Customer & Product Technical Solutions Manager

Fonterra; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Fonterra, a global dairy nutrition leader, seeks a Customer & Product Technical Solutions Manager – Americas to become the in-market technical expert. You will deploy tailored dairy ingredient solutions, develop local capabilities, and support sales teams across the Americas with strategic customers.

This role bridges product innovation, application knowledge, and customer success. You will lead cross‑functional collaboration, influence across functions, and drive efficient solutions while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in dairy science or related technical field preferred.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a broad set of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong customer-centric mindset with focus on commercial delivery and strategy.
• Analytical skills to support data-driven decision-making.
• Ability to report, benchmark, and manage customer relationships professionally.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of tailored dairy ingredient technical solutions aligned with commercial strategies.
• Build and scale in-market application capabilities for technical excellence (proteins).
• Oversee technical service delivery for strategic customers and new business growth.
• Drive improvements in service models and lead benchmarking initiatives.
• Collaborate with a team of technical experts and the wider Fonterra business to execute product and sales strategies locally.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in dairy science

Job description

We are Fonterra, one of the world's largest dairy nutrition companies. At Fonterra, you’ll be inspired by purpose and guided by principles. Whether you're based in New Zealand or anywhere else around the world, you’ll be part of a team that creates goodness for generations and delivers global impact through local action. Our brands are trusted by families and individuals alike, delivering high-quality dairy nutrition to millions of people globally. As a Co-operative created and owned by New Zealand dairy farmers, our collaboration, innovation, and passion have enabled us to share the goodness of our dairy with the world. We're committed to caring for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk, producing nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients loved in New Zealand and around the world. As part of the Fonterra Co‑op, you'll be solving for a better future alongside a team connected by solid values as we strive to be a leader in dairy sustainability, dairy innovation and science, with a focus on New Zealand milk. When you join Fonterra, you'll open yourself to a career of opportunities where you can grow with us by developing your skills, sharing your knowledge, and exploring diverse career paths that ignite your passions.

About the opportunity

Are you a strategic, technical leader passionate about delivering customer‑centric solutions and driving product excellence? The Customer & Product Technical Solutions Manager – Americas will develop nuanced and strategic understanding of key customers. You will support the deployment of innovative technical solutions to customers, develop local capability to support our customers and sales teams, and drive efficiency across the Americas region. This is a high-impact role where you’ll be the in‑market technical expert, collaborating cross‑functionally to support strategic customers and enable product strategy. It is pivotal in bridging the gap between product innovation, application knowledge, and customer success across a diverse market.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Solution Deployment: Lead the delivery of tailored dairy ingredient technical solutions aligned with commercial strategies.
• Capability Development: Build and scale in‑market application capabilities for sustainable technical excellence, with a focus on dairy ingredients, particularly proteins.
• Strategic Customer Support: Oversee technical service delivery for strategic customers and new business growth.
• Efficiency & Benchmarking: Drive improvements in service models and lead competitive benchmarking initiatives.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Work with a team of technical experts and partner with the wider Fonterra business to execute product and sales strategies locally.

About you

You’ll have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in dairy science or a related technical field is preferred, with knowledge of dairy protein applications and functionality in consumer products being a strong plus. Along with a proven ability to lead and inspire a broad selection of internal and external stakeholders, your experience influencing across functions will be key to driving collaboration and strategic alignment. You’ll be a strong communicator with a customer‑centric mindset, capable of navigating complex customer needs, balancing commercial delivery and strategy, and delivering tailored solutions. Your analytical skills will support data‑driven decision‑making, and your ability to optimize processes will help enhance service efficiency. You’ll also be confident in reporting, benchmarking, and managing customer relationships with professionalism and empathy.

Are you excited about this opportunity but may only meet some requirements?

At Fonterra, we are committed to building a diverse workplace and, therefore, open to looking at applicants with excellent transferable skills.

The benefits of life at Fonterra

Our people and what they bring to our Co‑op shape our success. We have a collaborative culture, inspiring leaders, and passionate people, making Fonterra a great place to work. We also offer competitive remuneration (approx 140k - 170k) and a range of benefits, regardless of your role or location. Fonterra is a place where everyone can be themselves, feel empowered to do their best, and are empowered to create goodness for generations.