Director Dairy Procurement Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Posting
Job Title: Procurement Director
Function: Procurement
Reports to: VP of Supply Chain
Location: Hilbert, WI
Position Type: Full-time, Permanent
Schedule: 7am - 4pm, Monday through Friday
Ornua (meaning "new gold") is Ireland's largest exporter of Irish dairy products, proudly bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world since 1961.
Are you a procurement or supply chain leader looking for the challenge of taking a mission driven organization to its next level of success?
Ornua is actively seeking a Procurement Director to join the Ornua Family as we continue our growth trajectory. This position will play a key role in strategic sourcing, negotiation, and procurement of all dairy and non-dairy ingredients, packaging materials, consumables, and support services representing $350.0M in annual spend.
WHY THIS ROLE IS VALUABLE
The Procurement Director develops and executes long-term procurement strategies that balance inventory levels with market volatility to ensure profitability, supply continuity, and adherence to quality standards. Key responsibilities include conducting market analysis, building and managing strategic supplier partnerships, leading cost-optimization and risk-mitigation initiatives, reducing material obsolescence, and optimizing replenishment strategies to meet sales and inventory objectives. The position also provides leadership and direction to a team of six direct reports.
You will report directly to the Vice President of Supply Chain, for Ornua Ingredients North America, headquartered in Hilbert, WI, with manufacturing facilities located in Hillsboro, Hilbert, and Whitehall, WI, as well as Byron, MN.
You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Research & Development (R&D), Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Food Safety & Quality. This integrated approach ensures we deliver tailored, high-performance solutions that meet the evolving needs of our manufacturing partners.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ROLE
The ideal Procurement Director will bring a blend of strategic vision, commercial acumen, leadership capability, and deep industry knowledge within the dairy manufacturing industry.
At Ornua, success is not just about what you do - it's how you do it. You demonstrate our values by seeking new ideas, making things happen, showing care for your teammates, being your authentic self, and achieving great things together.
The greatest strength of Ornua Ingredients lies in our people. Their commitment to customer success is matched only by their passion for our products and our ability to deliver innovative solutions with exceptional flavor, functionality, value, and quality. This spirit of innovation, knowledge sharing, and service excellence is woven into every aspect of our organization-from how we engage with customers to our reliability and responsiveness.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
  • Develop and implement sourcing strategies for dairy and non-dairy commodity ingredients
  • Lead supplier selection, contract negotiations, and performance management.
  • Monitor commodity markets and dairy industry trends to anticipate cost fluctuations and supply risks.
  • Develop and execute sourcing strategies for dairy and non-dairy commodities, negotiating contract pricing and terms with suppliers to secure favorable agreements and reduce costs.
• Supplier Relationship Management
  • Monitor supplier performance regarding quality, delivery, and compliance, initiating corrective actions when necessary.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure quality, reliability, and innovation
  • Conduct regular supplier evaluations and audits to ensure compliance with food safety and sustainability standards.
  • Maintain compliance with, and complete all required training associated with, the Supplier Approval Program
• Cost Optimization & Risk Management
  • Identify cost-saving opportunities through value analysis, supplier consolidation, and process improvements.
  • Develop contingency plans to mitigate supply chain disruptions.
  • Collaborate with production or sales teams to forecast demand, maintain optimal inventory levels, and prevent shortages or excessive stock (distress).
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with R&D, Quality Assurance, Production, and Finance to align sourcing strategies with business goals.
  • Support new product development by sourcing innovative ingredients and materials.
• Market Intel & Systems Management
  • Utilize ERP systems to manage procurement activities and generate reports.
  • Analyze spend data and market intelligence to inform strategic decisions.
  • Analyze dairy commodity markets, regulatory changes, and pricing trends to anticipate fluctuations and mitigate risk
  • Manage the category budget, track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as cost savings and supplier compliance, and ensure accurate invoicing.
• Leadership Engagement & Brand Stewardship
  • Lead, mentor, and supervise junior buyers or procurement assistants, providing direction, training, and performance feedback
  • Represent Ornua's brand and values with professionalism and integrity in all externa and internal interactions
• Commitment to Continuous Improvement and Flexibility
  • Comply with all safety guidelines and regulatory standards, setting an example in maintaining high ethical standards and practices
  • Comply with all company purchasing policies and procedures
  • Comply with all laws and regulations for procured products and services of the company
  • Demonstrate exceptional adaptability, managing diverse tasks and responding proactively to evolving business needs
  • Recommend new processes or systems for improvement, implementation of new ideas and strategies.
  • Perform other duties and projects as assigned

EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Qualifications

• 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in dairy product and commodity purchasing within a dairy manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of pasteurized process cheese or strong willingness to learn quickly.
• Proven ability to manage complex supplier relationships with strong commercial acumen.
• Skilled in project management, cross-functional collaboration, and problem-solving, with strong analytical ability.
• High attention to detail, ownership, and accountability.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, influencing, and presentation skills.
• Collaborative working style with the ability to influence and partner across cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, resilience, and self-motivation.
• Ability to work effectively with internal teams at regional, national, and potentially global levels.

Desired Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Science, or a related field.
• Experience within a food-ingredients manufacturing environment (if dairy experience is already strong).
• Experience with product application demonstrations.

WHY ORNUA?
Ornua is a purpose-driven, values-led co-operative creating value for Irish dairy farming families through our global operations. With 10 business units, 16 production facilities, and in-market teams across the world, we operate through two divisions - Ornua Foods, which markets our iconic consumer brands including Kerrygold and Pilgrims Choice, and Ornua Ingredients, which provides innovative, customized dairy ingredient solutions to our customers.

• Our Values lie at the core of everything we do. Our five values encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care, and Achieve Great Things Together.
• We invest in our people and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Career progression opportunities, including global mobility.
• Comprehensive benefits with region-specific offerings.

TOTAL REWARDS
At Ornua Ingredients North America, our Total Rewards package goes far beyond your paycheck. From day one, you'll have access to a comprehensive benefits offering that includes: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Life Insurance, Accident, Hospital, and Critical Illness coverage, 401(k) with company matching and 100% immediate vesting, Generous Paid Time Off,20 weeks of Maternity Leave, Parental Leave, Annual Incentive Bonus, Career Growth and advance opportunities, and Education Reimbursement.
Would you like to make an impact? Apply today!
Ornua is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be provided with equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or genetic information. Ornua is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact Ornua People Services at 833-450-2385 or peopleservicesus@ornua.com.
This employer participates in E-Verify, a federal program that verifies the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. As part of the hiring process, information provided on your Form I-9 will be submitted to the E-Verify system. E-Verify compares your information to records maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.
For more information about E-Verify, please visit www.e-verify.gov.