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Lactalis

Global dairy products producer and employer

Global Category Sourcing Associate Director

Full-Time
$152.7k - $164k/yr
Junior
MBA
Bedford, NH, USA
In PersonFrequent travel (10–30% of the time) to meet local teams and visit suppliers.
Operations & LogisticsProcurement & Sourcing

About the job

Requirements
  • Requires a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Purchasing Management or its U.S. equivalent.
  • Requires 2 years of experience in Purchasing/Strategic sourcing as a Senior Global Packaging Buyer or Strategic Sourcing Associate Director.
  • Requires frequent travel (10–30% of the time) to meet with local teams and visit suppliers.
Responsibilities
  • Lead the Rigid Plastic Packaging category work across North and South America (LAN, LATAM & Brazil Procurement Zones) action plans on new acquisitions to quickly find synergies to support Lactalis Group growth in these regions.
  • Lead key strategies and projects to optimize quality, service, costs, innovation, and cash performance.
  • Define the category strategy with relevant stakeholders, including the Zone Procurement team, R&D, Industrial, Quality, and Marketing, considering internal and external partners such as Lactalis countries in the Americas, the market environment, and suppliers.
  • Design the roadmap for execution.
  • Drive the strategies with local counterparts and monitor progress.
  • Develop market knowledge and expertise, and deploy best practices through active benchmarking.
  • Use understanding of upstream markets for key commodities (PP, PE, and PET resins) to identify dynamics, risks, and opportunities, and provide relevant market information internally through market reports and ad hoc presentations.
  • Define, lead, and monitor relationships with the global supplier portfolio, as well as monitor supplier performance.
  • Negotiate and implement key Master Supply Agreements and assist local teams in implementing them.
  • Participate in budget planning, including commodity assumptions and savings plans.
  • Coordinate the work and methods used in the category to strengthen Lactalis expertise and knowledge.
  • Maintain an active innovation watch.

About the company

Lactalis is a global dairy group with roots in Laval, France, employing about 80,000 people across 250 production sites in around 100 countries. It covers all dairy categories—milk, ultra-fresh dairy, cheese, butter, cream, and dairy ingredients—through a portfolio of roughly 100 brands that ranges from major national names to local labels. Its products come from a long-standing dairy expertise rooted in cheesemongering and AOP cheese production, delivered through many sites and brands to fit local food cultures. Its goal is to offer healthy, gourmet, and accessible dairy products to as many people as possible while supporting rural economies and maintaining leadership in the global dairy industry.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Mayenne, France

Founded

1933

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 2026 Saputo UK acquisition deepens British distribution and adds five factories.
  • July 2026 Agropur fine-cheese deal adds OKA, Monsieur Gustav, and two Quebec plants.
  • Lactalis invested $75 million in New York plants, adding automation and 50 jobs.

What critics are saying

  • Spain's Supreme Court finalized Lactalis cartel liability on June 29, 2026.
  • Foodwatch sued Lactalis in January 2026 over delayed infant-formula recalls.
  • Brisbane's South Brisbane milk plant closes July 2026, eliminating 202 jobs.

What makes Lactalis unique

  • Lactalis controls global dairy scale across Cathedral City, Président, and Galbani.
  • June 2026 Protein Works adds protein nutrition expertise beyond traditional milk processing.
  • August 2026 Saputo UK deal makes Lactalis a leader in cheddar, butter, and spreads.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off
  • Professional Development Budget
  • Wellness Program

Company News

William Reed
Oct 15th, 2026
Why is Saputo saying farewell to UK dairy?

Earlier this year, Saputo announced it had agreed to sell its UK dairy operations to Lactalis, leaving behind one of Europe’s largest markets.

YFM Equity Partners
Jun 1st, 2026
YFM exits Protein Works with 10.8x return after growing revenue from $16.5M to $70M

YFM has exited Protein Works following its acquisition by Lactalis, the world's leading dairy company, achieving a 10.8x cash multiple after seven years of partnership. YFM backed the sports nutrition brand through its Buyout Fund in 2019 when the business generated £13 million in revenue and operated almost entirely in the UK. The firm repositioned the company from sports nutrition into mainstream lifestyle nutrition whilst investing £11 million in a purpose-built manufacturing facility in Liverpool. Under YFM's ownership, revenue grew to approximately £55 million, gross margins improved significantly, and the customer base expanded to over 2.5 million with meaningful international presence. The acquisition by Lactalis provides Protein Works with access to deeper distribution and broader resources within one of the world's largest food and beverage groups.

Dairy News
Nov 24th, 2025
Danone Agrees to Sell Swedish Probiotic Brand ProViva to Lactalis

Danone has entered into an agreement to sell its Swedish probiotic fruit juices brand, ProViva, to the French dairy group Lactalis. This transaction involves the sale of the Österlenmejeriet factory located in Lunnarp, Skåne County, in southeastern Sweden. The factory is Danone's only facility in Sweden and has previously received a Skr140m (approximately $16.9m) investment in 2020.

NZME
Oct 29th, 2025
Fonterra's $4.2B Sale to Lactalis

Fonterra Co-operative Group's shareholders have approved the sale of its consumer business to French company Lactalis for $4.2 billion. The decision was made during a brief online special meeting, which lasted only 20 minutes and included no questions from shareholders.

RNZ (Radio New Zealand)
Aug 21st, 2025
Fonterra sells Mainland, Anchor brands to French food giant

The dairy giant's boss explains why it has agreed to sell its consumer businesses, including Mainland and Anchor, for nearly $4 billion.