Sr. Packaging Project Manager

Lactalis USA; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off from day one

Education reimbursement

Total rewards program

Job summary

Lactalis Heritage Dairy in Chicago, IL, is hiring a Sr. Packaging Project Manager to lead packaging projects for yogurt, cheeses, and powders from design to implementation. You will partner with Operations, R&D and Quality to optimize production systems and support plant performance. The role requires cross‑functional leadership, strong project management, and travel to sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or chemical engineering.
• 5+ years’ experience on capital expenditure projects as project manager.
• Food Industry experience required.
• USDA or FDA regulated plant experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop drawings, scopes of work, budgets and timelines for project submittals.
• Source vendors, negotiate and acquire quotes for project investments.
• Source, negotiate and acquire quotes for budgetary needs.
• Manage projects and track costs to stay within budget.
• Coordinate project review meetings and report results to stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional teams to meet Quality, Food Safety, Planning, Operations and Maintenance needs.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests for equipment validation.
• Help develop the annual capital budget.
• Travel to plant and vendor sites as needed.

Skills

Attention to detail

Audit packaging machinery

Process improvement

Project management

Cross-functional communication

Travel readiness

Education

Mechanical or Chemical Eng

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family‑owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award‑winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go‑Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis Heritage Dairy, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Sr. Packaging Project Manager based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sr. Packaging Project Manager is responsible for managing and leading projects related to the packaging of our yogurt, cheeses and powder products, from design to full implementation and supporting plant production and quality operations. Working with Operations, Research and Development, the Project Manager will be responsible for optimizing the various production systems, which directly and indirectly support the manufacturing process by implementing new processes or modifying existing ones. The position will be based in one of the main manufacturing sites Londonderry NH, Buffalo NY, Nampa ID, Tulare CA or in the corporate office located in Chicago IL.

Travel will be required up to 50% of the time to plants based in NY, WI, CA, ID, NH, VT, AZ, TN & MI or to manufacturer/vendor site locations nationally and internationally.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Develop drawings, scopes of work, budgets and timelines as needed to prepare a project for submittal.
• Source vendors, negotiate and acquire quotes for project investments.
• Source, negotiate and acquire quotes for budgetary needs.
• Manage projects.
• Track projects cost and maintain them within budget.
• Coordinate project review meetings to include setting them up, keeping meeting notes, and reporting out results to key stakeholders.
• Manage principles for the effective execution of projects.
• Work cross‑functionally to ensure projects meet the needs of all key stakeholders to include but not be limited to Quality, Food Safety, Planning, Operations, and Maintenance.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests as required to validate equipment purchases.
• Lead and assist in the development of the annual capital budget.
• Travel and/or extended or off‑work hours may be required based on project needs.
• This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or allowance(s) may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these Essential Duties and Responsibilities.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or chemical engineering.

Experience

• 5+ years’ experience working on capital expenditure projects as project manager.
• Food Industry required.
• Dairy process preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of USDA or FDA regulated plant experience supporting manufacturing and utilities.

Specialized Knowledge

• Microsoft Office, Advanced Excel skills; macros, pivot tables, AutoCAD (equipment & P&ID dwg).

Skills / Abilities

• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to audit, investigate and improve packaging machinery.
• Effectively communicate to internal and external customers.
• Prioritization, organization, time management, and follow‑up skills.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Ability to travel to plant and machine manufacturer sites nationally and internationally.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally‑recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an affirmative action employer will comply with all related legal obligations.