Sr Process Project Manager; Food Manufacturing

Sr. Process Project Manager – Lactalis USA

This position can be located at one of our Yogurt Manufacturing Plants. The Senior Process Project Manager will lead and execute strategic capital investment and process improvement projects that enhance design, performance, and reliability of yogurt manufacturing operations. The role includes overseeing projects from concept through full implementation, ensuring alignment with corporate standards, plant operational needs, and product quality expectations.

• Define project objectives, deliverables, and performance criteria to support strategic business goals within yogurt manufacturing and processing.
• Conduct site assessments and feasibility studies to evaluate technical constraints, operational impacts, and cost‑benefit considerations.
• Partner with key stakeholders at corporate and plant level (Production, Quality, Planning, R&D, Finance, Safety, Maintenance, Engineering) to obtain buy‑ins and ensure project designs meet business, operational, and regulatory expectations.
• Develop complete project packages including process flow diagrams, P&IDs, equipment layouts, scopes of work, cost estimates, timelines, ROI, and risk assessments required for capital project justification and submittal.
• Identify, evaluate, and prequalify suppliers, engineering firms, and equipment vendors aligned with corporate standards and yogurt processing technology requirements.
• Lead vendor negotiations to secure competitive quotations for capital assets, installation services, and engineering support.
• Prepare comparative analyses and recommendations for purchasing decisions and capital investment approvals.
• Lead end‑to‑end project management for yogurt process initiatives, from conceptual design through commissioning, ramp up, project closure, and handover.
• Maintain and distribute comprehensive project schedules, identify critical paths, implement mitigation initiatives, and propose acceleration plans to ensure projects are completed in accordance with timelines.
• Coordinate and facilitate project review meetings, develop and distribute meeting minutes, and raise issues or risks to key stakeholders as required.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), and commissioning activities to ensure equipment performance aligns with specifications and project objectives.
• Oversee installation, startup, and optimization of yogurt processing systems, resolving technical issues and ensuring seamless integration with existing operations.
• Ensure all projects comply with corporate engineering standards, environmental regulations, food safety requirements, and applicable industry codes.
• Promote continuous improvement and standardization of yogurt processing technologies across the global manufacturing network.
• Travel to domestic and international manufacturing sites, vendor locations, and corporate offices as necessary to support project planning, execution, and commissioning.

• Bachelor's degree (required).
• Major in Food, Chemical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering (required).

• 8+ years working on Capital Expenditure, managing multi-million‑dollar projects (required); corporate or multi‑site project management experience preferred.
• 8+ years in the Dairy, Beverage, or Liquid Food Manufacturing industry (required).
• 5+ years in a USDA or FDA regulated industry (required).

• Project Management Professional certification (recommended).
• Knowledge of capital project management tools (Project Initiation, Stage‑gate, Risk Management, Cost Tracking, FAT/SAT protocol development and execution, Project Closure) (required).
• Knowledge of contract and vendor management (required).
• Knowledge of food safety & regulatory requirements (Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, Sanitary Design, 3‑A Standards, cGMP, microbiological control) (required).
• Understanding of dairy process unit operations (separation, standardization, pasteurization, homogenization, fermentation, etc.) (required).
• Knowledge of mass & energy balances and process modeling (required).
• Knowledge of tank and piping design (including agitation, heat transfer, hygienic…