Director Process Technology

Agropur Cooperative; United States; On-site; USD 154,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) 7% Match

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Floating Holidays

Parental Leave

Advancement Opportunities

Job summary

Agropur Cooperative seeks a Director of Process Technology to define and advance the technology strategy for its dairy ingredient portfolio and manufacturing network. Based in Le Sueur, Minnesota, you will lead a distributed team spanning Process Technology, Applied R&D and Whey Technology, translating priorities into scalable processes and value across facilities.

You will guide technical feasibility, capital needs and risk, while driving technology transfer and process optimization to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related technical discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years in process technology, manufacturing, or applied R&D within dairy ingredients or related field.
• Deep knowledge of dairy ingredient manufacturing and process optimization.
• Experience with membrane separation, ion exchange, protein fractionation, evaporation, drying, crystallization, lactose processing.
• Proven success leading complex products from evaluation to scale-up.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams across sites.
• Ability to evaluate opportunities from technical, operational, financial, quality, sustainability and strategic perspectives.
• Strong executive communication and influencing skills.
• Experience developing specialized technical talent and distributed teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and advance the technology strategy for Agropur’s dairy ingredient portfolio and manufacturing network.
• Lead a geographically distributed team of Process Technology, Applied R&D and Whey Technology professionals.
• Convert portfolio priorities and customer needs into scalable processes and enhanced manufacturing economics.
• Lead development, scale-up, commercialization and transfer of new dairy ingredients and technologies.
• Serve as senior technical authority in dairy processing and related unit operations.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering and Quality to improve process control, yield and reliability.
• Establish standards for process development, scale-up, and transfer of documentation.
• Build partnerships with customers, universities, suppliers and industry bodies.
• Develop and mentor a distributed technical team to strengthen capability and succession.

Skills

Executive communication

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic planning

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in food science / dairy science / chemical engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Job Type: Regular

People are at the heart of our success. Our culture encourages collaboration, transparency, and accountability in order to generate value and achieve sustainable results. Being part of the team means committing to an environment where everyone’s impact truly matters. Working at Agropur means contributing to stronger communities through dairy products. An environment aligned with a clear purpose: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short and Long-term Disability Insurance 401(k) with 7% company contributions 3 weeks Paid Time Off Paid holidays and 2 floating holidays Paid parental leave Advancement Opportunities Salary range 008: $153,700-$230,500 (Salary will be determined based on skills, education, training & experience related to the position)

How you will contribute: As Director, Process Technology, you will define and advance the technology strategy supporting Agropur’s dairy ingredient portfolio and manufacturing network. Based at our Protein Research Center in Le Sueur, Minnesota, you will lead a geographically distributed organization of Process Technology, Applied R&D and Whey Technology professionals. In partnership with Commercial Strategy, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Sales and Finance, you will convert portfolio priorities, customer needs and emerging technologies into scalable processes, stronger manufacturing capabilities and sustainable enterprise value. Define and execute the process technology roadmap supporting Agropur’s ingredient portfolio and long-term business priorities. Advise senior leaders on technical feasibility, value potential, capital requirements, resource needs and execution risk. Lead the evaluation, development, scale-up, commercialization and transfer of new dairy ingredient products, processes and technologies. Serve as a senior technical authority in dairy ingredient processing, including membrane separation, ion exchange, protein fractionation, evaporation, drying, crystallization, lactose processing and related unit operations. Partner with Operations, Engineering and Quality to improve process control, product quality, yield, throughput, reliability, sustainability and manufacturing economics. Lead the resolution of complex manufacturing and product-quality challenges across multiple facilities. Establish standards and governance for process development, scale-up, technology transfer, documentation and process optimization. Build strategic partnerships with customers, universities, suppliers, technology providers and industry organizations. Lead and develop a geographically distributed technical team while strengthening organizational capability, succession depth and critical dairy-processing expertise.

What will enable you to contribute:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Dairy Science, Chemical Engineering or a related technical discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in process technology, manufacturing, engineering, product development or applied R&D within dairy ingredients, whey processing, dairy proteins or a closely related ingredient-processing environment.
• Deep knowledge of dairy ingredient manufacturing, process design, scale-up, technology transfer and manufacturing optimization.
• Demonstrated expertise in several relevant technologies, including membrane separation, ion exchange, protein fractionation, evaporation, drying, crystallization or lactose processing.
• Proven success leading complex products or processes from technical evaluation through commercialization and stable full-scale operation.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and cross-functional programs across multiple manufacturing sites.
• The ability to evaluate opportunities through technical, operational, financial, quality, sustainability and strategic perspectives.
• Strong executive communication and influencing skills, with the ability to translate complex technical issues into clear business recommendations.
• Demonstrated success developing specialized technical talent and building high-performing, geographically distributed teams.

Ability to travel approximately 30%. A role that is meaningful and delivers lasting impact. #LI-AL1

Agropur welcomes people from all backgrounds and origins. We are proud to be an employer with a diverse community and are committed to providing a respectful and inclusive experience for all employees and applicants. We will work with candidates who request accommodation. Please note that an adequate knowledge of French is required for positions in Quebec.

In this text, the use of the masculine gender to designate persons is intended only to lighten the text.

Agropur is an E-Verify Employer (US Operations).