Sr. Packaging Project Manager

Institute of Packaging Professionals; Murfreesboro (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education Reimbursement

Paid Time Off from Day One

Total Rewards Program

Job summary

Lactalis USA is seeking a Senior Packaging Project Manager in Murfreesboro, TN to lead packaging projects for yogurt, cheeses, and powders from design through implementation. The role supports plant production and quality operations and requires collaboration with Operations, R&D, and other teams.

Responsibilities include budget and timeline development, vendor sourcing, and cross-functional coordination to meet stakeholder needs. Travel up to 50% is expected to multiple plants and vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or chemical engineering.
• 5+ years of capital expenditure project experience as project manager.
• Food industry experience required; dairy process preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years USDA or FDA regulated plant experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Advanced Excel; AutoCAD knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Develop drawings, scopes of work, budgets and timelines for project submittals.
• Source vendors, negotiate and obtain quotes for project investments.
• Manage projects and track costs to keep them within budget.
• Coordinate project reviews with key stakeholders across Quality, Food Safety, Planning, Operations and Maintenance.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests to validate equipment purchases.
• Lead the annual capital budget development; travel as needed.

Skills

Attention to detail

Packaging machinery

Communication skills

Time management

Travel readiness

Process improvement

Self-motivated

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or chemical engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job 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, Président® 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 USA

part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Senior Packaging Project Manager in Murfreesboro, TN.

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 support the 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 process or modifying actual process. Will be involved with existing and new processes in the company.

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 manufacturers/vendors 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, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these Essential Duties and Responsibilities.

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 of supervision,
• Ability to travel to plant and machine manufacturers 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 Affiantive Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.