Looking for a job that can grow into a lifelong career?
At Lactalis USA, we believe in promoting from within and giving our employees meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Whether you’re just starting out or bringing years of experience, we’ll provide the tools and support you need to succeed.
Lactalis is the world leader in dairy—a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Every day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together every day.
In the US, we 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 sour cream and a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.
At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We’re building 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 make an impact.
From your PASSION to ours
This is an opportunity to become Plant Technical Manager in the largest yogurt manufacturing plant in North America.
The Plant Technical Manager (PTM) is responsible for providing the technical expertise and technical leadership to deliver results for the plant and the businesses it supports. The PTM is responsible for direct leadership of the engineers on site and has accountability for Maintenance. This role will provide critical technical leadership for major capital projects and ensure active team members have solutions needed to drive safety, quality and performance plans, while focusing on eliminating waste and losses.
This role reports directly to the site Plant Manager and has dotted line to the Industrial Leader.
From your EXPERTISE to ours
Key responsibilities for this position include:
Leadership
• Development of site strategic plan for technical staffing, capital investment, general competencies, and system/technology improvements
• Coaching, mentoring, and development of plant technical resources
• Accountability for management of external technical relationships with A/E firms, contractors, and equipment vendors
• Provide technical leadership and site compliance with EPA and OSHA requirements in concert with designated functional experts
• Provide site leadership to achieve maximization/optimization of capital assets and site utilization as well as lead safety initiatives in technical areas
• Champion progression to zero loss using the tools, processes, and standards per our Continuous Improvement framework
Capital Planning & Execution
• Develop short- term and long-range capital investment plans for facility and be accountable for the planning and execution of all projects
• Responsible for the capital investment process for the site (e.g. standards, project management, capital approval, etc.).
Vertical Start Up/Continuous Improvement/Zero Loss Culture
• Develop and support strategies that integrate Vertical Start Up, Continuous Improvement processes and mentality and focus on waste elimination
Master Plan
• Provide leadership and technical expertise to help deliver on business objectives.
• Provide site leadership for technical solutions to operational problems including systems optimization, debottlenecking, and troubleshooting.
• Accountable for the strategy, design and implementation of control systems and manufacturing information systems.
Maintenance & Reliability
• Coach and develop Maintenance and Facilities Manager to integrate Maintenance into Zero Loss Culture. Provide strategy and support for maintenance programs, development of tools and resources, personnel selection, training and development. Integrate Maintenance into the strategy for the broader technical community at the plant
- Ensure the proper selection, training, development and motivation of leaders to maximize current and future performance.
- Lead and support plant continuous improvement initiatives.
- Contribute as an integral part of a senior plant leadership team to drive the plant strategy and culture.
From your STORY to ours
Qualified applicants will contribute the following:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• BS or MS engineering degree. ABET Accredited Engineering degree required.
• Minimum of 10 years technical experience in project engineering, systems or process engineering, facilities management, or technical discipline engineering in a manufacturing environment with maintenance experience
• Strong track record of engineering aptitude, ability to apply engineering principles, and problem solving
• Strong leadership skills, including experience leading others in projects or programs, and the ability to successfully interact with individuals representing other areas or interests and the ability to manage team leaders & mechanics
• Understanding and experience interacting with multiple business functions, including Quality Control, Purchasing, Distribution, Human Resources, Finance and especially Operations
• Ability to identify potential business solutions involving a broad scope of thinking across businesses and functions to develop new innovation
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
• Experience directly leading maintenance teams
• Experience directly leading a team of engineers
• Experience with industrial and/or labor relations from working in a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of and experience with manufacturing improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma, TPM, Continuous Improvement, Zero Loss Culture, or Lean Manufacturing
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.