Utilities & Processing 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 US Yogurt, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Utilities & Processing Manager based in Londonderry, NH.

The Utilities and Processing Manager is responsible for leading the performance, reliability, and compliance of all plant utility, environmental, and milk processing systems. This role oversees cross-functional maintenance teams, drives energy-efficiency and sustainability initiatives, and manages complex capital and operational projects from planning through execution. The manager ensures utility operations-including HVAC, refrigeration, boilers, compressed air, glycol, electrical distribution, and wastewater systems-are safe, efficient, and compliant with regulatory and corporate standards. In addition, the role provides technical leadership for milk processing systems, ensuring consistent product quality, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement. This position collaborates closely with internal teams, contractors, and external regulatory partners to support operational excellence, long-term asset health, and site-wide performance goals.

Project Management:

Create long- and short-term plans, including setting targets for milestones and adhering to deadlines. Making effective decisions when presented with multiple options for how to progress with the project. Serve as a point of contact for all project personnel, (contractors, internal support resources, etc.), to ensure teams remain in synergy. Communicate with internal and external business partners to keep the project aligned with their goals and targets. Performing quality control on the project throughout execution to maintain the standards expected. Adjust project schedules, targets, milestones, project financing, and escalations as needed.

Plant Utility Systems:

Drive plant utility efficiencies to positively impact energy savings in line with Sustainable Environmental goals. Supervise and manage the Utilities Maintenance Department to provide technical oversight for utility systems including HVAC, ammonia refrigeration, boilers, air compressors, glycol systems, and electrical distribution. Lead energy conservation efforts, manage plant utility projects, and partner with other business partners to ensure compliance with plant standards for all non-utility related projects.

Environmental Systems:

Provide technical assistance and oversight for the Industrial Pretreatment Facility, (WWTP), as well as all other Plant Utility Environmental Compliance. Oversee the execution of all environmental contracts, audits, and submit regulatory documents to ensure compliance. Manage 3rd party environmental contractors and align with corporate sustainability manager(s) for corporate sustainability initiatives.

Milk Processing Systems:

Directly manage the Maintenance resources for all Milk Processing systems. Establish mid- and long-term preventative maintenance plans to ensure the reliability of these systems. Including, but not limited to Raw incoming milk, Ingredient batching, Pasteurization, and CIP systems. Adhere to all Quality and PMO standards. Partner with Internal teams, external contractors, and suppliers to successfully execute continuous improvements and reliability initiatives.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Oversee and execute Utility and Processing project(s) development, execution, and project and Maintenance budgets.
• Responsible for all aspects of food safety and quality as defined in plant and department procedures
• Ensure all projects with a production increase are supported by all Utility and Processing systems as well as in compliance with any plant environmental impact.
• Identify opportunities in energy efficiency to reduce cost and reduce the specific energy consumption by strengthening preventative maintenance responses and development of breakthrough projects aligning the production to the company mission for environment and sustainable development.
• Assembles energy usage data, completes weekly and monthly KPI reports and communicates reports on consumption; review and approve invoices.
• Using weekly and monthly KPI reports, develop, own, and execute action plans based on opportunities found in data trends.
• Lead and supervise the planning and implementation of strategies to promote a proactive and comprehensive maintenance program for all Plant Utility Systems (WWTP, Ammonia Refrigeration, Boiler & Steam Systems, Air Compressor), and Milk Processing Systems.
• Supervise and oversee utility operations to ensure Utility Systems and Processing technical teams are staffed and operated in an effective manner and that all are within applicable permit limits.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• A bachelor's degree is preferred.
• A major in Industrial or Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience

• 5+ years of utility and resource maintenance and reliability management in a manufacturing facility. Experience in an energy-intensive or highly energy-conscious manufacturing facility is preferred.

Certifications and specific knowledge

• The following certifications are preferred for this role: Wastewater Systems certification, Boiler Operator, and Ammonia Operator.
• Experience with ammonia systems and Process Safety Management (PSM) for ammonia systems
• Experience with high-pressure boiler systems, operations, and regulatory compliance
• Experience in safety and environmental processes to maintain a manufacturing facility in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Excellent organizational skills to prioritize and execute inventory and preventative maintenance demands daily.
• Proven ability to take initiative and establish processes and programs while working independently.
• Proven ability to supervise, train, develop, review performance, and motivate subordinates.
• Solid written and oral communication skills.
• Computer literacy to include Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, and a maintenance-based software system.
• Proven ability to participate as a member of the plant leadership team and form sound working relationships with all members of the organization.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines within specified time constraints
• Ability to operate in a team environment
• Ability to adapt to a changing work environment
• Strong technical background - Electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, fluid dynamics, motor controls, instrumentation, and PLC programming.

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.