Procurement Director

Ornua; Hilbert (WI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Ornua is seeking a Procurement Director in Hilbert, WI to lead strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and procurement activities across dairy and non-dairy ingredients. The role drives cost optimization, supplier relationships, and cross‑functional collaboration with R&D, Quality Assurance, Production, and Finance to align sourcing with business goals.

The ideal candidate has 7–10 years of leadership in dairy purchasing, strong analytical and negotiation skills, and the ability to operate at

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in dairy product and commodity purchasing in a dairy manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of pasteurized process cheese or willingness to learn quickly.
• Proven ability to manage complex supplier relationships with strong commercial acumen.
• Skilled in project management, cross‑functional collaboration, and problem solving with strong analytical ability.
• High attention to detail, ownership and accountability, with strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Collaborative working style with ability to influence across cross‑functional teams and drive results.
• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, resilience and self‑motivation.
• Ability to work with internal teams at regional, national and potentially global levels.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for dairy and non-dairy ingredient commodities.
• Lead supplier selection, contract negotiations, and performance management.
• Monitor commodity markets and industry trends to anticipate cost fluctuations and supply risks.
• Negotiate contract pricing and terms with suppliers to secure favorable agreements and reduce costs.
• Monitor supplier performance regarding quality, delivery, and compliance; initiate corrective actions as needed.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure quality and innovation.
• Conduct supplier evaluations and audits to ensure compliance with food safety and sustainability standards.
• Maintain compliance with the Supplier Approval Program.
• Identify cost‑saving opportunities and develop contingency plans; collaborate with production/sales to forecast demand.
• Lead, mentor and supervise junior buyers or procurement assistants; represent Ornua’s brand and values.
• Utilize ERP systems to manage procurement activities and generate reports; analyze spend data and market intelligence.

Skills

Leadership

Supplier relationships

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical ability

Communication skills

Negotiation

Influencing

Presentation

Integrity

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Science, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Posting

Job Title: Procurement Director

Function: Procurement

Reports to: VP of Supply Chain

Location: Hilbert, WI

Position Type: Full-time, Permanent

Schedule: 7am – 4pm, Monday through Friday

Ornua (meaning “new gold”) is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, proudly bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world since 1961.

Are you a procurement or supply chain leader looking for the challenge of taking a mission driven organization to its next level of success?

Ornua is actively seeking a Procurement Director to join the Ornua Family as we continue our growth trajectory. This position will play a key role in strategic sourcing, negotiation, and procurement of all dairy and non‑dairy ingredients, packaging materials, consumables, and support services representing $350.0M in annual spend.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for dairy and non-dairy commodity ingredients
• Lead supplier selection, contract negotiations, and performance management
• Monitor commodity markets and dairy industry trends to anticipate cost fluctuations and supply risks
• Negotiate contract pricing and terms with suppliers to secure favorable agreements and reduce costs

Supplier Relationship Management

• Monitor supplier performance regarding quality, delivery, and compliance, initiating corrective actions when necessary
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure quality, reliability, and innovation
• Conduct regular supplier evaluations and audits to ensure compliance with food safety and sustainability standards
• Maintain compliance with the Supplier Approval Program

Cost Optimization & Risk Management

• Identify cost‑saving opportunities through value analysis, supplier consolidation, and process improvements
• Develop contingency plans to mitigate supply chain disruptions
• Collaborate with production or sales teams to forecast demand, maintain optimal inventory levels, and prevent shortages or excessive stock

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with R&D, Quality Assurance, Production, and Finance to align sourcing strategies with business goals
• Support new product development by sourcing innovative ingredients and materials

Market Intel & Systems Management

• Utilize ERP systems to manage procurement activities and generate reports
• Analyze spend data and market intelligence to inform strategic decisions
• Analyze dairy commodity markets, regulatory changes, and pricing trends to anticipate fluctuations and mitigate risk
• Manage the category budget, track Key Performance Indicators such as cost savings and supplier compliance, and ensure accurate invoicing

Leadership Engagement & Brand Stewardship

• Lead, mentor, and supervise junior buyers or procurement assistants, providing direction, training, and performance feedback
• Represent Ornua’s brand and values with professionalism and integrity in all external and internal interactions

Commitment to Continuous Improvement and Flexibility

• Comply with all safety guidelines and regulatory standards, setting an example in maintaining high ethical standards and practices
• Comply with all company purchasing policies and procedures
• Comply with all laws and regulations for procured products and services of the company
• Demonstrate exceptional adaptability, managing diverse tasks and responding proactively to evolving business needs
• Recommend new processes or systems for improvement, implementation of new ideas and strategies
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned

Experience And Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in dairy product and commodity purchasing within a dairy manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of pasteurized process cheese or strong willingness to learn quickly
• Proven ability to manage complex supplier relationships with strong commercial acumen
• Skilled in project management, cross‑functional collaboration, and problem‑solving, with strong analytical ability
• High attention to detail, ownership, and accountability
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, influencing, and presentation skills
• Collaborative working style with the ability to influence and partner across cross‑functional teams
• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, resilience, and self‑motivation
• Ability to work effectively with internal teams at regional, national, and potentially global levels

Desired Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Science, or a related field
• Experience within a food‑ingredients manufacturing environment (if dairy experience is already strong)
• Experience with product application demonstrations

WHY ORNUA?

• Our values lie at the core of everything we do. Our five values encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care, and Achieve Great Things Together.
• We invest in our people and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement
• Career progression opportunities, including global mobility
• Comprehensive benefits with region‑specific offerings

TOTAL REWARDS

At Ornua Ingredients North America, our Total Rewards package goes far beyond your paycheck. From day one, you’ll have access to a comprehensive benefits offering that includes: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Life Insurance, Accident, Hospital, and Critical Illness coverage, 401(k) with company matching and 100% immediate vesting, Generous Paid Time Off, 20 weeks of Maternity Leave, Parental Leave, Annual Incentive Bonus, Career Growth and advancement opportunities, and Education Reimbursement.

Ornua is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be provided with equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or genetic information. Ornua is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact Ornua People Services at 833-450-2385 or [e-mail].

This employer participates in E-Verify, a federal program that verifies the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. As part of the hiring process, information provided on your Form I‑9 will be submitted to the E‑Verify system. E‑Verify compares your information to records maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. For more information about E-Verify, please visit www.e-verify.gov.