S

Saputo

Global dairy processor expanding through acquisitions

Vice President, Research and Development

Full-Time
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
South Carolina, USA+1 moreMore locations: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Hybrid
Manufacturing & Process EngineeringProcess Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline is required.
  • At least fifteen years of progressive research and development, innovation, technical, or product-development experience in dairy, food ingredients, nutrition, or a closely related industry, including significant leadership of managers and multidisciplinary technical teams.
  • Demonstrated success defining strategy and commercializing B2B dairy ingredients from bench through pilot, factory scale-up, customer qualification, and sustained production.
  • Deep knowledge of dairy-component chemistry and functionality, including proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, cultures, and relevant separation, concentration, drying, fermentation, and formulation technologies.
  • A strong record of converting customer and market insights into differentiated technical roadmaps, application solutions, and commercially compelling value propositions.
  • Executive-level business and financial acumen, including portfolio prioritization, budget leadership, capital evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, pricing and margin awareness, and measurement of innovation return.
  • Working knowledge of food safety, quality systems, regulatory and labeling requirements, technical documentation, intellectual property, and risk management relevant to dairy ingredients.
  • Experience establishing stage-gate governance, technical standards, knowledge-management practices, digital tools, and data-driven portfolio and scale-up decision processes.
  • Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain technical talent, build succession depth, lead through change, and create a culture of scientific rigor, ownership, inclusion, collaboration, and disciplined execution.
  • Ability to translate complex science for customers, plant teams, commercial leaders, and executives and to build alignment across functions, geographies, and external partners.
Responsibilities
  • Define and execute the strategic research and development and technology roadmap aligned with division growth priorities, customer segments, manufacturing capabilities, and emerging dairy-ingredient opportunities.
  • Own the innovation and renovation portfolio, including stage-gate governance, business cases, resource allocation, technical risk assessments, milestone discipline, and transparent decisions to accelerate high-value work and stop low-value projects.
  • Lead end-to-end development and commercialization of whey- and milk-based proteins, carbohydrates, cultures, and specialty ingredient solutions from scientific discovery, formulation, and application testing through pilot trials, scale-up, customer qualification, and first commercial production.
  • Serve as the senior technical partner to strategic customers by leading co-development, technical selling, demonstrations, qualification reviews, and resolution of complex formulation, functionality, processing, and quality challenges.
  • Partner with Commercial, Sales, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, Finance, and Supply Chain to ensure solutions are consumer- and customer-relevant, manufacturable, repeatable, compliant, cost-effective, and supported by compelling value propositions.
  • Advance process technology and technical capability, including separation, concentration, drying, fermentation, formulation, sensory, analytical, pilot-plant, and application-development platforms; partner with Engineering on capital feasibility, design, commissioning, and validation.
  • Drive productivity and margin expansion through formulation, yield, throughput, quality, energy, water, waste, and raw-material optimization while protecting product performance, food safety, and customer requirements.
  • Establish technical standards, specifications, experimental design, data integrity, documentation, knowledge management, and product and process validation practices across laboratories, pilot facilities, and plants.
  • Champion digital research and development capabilities, including portfolio analytics, formulation and process modeling, competitive intelligence, searchable technical knowledge, and data-driven prediction of scale-up and product performance.
  • Ensure technical compliance with applicable food safety, quality, labeling, regulatory, and customer standards in partnership with Quality and Regulatory; provide executive oversight for technical risk and customer-impacting issues.
  • Lead intellectual-property strategy for the division by monitoring the competitive patent landscape, protecting trade secrets, guiding invention disclosures and patent filings, and managing freedom-to-operate considerations with Legal.
  • Build an external innovation ecosystem with suppliers, universities, research institutes, start-ups, and industry groups to access emerging science, specialized capabilities, and partnership opportunities.
  • Build, inspire, and retain a high-performing multidisciplinary organization; clarify roles and decision rights; strengthen technical career paths; and establish succession, capability, and workforce plans for critical expertise.
  • Manage the research and development operating and capital budgets, quantify portfolio value and risk, and regularly communicate pipeline health, commercialization readiness, capability gaps, and business impact to the Ingredients Division leadership team.
Desired Qualifications
  • A master’s degree or PhD is strongly preferred.

About the company

S

Saputo

View
Website

Saputo is a global dairy processor producing cheese (including mozzarella), milk, and other dairy ingredients for retail, foodservice, and industrial customers. It grows by running plants acquired over decades and selling products through a worldwide network of facilities. The company expanded from a family business in Montreal into a multinational with a history of acquisitions, including a US entry and a 1997 IPO that funded more growth. Its goal is to be a leading, globally trusted dairy supplier by leveraging scale, integrated operations, and a steady stream of acquisitions.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Montreal, Canada

Founded

1954

Get referred to Saputo

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q1 fiscal 2027 revenue reached $4.421 billion; adjusted EBITDA rose 7.6% to $427 million.
  • August 20, 2026, Saputo increased its buyback to 24,260,007 shares.
  • Waupun modernization and ingredients growth support higher-margin volumes through fiscal 2027.

