISE to ours 

Key responsibilities for this position include: 

• Prepare its Budget with input on the Budget Assumptions from the Senior director Procurement and the global Strategic procurement team
• Support all strategic procurement activities for all 7 different divisions in USA and Canada
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for all category responsibilities. Present and support strategies to internal stakeholders
• Develop strategical partnership with key suppliers
• Identify and execute negotiation cost savings initiatives
• Cross functional support on global strategy & negotiation initiatives led by the global procurement team by providing information such as pricing specifications and vendor listings, market intelligence and negotiating at local level for finalization.
• Support and manage company acquisition and work cross functional with the global procurement team and others company functions
• Through in-depth knowledge and analysis of key cost drivers, develop local sourcing strategies, qualify vendors, tender, negotiate, implement and manage all contracts for the category at the zone level and for all the various divisions.
• Partner with and provide purchasing support and insight to the other functions within all Lactalis North American divisions as required
• Identify and execute value analysis and vendor transfer savings opportunities as a cross-functional effort to deliver cost reduction targets and optimize other performance measures
• Potentially lead and manage direct report by establishing goals and priorities, providing work direction, reviewing performance, providing work support with suppliers and providing feedback, and in conjunction with the Sr Director, determining training and development needs
• Perform administrative duties such as tracking cost savings initiatives and providing monthly status reports

Work Conditions

• Travel is required up to 25% monthly.
• Extended hours may be necessary depending on the project needs.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties and responsibilities.
• This position requires physical presence in the office, in accordance with the guidelines of the Hybrid Work Policy.
• Demonstrate commitment to a safe working environment that promotes the health and well-being of all employees and that will further contribute to the Company’s overall performance and success.

From your STORY to ours 

Qualified applicants will contribute the following: 

Education

• Bachelor's degree is required.

Experience

• 6+ years of procurement function in a related field or category, preferably at a food company, is required.

Certifications and specific knowledge 

• Proficient with Microsoft Office products, SAP or similar business systems experience.
• Experience in negotiating complex multi-year agreements through RFP/ RFQ bidding processes
• Packaging experience preferred.

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.