Senior HR Generalist

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 American Group, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Senior HR Generalist based in our Buffalo, New York manufacturing plant. As a Senior HR Generalist, the role will carry out responsibilities such as but not limited to supporting the implementation, enrollment and adherence to HR programs, practices, policies and guidelines that foster a proactive work culture. The role includes proactively assessing people related needs and formulating partnerships across the HR function. Additionally, the Senior HR Generalist will collaborate with the HR Manager, leaders and employees to deliver value added service aligned with the company's goals and values. This position will have a specific focus on Training and Labor Relations. Responsible for improving employee development from date of hire through job advancement potential. Partner with safety, quality, and department managers to clearly define roles / responsibilities, job safety analysis, physical requirements and work instructions to implement effective training so employees can reach their full potential. Ensure compliance with collective bargaining and employment policies. Investigate worker misconduct and disputes, then advise management on appropriate response and disciplinary procedures. Guide employees on the terms of their employment and train management on labor relations

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• May administer effective recruiting and staffing practices by supporting efforts in recruiting positions; coordinate position planning, interviewing and the offer/rejection process.
• Support new employees throughout the Onboarding process: Coordinate and conduct new employee orientation, may include HR related training.
• Ensure each position has an updated job description, training checklist, job physical requirements, job safety analysis, standard operating procedure (work instructions) and verification of skillset once training has been deemed complete by the department.
• Develop employee engagement through effective training opportunities in support of employees’ strengths.
• Develop hourly work force skills so they are able to perform the roles and responsibilities of their jobs in a safe manner with the expected quality.
• Develop manager, supervisor, and hourly trainer’s skills to become effective coaches by facilitating the use of our E-Learning system.
• Support employee engagement in culture programs.
• Participate in Human Resources initiatives and special projects.
• Regularly engage production employees in their work environment to identify and create a positive culture that fosters safety, employee satisfaction, and loyalty.
• Assist with the annual performance review process, including monitoring reviews for consistency and accuracy.
• Supports activities related to negotiating, maintaining, and ensuring adherence to the collective bargaining agreement.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• Bachelor's degree is preferred.
• A major in HR or Business is preferred.

Experience

• 3+ years HR related experience are required
• Experience with developing and managing a training program strongly desired.
• Experience in a Unionized Manufacturing Environment strongly desired.

Competencies

• Planning & Organizing: Ability to prioritize and allocate time and resources effectively to ensure accomplishment of a specific objective with method and rigor
• Teamwork: Work with others with an open minded approach regardless of functions or positions; more motivated by team and less about oneself.
• Problem Solving: Ability to build a logical approach to address problems or manage a situation by drawing on own knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Communication: Ability to transmit and receive information clearly and communicate effectively to others by considering their points of view in order to respond appropriately; includes using tact and diplomacy as well as the ability to convey ideas and information in a way that all stakeholders/audience are engaged.
• Employee Training: Ability to define and/or conduct effective training programs that are aligned to the objectives of the business to improve/enhance employees’ skills and knowledge
• Recruitment and Selection: Ability to apply effective recruitment and selection techniques to attract and select the most suitable people
• HR KPIs Management and Reporting: Ability to define, monitor and manage the correct sets of organization and HR effectiveness/efficacy KPIs to support business improvements; ability to prepare and interpret data to produce effective reports.
• Labor Law: Demonstrates knowledge of labor laws

Work Conditions

• Extended hours may be necessary depending on the project needs
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) will be provided.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, a cell phone is required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties and responsibilities.

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 Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.

Salary Description

$75,000-$90,000