Milk Buy & Sell Director

Milk Buy & Sell Director Job Locations: US-CO-Louisville; US-NY-White Plains Job ID: 2026-25274 Number of People to Hire: 1 Job Family: Procurement Level of Experience: Experienced Professionals Short Intro and About the Job Job Summary The Milk Buy and Sell Director is responsible for leading Danone's end-to-end milk sourcing strategy across the assigned geography (Global, Americas, or NORAM depending on scope). This role ensures secure access to high-quality, competitively priced raw milk while supporting Danone's sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and carbon-reduction commitments. The Director provides strategic leadership across a complex ecosystem of farms, cooperatives, dairy networks, and internal stakeholders. The Director will also manage a team of 6 people with 3 direct reports. Key Responsibilities Milk Sourcing Strategy & Execution Define and deploy the category strategy for raw milk procurement in alignment with global milk sourcing leadership. Develop short-, mid-, and long-term sourcing scenarios based on dairy market trends, supply/demand outlooks, plant needs, and cost forecasts. Ensure resilience of supply, including contingency sourcing, risk mitigation, and network optimization. Partner with cross-functional teams in Operations, Quality, Agriculture, Planning, and Finance to secure milk aligned with production and innovation roadmaps. Supplier Relationship Management Lead strategic partnerships with farms, cooperatives, and upstream milk supply entities within the assigned scope. Build annual supplier engagement plans, capability assessments, and continuous improvement roadmaps. Negotiation & Contracting Lead major negotiations with milk suppliers, ensuring competitive and stable pricing structures. Oversee contracting strategy, frameworks, and documentation in partnership with Legal and Finance. Ensure contract governance complies with global and local Delegation of Authority (DOA) rules. Market Intelligence & Risk Management Monitor dairy markets, feed cost dynamics, weather-related risks, economic policy changes, and supply chain disruptions. Translate insights into actionable recommendations for senior leadership and zone/category teams. Partner with global teams to harmonize forecasting inputs, risk mapping, and strategic sourcing decisions. Financial Ownership Own budget, forecast accuracy, and financial performance for all milk-related cost buckets. Track variance drivers, commodity exposure, haulage implications, and co-product economics. Drive structural cost reduction initiatives (farm efficiencies, network routing, contract redesign). Governance, Reporting & Stakeholder Alignment Ensure compliance with all internal controls, DOA processes, and audit expectations. Contribute to global reporting and performance reviews coordinated by the Milk Performance Director. Leadership & Team Development Lead and develop a high-performing procurement team (managers, analysts, SRMs). Coach teams on category strategy, negotiation, financial acumen, supplier management, and stakeholder engagement. Foster a culture of collaboration, resilience, and continuous improvement consistent with C&P strategic pillars. Compensation & Benefits The salary range for this position is $139,000 - $199,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on factors including relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone North America also offers a performance-based bonus and a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401(k) Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other options. This role is hybrid, with collaboration across Danone Hubs; regular office presence is expected at least 3 days per week. About You Education Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Agricultural Economics, Food Science, or Business (required). Master's degree (MBA or MSc in Supply Chain, Agribusiness, or Economics) preferred. Experience Minimum 10+ years in procurement, sourcing, or agricultural supply chains with progressive leadership. Proven track record in strategic negotiations, supplier leadership, and commodity management. Experience in dairy or perishable ingredients required. Background operating within global matrix organizations is an advantage. Skills & Competencies: Strong leadership presence, ability to influence senior stakeholders, deep understanding of dairy markets and cost drivers, advanced negotiation, financial acumen, and strategic storytelling. Thrives in complexity, ambiguity, and fast-moving environments. Equal Opportunity Danone 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. Data Privacy California Data Privacy Law information may apply where required. #J-18808-Ljbffr Danone North America