What critics are saying

  • Trump's September 2026 dairy restrictions threaten Saputo's U.S.-Canada whey and cheese flows.
  • Lactalis takes the UK business by Q1 2027, removing $1.2 billion revenue.
  • A prolonged North American trade war can crush margins and force another portfolio retreat.

What makes Saputo unique

  • Saputo runs top-ten global dairy, with branded cheese and high-protein ingredient scale.
  • Carl Colizza split ingredients on September 23, 2026, sharpening execution around higher-value dairy.
  • August 2026 divestitures in Argentina and the UK refocus capital on core strongholds.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Paid Vacation

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

7%

1 year growth

10%

2 year growth

10%
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.

The Motley Fool Canada
Sep 25th, 2026
Trump just banned Canadian dairy and booze imports: here's how Saputo investors should react.

Trump just banned Canadian dairy and booze imports: here's how Saputo investors should react. Saputo faces fresh trade uncertainty after Trump's latest Canadian dairy ban. Here's how investors should react to this temporary trade uncertainty. Published September 25, 3:45 pm EDT Key Points * Saputo continues to strengthen its portfolio through asset sales, including its Argentina transaction and planned sale of its United Kingdom operations. * The company's revenue rose 1.5% YoY in the June quarter, while its adjusted EBITDA climbed 7.6%. * Trump's dairy ban adds near-term uncertainty, but Saputo's diversified business and improving profitability continue to support the long-term investment appeal. Earlier this month, U.S. president Donald Trump moved to ban certain Canadian dairy products from entering the United States after Canada introduced new retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. The import ban is set to take effect on September 29 and includes multiple types of whey protein, while additional Canadian cheese products are also being brought under the 50% tariff net. That clearly sounds uncomfortable for a Canadian dairy giant like Saputo (TSX: SAP) and its investors, as the company has a major U.S. presence. But should the latest phase of the Canada-U.S. trade war really make investors rush for the exits on Saputo stock? Let me explain how I'd approach the new U.S. dairy restrictions as a shareholder and whether they change my long-term view of the company. Saputo stock. Simply put, Saputo is one of the world's largest dairy processors with operations spanning Canada, the United States, Australia, and Europe. Its products range from cheese and milk to cream, cultured dairy products, and dairy ingredients. SAP stock currently trades at $40.05 per share with a market cap of roughly $16 billion. Although the stock has risen 21% over the last year, it has lost nearly 7% over the last six months. At today's price, the company also offers an annualized dividend yield of 2.1%. Recent weakness in SAP stock could mainly be attributed to the trade uncertainty around Canadian dairy. The White House first announced additional 50% tariffs on certain Canadian goods in July. Then, in September, the dispute escalated further as the United States moved to ban certain Canadian dairy products and expand tariffs to more dairy goods. Still, you should avoid making your investment decision based only on the latest trade-war headlines, in my opinion. Let me explain why. Strong earnings beneath the trade noise. Interestingly, Saputo's improving operating and financial momentum is one of the biggest reasons long-term investors shouldn't let the latest trade headlines alone drive their investment decisions. In the first quarter of its fiscal year 2027 (ended June 2026), the company's revenue rose 1.5% year over year (YoY) to about $4.4 billion. Higher dairy ingredient prices, stronger high-protein ingredient volumes, and selling price increases aimed at offsetting inflation all supported that improvement. More importantly, Saputo's adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) for the quarter climbed 7.6% YoY to $427 million. Its adjusted EBITDA margin also improved to 9.7% from 9.1% a year ago. What's encouraging is that Saputo's stronger profitability was not limited to one region, as all four of its operating sectors delivered higher adjusted EBITDA. In the United States, the dairy firm's adjusted EBITDA rose 5.8% to $181 million. Higher sales volumes, stronger demand for high-protein ingredients, and operational improvements helped offset inflationary pressure from labour, logistics, and packaging costs. Why investors should keep the bigger picture in mind. Clearly, the latest dairy ban could create a real risk, but Saputo is also reshaping its business and building more financial flexibility, which could give it strength during a temporary phase of trade uncertainty. Notably, the company continues to invest in automation, production capacity, network optimization, and high-protein dairy products. It also expects operating efficiencies to improve as recent capital investments scale across the business. Meanwhile, Saputo has been refining its portfolio. In June, it sold an 80% interest in its Argentina dairy business. More recently, in August, Saputo agreed to sell its United Kingdom operations to Lactalis. Those moves should give the Canadian dairy processor more room to fund organic growth projects, pursue strategic acquisitions, and return capital to shareholders while maintaining balance sheet strength. Given these strong fundamentals, I wouldn't treat the latest trade headline alone as a reason to abandon Saputo stock. In fact, its improving margins, diversified operations, stronger balance sheet, and investments in high-protein products continue to support its long-term investment appeal.

