What are the responsibilities and job description for the Milk Buy & Sell Director position at Danone?
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
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.
Build annual supplier engagement plans, capability assessments, and continuous improvement roadmaps.
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.
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.
Track variance drivers, commodity exposure, haulage implications, and co product economics.
Drive structural cost reduction initiatives (farm efficiencies, network routing, contract redesign).
Contribute to global reporting and performance reviews coordinated by the Milk Performance Director
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.
The salary range for this position is $139,000-199,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.
This role is considered a “hybrid” position that allows for flexible work, meaning it is a role where collaboration with key stakeholders in Danone Hubs occurs. While you may have the option to work from home on a schedule as agreed to with your supervisor, you are also expected to regularly report to your assigned office location at least 3 days per week.
About You
Education
Life at Danone
With approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., our vibrant culture and endless growth opportunities are just a couple of the reasons our employees call themselves “Proud Danoners.”
Learn more about Life at Danone
Our Brands
When you join us, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world, including Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, STōK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®.
Our Purpose
We’re committed to making a positive impact on our world. Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, we’re proud to be the world’s largest B Corp.
Learn more about our mission.
Our Benefits
Our commitment to making the world healthier starts with our employees.
Equal Opportunity Employer
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.
California Data Privacy Law
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
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
Build annual supplier engagement plans, capability assessments, and continuous improvement roadmaps.
- Negotiation & Contracting
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
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
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
Contribute to global reporting and performance reviews coordinated by the Milk Performance Director
- Leadership & Team Development
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.
The salary range for this position is $139,000-199,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.
This role is considered a “hybrid” position that allows for flexible work, meaning it is a role where collaboration with key stakeholders in Danone Hubs occurs. While you may have the option to work from home on a schedule as agreed to with your supervisor, you are also expected to regularly report to your assigned office location 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.
- 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 with ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- Deep understanding of dairy markets, cost drivers, and supply‑risk levers.
- Advanced negotiation, contracting, and supplier‑relationship capabilities.
- High financial acumen and ability to model scenarios.
- Excellent communication and strategic storytelling skills.
- Thrives in complexity, ambiguity, and fast‑moving environments.
Life at Danone
With approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., our vibrant culture and endless growth opportunities are just a couple of the reasons our employees call themselves “Proud Danoners.”
Learn more about Life at Danone
Our Brands
When you join us, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world, including Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, STōK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®.
Our Purpose
We’re committed to making a positive impact on our world. Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, we’re proud to be the world’s largest B Corp.
Learn more about our mission.
Our Benefits
Our commitment to making the world healthier starts with our employees.
- Physical Wellbeing We pay for the majority of your medical benefits – which include medical, dental and vision – with our competitive 80%/20% cost-sharing model.
- Mental Wellbeing Danoners receive fitness discounts, unlimited flexible time off and hybrid work schedules. We also have a range of programs that support mental health and substance abuse.
- Financial Support We offer a performance-based bonus, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs and voluntary perks.
- Family Care We offer caretaker benefits, 18 weeks of parental bonding, fertility, surrogacy, adoption benefits and pet insurance.
Equal Opportunity Employer
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.
California Data Privacy Law
Salary : $139,000 - $199,000