Senior Director, Packaging, Corporate Procurement, North America

Job Title: Senior Director, Packaging, Corporate Procurement, North America

Location: Greater Toronto Area

About Us:

Welcome to Lactalis Canada – where we take pride in being recognized as one of Forbes' 2022 top employers Our journey revolves around enhancing the lives of Canadians through a rich variety of dairy delights, including some of Canadian’s favourite dairy brands such as like Black Diamond Cheese, Lactantia Milk, Astro Yogurt, Balderson Cheese, and Cheestrings. In fact, we’re proud to say our products grace the shelves of an incredible 94% of Canadian households

With a 140-year legacy driven by innovation and unwavering quality, we’re seeking like-minded individuals to join us in shaping our next chapter. Our flexible hybrid work model accommodates 40% remote work, adapting to the evolving needs of our workforce. Step into a collaborative hub with our revamped office, and enjoy free parking, endless coffee, delicious Lactalis snacks, an on-site gym, and more

About the opportunity:

The Senior Director of Purchasing as a key member of the North American Strategic Procurement team is responsible for developing and implementing short- and long-term purchasing strategies that deliver best-in-class results in the areas of people, processes, costs and supply, as well as the implementation and ongoing integrity of purchasing policies, practices, and systems. He/she works in strong collaboration with the global purchasing team, must develop networking relationships with the global procurement team, and is comfortable working in a global and matrixial organization. The incumbent advises direct reports on short and long-term sourcing strategies, leads department working capital initiatives, and assures progress against project timelines and deliverables. The incumbent will ensure that the overall focus of his/her department is consistent with the overall goals of the organization and that services provided by the department are responsive to the areas of the company within Canada and the USA.

The attributes we are looking for:

• Ensure that purchased materials, suppliers and services are in compliance with the company’s requirements.
• Responsible for the purchasing Packaging categories across various defined business units throughout the United States 4 different divisions and Canada .
• Support and manage company acquisition with the support of the global procurement team.
• Develop and manage best-in-class purchasing policies, processes, systems, tools, training and auditing.
• Responsible for reducing total costs of packaging without jeopardizing quality or business continuity.
• Support global strategy and negotiation initiatives led by corporate global procurement team by providing information such as pricing, specifications, vendor listings, market intelligence and managing the negotiations finalization at local level.
• Partner with and provide purchasing leadership and insight to the Operations, Finance, Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, Sales and Marketing groups as required at North American level.
• Partner with and provide purchasing leadership and insight to the other functions within all Lactalis North American divisions as required.
• Develop and lead a high performing team of purchasing professionals by hiring appropriate talent and providing appropriate training, development, performance feedback and establishing stretch objectives.
• Establish a high level of capability, knowledge, productivity, accountability, and decision making within the Procurement group. Champion the transfer of purchasing knowledge between all functional groups.
• Could be assigned to special projects by the VP, Corporate Procurement.
• Full ownership of Budget with input on the Budget Assumptions from the VP, Corporate Procurement and the global Strategic procurement team.
• Develop, maintain and implement with the support of the global team a sustainable purchasing packaging strategy at zone level.
• Develop and implement terms & conditions, RFQ, RFP, online bidding and other programs and processes to ensure best value and cost. Create competitive advantage of the business through innovations within applicable purchasing area.

What you will bring:

• University degree (MBA is an asset).
• Minimum 15 years leadership experience in a purchasing environment within Packaging categories
• Minimum 7 years leadership experience
• SAP or similar business systems experience.
• French language will be an asset
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills; influencing others towards a common objective
• Knowledge of Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, food packaging
• Strategic, tactical and analytical skills – systematic perspective on strategic picture & provides a clear vision of the department direction
• Detailed understanding of an overall business and purchasing function (purchasing strategy, supplier management, purchasing category management, cost management, budgeting and controlling)
• Highly business focused and proactive
• Strong organizational skills (handling workload and complexity)
• Strong negotiation skills
• Ability to interact with wide variety of business situations and all levels of management, trade groups, conventions
• Visionary leader with a strong track-record of delivering results
• Planning, project management, and execution skills
• Proficient with standard office computer technology such as Microsoft Office products and the Internet.
• Consultative and customer centric approach that nurtures interest, engagement, and the sharing of ideas

What Lactalis will offer:

Lactalis Canada believes in rewarding its people with the following comprehensive benefits package and perks:

• A Competitive Base Salary
• Company Vehicle or Car Allowance
• A Performance-Based Bonus System
• 4 Weeks of Vacation
• Benefits starting day 1
• A Pension Program with an Employer Match at 100% of up to 6%
• Tuition reimbursement plan of up to $3,000/year
• A Volunteer Day to give back to your community
• Learning and Development opportunities
• A commitment to internal career advancement with potential for international mobility

Our ESG commitment:

Our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) roadmap drives our sustainability mission. We aim to positively impact communities and the planet by enabling stakeholders including our people, consumers, customers, suppliers, dairy farmers, government, and industry partners to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of our communities and the planet through all that we do.

At Lactalis Canada, we value our employees as catalysts for positive change. Together, we will create a sustainable future, promote belonging, and make a lasting impact on the world.

Our commitment to DEI:

Fuel Our Culture with Your Uniqueness Lactalis thrives on the value each person brings. We're dedicated to amplifying diverse voices, inviting personal and professional growth, and embracing everyone's true selves. We're committed to crafting an environment that genuinely welcomes all, reflecting the richness of our people and communities.

Our promise extends to accessible processes and spaces. If you require accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary, or permanent), please inform our Talent Acquisition team – confidentiality will be maintained.

Note: Lactalis Canada does not conduct credit or background checks through LinkedIn. If required, we'll contact you after signing a Job Offer.