Milk Forecast & Volume Manager

Lactalis - Mainland Dairy; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Career development

Flexible work arrangements

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

Lactalis-Mainland Dairy in Melbourne is seeking a Milk Forecast & Volume Manager to lead milk supply forecasting and third-party volume management. You will drive MFR, support the IBP process, and oversee toll processing arrangements across the business.

You will work with Milk Sourcing, S&OP, Commercial, Operations, Logistics, and Domestic B2B teams to ensure accurate forecasting and effective volume management. A background in dairy forecasting and supply planning is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in forecasting, demand planning or supply forecasting.
• Strong understanding of dairy production systems and pricing.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the milk supply forecast process, including farm-level forecasting and monthly MFR preparation.
• Support development of annual milk supply budgets, including third-party volumes.
• Drive continuous improvement in milk supply inputs into the IBP process.
• Manage third-party milk and bulk liquid supply arrangements, including vendor setup, pricing, and reporting.
• Lead cross-functional meetings and scenario planning to support timely decision-making.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support milk supply strategy.
• Contribute to strategic projects across Milk Sourcing and the broader business.

Skills

Forecasting

Supply planning

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Education

Tertiary qualification in Business/Commerce/Agricultural Science

Job description

Mainland Dairy, the business formerly known as Fonterra’s global Consumer and associated businesses, is now part of the Lactalis Group and known as Lactalis-Mainland Dairy.

Lactalis is a French family-owned business founded in Laval in 1933. Today, it is the world’s leading dairy group, present in 50 countries employing around 85,500 people. It is home to some of the world’s best known global and international dairy brands, including Président, Galbani and Parmalat, and local brands including Pauls, OAK, and Cracker Barrel in Australia.

Lactalis-Mainland Dairy is a team of more than 4,300 employees, operating 16 manufacturing sites across Oceania, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. We make well-loved brands including Perfect Italiano, Mainland, and Western Star.

Our passionate and talented team is committed to nurturing the future, unlocking new opportunities, and fostering innovation in nutrition and food.

About the opportunity

We’re looking for a Milk Forecast & Volume Manager to lead Lactalis-Mainland Dairy & Lactalis Australia’s milk supply forecasting and third-party volume management. This role is central to enabling Stable Milk by managing the Milk Forecast Review (MFR), supporting our Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process, and overseeing third-party milk and toll processing arrangements.

You’ll work closely with Milk Sourcing, S&OP, Commercial, Operations, Logistics, and Domestic B2B teams to ensure accurate forecasting and effective volume management across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the milk supply forecast process, including farm-level forecasting and monthly MFR preparation.
• Support the development of annual milk supply budgets, including third-party volumes.
• Drive continuous improvement in milk supply inputs into the IBP process.
• Manage third-party milk and bulk liquid supply arrangements, including vendor setup, pricing, and reporting.
• Lead cross-functional meetings and scenario planning to support timely decision-making.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support milk supply strategy.
• Contribute to strategic projects across Milk Sourcing and the broader business.

About You

We’re looking for someone with a strong background in forecasting, supply planning, and stakeholder engagement—ideally within the dairy or agricultural sector. You can also demonstrate:

• A tertiary qualification in Business, Commerce, or Agricultural Science.
• Experience in account management, demand planning, or supply forecasting.
• A solid understanding of dairy or agricultural production systems.
• Knowledge of commercial milk pricing structures.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• A continuous improvement mindset and the ability to adapt to changing business needs.

Excited about this opportunity but don’t meet every requirement?

That’s not a problem. We’re committed to growing internal talent and building a diverse workplace. If you have excellent transferable skills, we encourage you to apply—you might be the right candidate for this role or one of our other opportunities.

What We Offer

• Competitive pay and benefits
• Career development and internal opportunities across a global business
• A team focused workplace in a fantastic culture where your work has real impact
• A strong commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability
• Flexible work arrangements where possible

We believe in you bringing your best and most authentic self to work and we want you to succeed in a way that allows you to win, in every aspect of your life. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, as well as individuals of diverse cultural and social backgrounds. Our team is dedicated to supporting your professional development and personal wellbeing.

We look forward to the possibility of you joining our inclusive team.

Please note that applicants must have full working rights for Australia to be considered.