Dairy Industries
Sep 24th, 2026
Saputo reorganises to focus on ingredients and adds key posts.

Saputo reorganises to focus on ingredients and adds key posts. Posted 24 September, 2026 Haig Poutchigian, Saputo's new chief enterprise transformation officer. Credit: Saputo Saputo announced an evolution of its organisational structure designed to strengthen the company's ability to execute its strategic priorities, enhance commercial execution within its ingredient business, accelerate enterprise transformation and support continued expansion of its ingredients platform. "As Saputo continues to evolve its portfolio and invest in growth opportunities, it is important that our organizational structure evolves alongside our business," said Carl Colizza, president and chief executive officer. "These changes are intended to increase organisational focus, strengthen accountability, and improve execution across key strategic priorities. This is about ensuring we have the right structure to support our future ambitions and create sustainable value for our stakeholders." As demand for higher-value dairy ingredients continues to grow globally, Saputo is creating a dedicated ingredients division to accelerate innovation, strengthen commercial focus, and expand opportunities across global markets. Steve Douglas has been appointed president and chief operating officer, ingredients, where he will be responsible for leading the division's commercial, operational, innovation, and growth initiatives. Douglas will also remain president and chief operating officer, dairy division (UK), until the completion of the previously announced sale of the dairy division (UK). Saputo has also created the role of chief enterprise transformation officer, to be led by Haig Poutchigian. In this newly created post, Poutchigian will lead the integration of the business administration and operational finance, as well as information technology teams into a single enterprise services model. The new structure is intended to improve consistency, visibility and scalability across the enterprise. By bringing these capabilities together, Saputo expects to streamline processes, reduce complexity, improve coordination, and accelerate execution, while supporting productivity, automation, and data-driven decision-making across the enterprise. Meanwhile, Dave Paradis has been appointed president and chief operating officer, dairy division (Canada). In this role, Paradis will lead Saputo's Canadian operations, "Throughout our history, Saputo has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of our customers, consumers, and markets," adds Colizza. "These changes represent the next step in that evolution and will help ensure we remain well positioned to compete, grow, and create value in the years ahead."

GlobeNewswire
Sep 23rd, 2026
Saputo announces organizational evolution to support long-term growth strategy.

