Raw Materials Manager

Lactalis-Mainland Dairy; Papakura; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Career development

Collaborative culture

Safety & quality

Flexible work

Job summary

Lactalis New Zealand is seeking a hands-on, results-driven professional to join our end-to-end milk process improvements. This role focuses on identifying where losses occur, quantifying impact, and driving practical improvements that reduce waste and boost site performance.

You will work closely with plant teams, engineering, automation and contractors to map milk flows and implement value-focused solutions.

Qualifications

• Map and understand the end-to-end flow of milk and milk components across unloading, transfer and manufacturing processes, identifying key points of loss and opportunity
• Use raw material management methodology to develop, monitor and drive continuous improvement initiatives across key performance areas including yield, standardisation, giveaway, waste and process performance
• Analyse data, investigate discrepancies and provide clear insights that support decision-making, prioritisation and root cause resolution
• Partner with production, engineering, automation and contractor teams to implement value-focused solutions and support manufacturing performance
• Contribute to site savings plans, raw material reporting, budget planning and improvement projects that deliver measurable commercial outcomes

Responsibilities

• Map and understand the end-to-end flow of milk and milk components across unloading, transfer and manufacturing processes, identifying key points of loss and opportunity
• Use raw material management methodology to develop, monitor and drive continuous improvement initiatives across key performance areas including yield, standardisation, giveaway, waste and process performance
• Analyse data, investigate discrepancies and provide clear insights that support decision-making, prioritisation and root cause resolution
• Partner with production, engineering, automation and contractor teams to implement value-focused solutions and support manufacturing performance
• Contribute to site savings plans, raw material reporting, budget planning and improvement projects that deliver measurable commercial outcomes

Job description

Lactalis New Zealand, formerly known as Fonterra Brands NZ, is now proudly part of the Lactalis Group.

Lactalis is a French family-owned business and the world’s largest dairy company. With a presence in 50 countries, employing around 90,000 people and a range of 2,000 dairy products, Lactalis is committed to contributing to the health and well-being of consumers around the world every day.

Here in New Zealand, Lactalis New Zealand employs more than 1,000 people across three manufacturing sites, two distribution centres and our corporate head office. We produce some of the country’s dairy brands that have been loved for generations, including Anchor, Fresh ‘n’ Fruity and Mainland.

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

About The Opportunity

This is a newly created opportunity to step into a highly visible, hands-on role where you’ll help unlock value across the end-to-end milk process. Working closely with plant teams, engineering, automation specialists and contractors, you’ll identify where raw material losses occur, quantify their impact, and drive practical improvements that reduce waste and improve site performance. Reporting to the Site and Beverage Operations Manager you will:

• Map and understand the end-to-end flow of milk and milk components across unloading, transfer and manufacturing processes, identifying key points of loss and opportunity


• Use raw material management methodology to develop, monitor and drive continuous improvement initiatives across key performance areas including yield, standardisation, giveaway, waste and process performance


• Analyse data, investigate discrepancies and provide clear insights that support decision-making, prioritisation and root cause resolution


• Partner with production, engineering, automation and contractor teams to implement value-focused solutions and support manufacturing performance


• Contribute to site savings plans, raw material reporting, budget planning and improvement projects that deliver measurable commercial outcomes

About You

You’re a technically curious, process-driven problem solver who enjoys getting close to the detail, following the facts, and uncovering opportunities others may not have fully explored. Comfortable working in an operational environment, you know how to influence cross-functionally, build strong relationships, and turn complex process challenges into practical improvement actions. In addition to this, you will have:

• Strong process understanding, with the ability to follow, analyse and improve an end-to-end operational or manufacturing process


• Experience in dairy, food manufacturing, chemical engineering, food technology or a related technical environment, supported by relevant qualifications or equivalent hands-on experience


• A curious and investigative mindset, with proven troubleshooting capability and confidence working through complex or ambiguous technical issues


• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence outcomes through others in a standalone role


• A practical, value-focused approach, strong attention to detail, and the flexibility to spend time in the plants when needed to understand processes and identify loss points

We are looking for someone who is passionate, ambitious, and eager to grow. Whether you’re ready for your next challenge or looking to deepen your expertise, we’d love to hear from you.

What We Offer

• Competitive pay and benefits


• Career development and progression opportunities within a global organisation


• A collaborative and supportive workplace culture where your contribution makes a real impact


• A strong commitment to safety, quality, innovation and sustainability


• Flexible working arrangements where possible

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Lactalis NZ, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.