Director, Process Technology

About the role

Agropur is looking for a Director of Process Technology to define and advance the technology strategy supporting its dairy ingredient portfolio and manufacturing network. Based at the Protein Research Center in Le Sueur, Minnesota, the role leads a geographically distributed organization of Process Technology, Applied R&D and Whey Technology professionals, working with Commercial Strategy, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Sales and Finance.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the process technology roadmap supporting the ingredient portfolio and long-term business priorities.
• Advise senior leaders on technical feasibility, value potential, capital requirements, resource needs and execution risk.
• Lead the evaluation, development, scale-up, commercialization and transfer of new dairy ingredient products, processes and technologies.
• Serve as senior technical authority in dairy ingredient processing, including membrane separation, ion exchange, protein fractionation, evaporation, drying, crystallization and lactose processing.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering and Quality to improve process control, product quality, yield, throughput, reliability, sustainability and manufacturing economics.
• Lead the resolution of complex manufacturing and product-quality challenges across multiple facilities.
• Establish standards and governance for process development, scale-up, technology transfer, documentation and process optimization.
• Build strategic partnerships with customers, universities, suppliers, technology providers and industry organizations.
• Lead and develop a geographically distributed technical team, strengthening capability, succession depth and critical dairy-processing expertise.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemical Engineering or a related technical discipline; Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in process technology, manufacturing, engineering, product development or applied R&D within dairy ingredients, whey processing, dairy proteins or a closely related ingredient-processing environment.
• Proven success leading complex products or processes from technical evaluation through commercialization and stable full-scale operation.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and cross-functional programs across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Ability to travel approximately 30%.

Required skills

• Deep knowledge of dairy ingredient manufacturing, process design, scale-up, technology transfer and manufacturing optimization.
• Demonstrated expertise in membrane separation, ion exchange, protein fractionation, evaporation, drying, crystallization or lactose processing.
• Strong executive communication and influencing skills, able to turn complex technical issues into clear business recommendations.
• Ability to evaluate opportunities through technical, operational, financial, quality, sustainability and strategic perspectives.

What we offer

• Salary range of $153,700-$230,500, depending on skills, education, training and experience.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability insurance.
• 401(k) with 7% company contribution.
• Three weeks paid time off, paid holidays and two floating holidays.
• Paid parental leave and advancement opportunities.