Sr. Process Project Manager

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, 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 Sr. Process Project Manager based in Casa Grande, Arizona. As a Senior Yogurt Process Project Manager, the role will carry out responsibilities such as but not limited to leading and executing strategic capital investment and process improvement projects that enhance the design, performance, and reliability of our yogurt manufacturing operations. The role includes overseeing projects from concept through full implementation, ensuring alignment with corporate standards, plant operational needs, and product quality expectations. Responsibilities include driving process design, managing cross-functional project teams, supporting production and quality operations, and ensuring successful commissioning of new or upgraded yogurt processing systems. Additionally, the Senior Yogurt Process Project Manager will collaborate with other Lactalis USA Corporate team members, the Lactalis Group Corporate Engineering & Equipment Department, R&D, Quality, Finance, and Plant Engineering and Operations teams to align duties with the company's goals and values.

• Define project objectives, deliverables, and performance criteria to support strategic business goals within yogurt manufacturing and processing.
• Conduct site assessments and feasibility studies to evaluate technical constraints, operational impacts, and cost-benefit considerations.
• Partner with Key Stakeholders at Corporate and Plant level - including Production, Quality, Planning, R&D, Finance, Safety, Maintenance, and Engineering - to obtain buy-ins and to ensure that project designs meet business, operational, and regulatory expectations.
• Develop complete project packages including process flow diagrams, P&IDs, equipment layouts, scopes of work, cost estimates, timelines, ROI, and risk assessments required for capital project justification and submittal.
• Identify, evaluate, and prequalify suppliers, engineering firms, and equipment vendors aligned with corporate standards and yogurt processing technology requirements.
• Lead vendor negotiations to secure competitive quotations for capital assets, installation services, and engineering support.
• Prepare comparative analyses and recommendations for purchasing decisions and capital investment approvals.
• Lead end-to-end project management for yogurt process initiatives, from conceptual design through commissioning, ramp up, project closure, and handover.
• Maintain and distribute comprehensive Project Schedules, identify critical paths, implement mitigation initiatives, and propose acceleration plans to ensure all projects are completed in accordance with the timelines in the Savings Plans and ROI calculations.
• Coordinate and facilitate project review meetings, develop and distribute meeting minutes, and escalate issues or risks to key stakeholders as required.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), and commissioning activities to ensure equipment performance aligns with specifications and project objectives.
• Oversee installation, startup, and optimization of yogurt processing systems, resolving technical issues and ensuring seamless integration with existing operations.
• Ensure all projects comply with corporate engineering standards, environmental regulations, food safety requirements, and applicable industry codes.
• Promote continuous improvement and standardization of yogurt processing technologies across the global manufacturing network.
• Travel to domestic and international manufacturing sites, vendor locations, and corporate offices as necessary to support project planning, execution, and commissioning.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• A major in Food, Chemical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering is required.

Experience

• 8+ years working on Capital Expenditure, managing multi-million-dollar projects is required. Corporate or multi-site project management experience is preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in the Dairy, Beverage, or Liquid Food Manufacturing industry is required.
• 5+ years of experience in a USDA or FDA regulated industry is required

Certifications and specific knowledge

• The following certification is recommended for this role: Project Management Professional certification.
• Knowledge of Capital Project Management tools (Project Initiation, Stage-gate, Risk Management, Cost Tracking, FAT/SAT protocol Development and Execution, Project Closure) is required.
• Knowledge of Contract Management and Vendor Management are required.
• Knowledge of Food Safety & Regulatory requirements (Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, Sanitary Design, 3-A Standards, cGMP, Microbiological control) is required.
• Understanding of Dairy Process unit operations (Separation, Standardization, Pasteurization, Homogenization, Fermentation, etc.) is required.
• Knowledge of Mass & Energy Balances and Process Modeling is required.
• Knowledge of Tank and Piping design (including agitation, heat transfer, hygienic fittings, pumps, valves) is required.
• Understanding of Production Lines, OEEs, Capacity & Saturation calculations, and integration with upstream process equipment is an asset.
• Understanding of process Automation & Controls (PLC, Scada, MES, Batch and Recipe management) is a plus.
• Knowledge of MS Office applications, MS Project, and AutoCAD is required. Knowledge of Excel pivot tables and macros is preferred.

Work Conditions

• Travel is required up to 75% 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) will 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.

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