Saputo announces organizational evolution to support long-term growth strategy. September 23, 2026 08:00 ET | Source: Saputo Inc. MONTRÉAL, Sept. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Saputo Inc. (TSX: SAP) ("we", "Saputo" or the "Company") today announced an evolution of its organizational structure designed to strengthen the Company's ability to execute its strategic priorities, enhance commercial execution within its ingredient business, accelerate enterprise transformation, and support continued expansion of its ingredients platform. The changes reflect Saputo's ongoing commitment to evolving its business to meet changing customer, consumer, and market needs while enhancing organizational agility and execution. "As Saputo continues to evolve its portfolio and invest in growth opportunities, it is important that our organizational structure evolves alongside our business," said Carl Colizza, President and Chief Executive Officer. "These changes are intended to increase organizational focus, strengthen accountability, and improve execution across key strategic priorities. This is about ensuring we have the right structure to support our future ambitions and create sustainable value for our stakeholders." New Ingredients Division As demand for higher-value dairy ingredients continues to grow globally, Saputo is creating a dedicated Ingredients Division to accelerate innovation, strengthen commercial focus, and expand opportunities across global markets. Steve Douglas has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer, Ingredients, where he will be responsible for leading the division's commercial, operational, innovation, and growth initiatives. Mr. Douglas will also remain President and Chief Operating Officer, Dairy Division (UK), until the completion of the previously announced sale of the Dairy Division (UK). Enterprise Transformation To support the Company's continued evolution and accelerate the adoption of new technologies and ways of working, Saputo has created the role of Chief Enterprise Transformation Officer, to be led by Haig Poutchigian. In this newly created role, Mr. Poutchigian will lead the integration of our business administration and operational finance, as well as information technology teams into a single enterprise services model. The new structure is intended to improve consistency, visibility, and scalability across the enterprise. By bringing these capabilities together, Saputo expects to streamline processes, reduce complexity, improve coordination, and accelerate execution, while supporting productivity, automation, and data-driven decision-making across the enterprise. Canadian Division As part of its organizational evolution, Dave Paradis has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer, Dairy Division (Canada). In this role, Mr. Paradis will lead Saputo's Canadian operations, with a focus on advancing the division's strategic priorities, strengthening commercial execution, enhancing customer partnerships, and driving operational excellence across the business. Supporting the Next Phase of Growth This organizational evolution reinforces several priorities that Saputo has communicated over recent years, including: * Expanding value-added dairy and high-protein ingredients capabilities. * Leveraging digital and AI-enabled technologies. * Simplifying processes and improving execution. * Supporting sustainable growth and value creation. These organizational changes do not alter Saputo's strategic priorities. Rather, they are intended to enhance focus, accountability, and execution across the business. "Throughout our history, Saputo has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of our customers, consumers, and markets," added Mr. Colizza. "These changes represent the next step in that evolution and will help ensure we remain well positioned to compete, grow, and create value in the years ahead." About Saputo Saputo, one of the top ten dairy processors in the world, produces, markets, and distributes a wide array of dairy products of the utmost quality, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products, and dairy ingredients. Saputo is a leading cheese manufacturer and fluid milk and cream processor in Canada, and a leading dairy processor in Australia. In the USA, Saputo is a leading cheese producer and extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products manufacturer. Until completion of the previously announced divestiture,, Saputo remains the leading manufacturer of branded cheese and dairy spreads in the United Kingdom. In addition to its dairy portfolio, Saputo produces, markets, and distributes a range of dairy alternative products. Saputo products are sold in several countries under market-leading brands, as well as private label brands. Saputo Inc. is a publicly traded company, and its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "SAP". Follow Saputo's activities at Saputo.com or via Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Investors and other interested parties can stay informed of Saputo's latest news and financial disclosures by subscribing to email alerts on the Company's website at Saputo.com. Investor Inquiries Nicholas Estrela Senior Director, Investor Relations 1-514-328-3117 Media Inquiries 1-514-328-3141 / 1-866-648-5902 [email protected] CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains statements which are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to our objectives, outlook, business projects, strategies, beliefs, expectations, targets, commitments, goals, ambitions and strategic plans including our ability to achieve these targets, commitments, goals, ambitions, strategic plans, and statements other than historical facts. The words "may", "could", "should", "will", "would", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "anticipate", "estimate", "foresee", "objective", "continue", "propose", "aim", "commit", "assume", "forecast", "predict", "seek", "project", "potential", "goal", "target", or "pledge", or the negative of these terms or variations of them, the use of conditional or future tense or words and expressions of similar nature, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those stated, implied, or projected in such forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statements will materialize, and we warn readers that these forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact or guarantees of future performance in any way. Assumptions, expectations, and estimates made in the preparation of forward-looking statements and risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations are discussed in our materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time, including the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of the Management's Discussion and Analysis dated June 4, 2026, available on SEDAR+ under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements are based on Management's current estimates, expectations and assumptions. Management believes that these estimates, expectations, and assumptions are reasonable as of the date hereof, and are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, and other uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events, and are accordingly subject to changes after such date. Forward-looking statements are intended to provide shareholders with information regarding Saputo, including our assessment of future financial plans, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Undue importance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, and the information contained in such forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as of any other date. Unless otherwise indicated by Saputo, forward-looking statements in this news release describe our estimates, expectations and assumptions as of the date hereof, and, accordingly, are subject to change after that date. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Saputo does not undertake to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether written or verbal, that may be made from time to time by itself or on our behalf, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. All forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

GlobeNewswire
Sep 9th, 2026
Saputo Inc. at the Scotiabank Back to School Conference.

Saputo Inc. at the Scotiabank Back to School Conference. September 09, 2026 10:00 ET | Source: Saputo Inc. MONTRÉAL, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Saputo Inc. (TSX: SAP) today announced that Mr. Carl Colizza, President and CEO, will present at the Scotiabank Back to School Conference in Toronto, Ontario, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 11:15 a.m. (Eastern Time). Investors and interested parties can access the live webcast of the presentation by visiting the "Calendar of Events" in the "Investors" section of the Company's website (www.saputo.com). About Saputo Saputo, one of the top ten dairy processors in the world, produces, markets, and distributes a wide array of dairy products of the utmost quality, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products, and dairy ingredients. Saputo is a leading cheese manufacturer and fluid milk and cream processor in Canada, and a leading dairy processor in Australia. In the USA, Saputo is a leading cheese producer and extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products manufacturer. Prior to the contemplated sale, Saputo is the leading manufacturer of branded cheese and dairy spreads in the United Kingdom. In addition to its dairy portfolio, Saputo produces, markets, and distributes a range of dairy alternative products. Saputo products are sold in several countries under market-leading brands, as well as private label brands. Saputo Inc. is a publicly traded company, and its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "SAP". Follow Saputo's activities at Saputo.com or via Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Investors and other interested parties can stay informed of Saputo's latest news and financial disclosures by subscribing to email alerts on the Company's website at saputo.com. Investor Inquiries Nicholas Estrela Senior Director, Investor Relations 1-514-328-3117 Media Inquiries 1-514-328-3141 / 1-866-648-5902 [email protected]