Director, Farm Relationships & Milk Procurement (Hybrid)

Lactalis American Group; Bedford (NH); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Lactalis USA is seeking a Director, Farm Relationship & Procurement to build and lead Lactalis’s direct producer strategy, oversee farm relationships, payroll and incentive programs, sustainability initiatives, contract negotiations, forecasting and budgeting.

The role serves as the primary liaison with producers and partners with Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, and Marketing, reporting to the VP, Milk Collection (USA).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Agriculture, Dairy Science, or related field required.
• 15+ years of experience in dairy procurement and producer relations.
• 10+ years of people leadership experience; 5+ years of senior leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lactalis USA’s direct producer strategy and network development across conventional, organic, and specialty milk categories.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to the Farm Relationship Management team.
• Serve as the primary executive contact for producers and align with business objectives.
• Lead contract negotiations with producers to secure market-competitive agreements.
• Manage contract execution, compliance, and renewal with Legal and Procurement Operations.
• Represent Lactalis in dairy councils and producer organizations.
• Own milk supply forecasting, budgeting, and monthly financial reporting with Corporate Finance.
• Monitor milk costs and program performance to drive improvements.
• Provide market intelligence and financial insights for strategic decisions.
• Oversee producer payroll administration ensuring compliance with Federal Orders and USDA requirements.
• Design and govern producer incentive programs including quality and sustainability initiatives.
• Lead producer sustainability engagement for FARM Program participation and ESG objectives.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, and Marketing to align producer capabilities with customer expectations.
• Translate producer insights into actionable strategies to strengthen Lactalis’s competitive position.

Skills

Leadership

Contract negotiations

Procurement strategy

Budgeting

Forecasting

P&L management

Stakeholder management

Industry knowledge (FARM/USDA)

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA preferred

Job description

Lactalis USA is seeking a Director, Farm Relationship & Procurement to build and lead Lactalis’s direct producer strategy, oversee farm relationships, payroll and incentive programs, sustainability initiatives, contract negotiations, forecasting and budgeting.

The role serves as the primary liaison with producers and partners with Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, and Marketing, reporting to the VP, Milk Collection (USA).