Milk Valorization Senior Manager

Short Intro and About the Job

Danone in ESSENTIAL DAIRY & REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE Procurement is looking for a Milk Valorization Sr Manager in Louisville, CO or White Plains, NY (L8)

The Milk Valorization Manager leads strategic planning and portfolio management initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives and market trends. They oversee multiple projects prioritizing based on strategic importance and ROI analysis. By leveraging market insights, company needs and financial acumen, they optimize profitability and resource allocation. Their leadership fosters a culture of excellence, driving long-term growth and value creation within the organization.

Milk Valorization stands as a cornerstone strategy within Danone, focusing on primary pillars: Optimize Value capture (cost & waste reduction, leverage current assets, product superiority...), ensure sourcing security and support company growth.

Milk valorization embodies Danone's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and strategic optimization, ensuring the effective utilization of resources while delivering superior value to customers and stakeholders across the value chain.

25% Domestic Travel Expected

• Develop and implement long-term strategic plans for milk valorization, aligning with overall business objectives, the Milk sourcing & Regenerative Agriculture strategies and market trends.
• Identify future opportunities to maximize the value of dairy streams through innovation, process optimization, and ingredient independence strategies.
• Connect recipe design, BOM structure and cost optimization to drive value capture. Leverage formulation knowledge to unlock innovation & efficiencies.
• Identify and develop opportunities to create incremental value from milk streams and co-products while supporting profitability and sustainability objectives.
• Partner cross-functionally with factories, operations, R&I, procurement, and supply teams to identify process improvement opportunities and implement scalable solutions.
• Support the development of ingredient independence strategies by leveraging internal capabilities, existing/CAPEX assets, and valorization technologies.
• Champion MVU projects through the LIM process with stakeholders to gain buy-in, solicit feedback, and address concerns.
• Support the overall milk supply & Regenerative Agriculture strategies as an active participant of the internal milk sourcing team.
• Act as a company ambassador & Share/promote the Milk Valorization story.

The salary range for this position is $116,000-167,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions.  Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.This role is considered a “hybrid” position that allows for flexible work, meaning it is a role where collaboration with key stakeholders in Danone Hubs occurs. While you may have the option to work from home on a schedule as agreed to with your supervisor, you are also expected to regularly report to your assigned office location at least 3 days per week.

About You

Managerial Competencies and Personal Skills/Attributes required:

• Leadership: Ability to provide clear direction, guidance, and support to the project execution team. Lead of a MVU portfolio, guiding its strategic direction and prioritization.
• Demonstrate forward-thinking leadership by anticipating business needs, market trends and emerging technologies related to milk processing and valorization systems
• Process & Formulation Excellence: Strong understanding of dairy processing operations, milk component valorization. Expertise in Dairy science, formulation with a deep understanding of milk components. Ability to translate formulation and product knowledge into tangible business value (formula cost analysis, ingredient substitution..
• Business Value creation & Valorization mindset: Ability to connect technical/process opportunities with finance and strategic business outcomes

• Decision making: Evaluate risks, operational constraints and opportunities to maximize outcomes and act decisively in complex environment.
• Communication skills and stakeholder engagement: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex ideas and concepts to diverse audiences. (X-functional, PMO teams, factories, NORAM and Global Sr Leaders, external partners)

Professional Experience/Education required:

• Minimum BS in related field (Engineering, Food Science, Procurement etc..)
• Strong expertise in Dairy Science & formulation, Dairy ingredient functionality (R&I profile preferred)
• Minimum 7 years work experience in CPG company or related dairy experience
• Microsoft Office proficiency
• Experience in developing and implementing strategic plans.
• Ability to manage a portfolio of projects and initiatives, prioritizing based on strategic objectives and resource constraints.
• Ability to work cross-functionally both in corporate and Dairy Industry environment.
• Strong business development skills, with experience in building partnerships and expanding market reach.

Key elements that could motivate a candidate.

• Competitive salary and benefits packages
• Opportunity for professional development and advancement within the organization
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment
• Change to make a significant impact on the Dairy Industry and Danone (NORAM & Global)

• Strong connection to the purpose Danone North America

About Us, We offer and What's next

Life at DanoneWith approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., our vibrant culture and endless growth opportunities are just a couple of the reasons our employees call themselves “Proud Danoners.” Learn more about Life at DanoneOur BrandsWhen you join us, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world, including Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, STōK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®.Our PurposeWe’re committed to making a positive impact on our world. Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, we’re proud to be the world’s largest B Corp.Learn more about our mission.Our BenefitsOur commitment to making the world healthier starts with our employees. 

• Physical Wellbeing: We pay for the majority of your medical benefits – which include medical, dental and vision – with our competitive 80%/20% cost-sharing model.
• Mental Wellbeing: Danoners receive fitness discounts, unlimited flexible time off and hybrid work schedules. We also have a range of programs that support mental health and substance abuse.  
• Financial Support: We offer a performance-based bonus, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs and voluntary perks.
• Family Care: We offer caretaker benefits, 18 weeks of parental bonding, fertility, surrogacy, adoption benefits and pet insurance.

Learn more about our benefits.Equal Opportunity EmployerDanone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.#LI-NORAMCalifornia Data Privacy Law