Director Process Technology

Agropur•Le Sueur Office, MN

9d•$153,700 - $230,500•Onsite

About The Position

As Director, Process Technology, you will define and advance the technology strategy supporting Agropur’s dairy ingredient portfolio and manufacturing network. Based at our Protein Research Center in Le Sueur, Minnesota, you will lead a geographically distributed organization of Process Technology, Applied R&D and Whey Technology professionals. In partnership with Commercial Strategy, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Sales and Finance, you will convert portfolio priorities, customer needs and emerging technologies into scalable processes, stronger manufacturing capabilities and sustainable enterprise value.

Requirements

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.
Deep knowledge of dairy ingredient manufacturing, process design, scale-up, technology transfer and manufacturing optimization.
Demonstrated expertise in several relevant technologies, including membrane separation, ion exchange, protein fractionation, evaporation, drying, crystallization or lactose processing.
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.
The ability to evaluate opportunities through technical, operational, financial, quality, sustainability and strategic perspectives.
Strong executive communication and influencing skills, with the ability to translate complex technical issues into clear business recommendations.
Demonstrated success developing specialized technical talent and building high-performing, geographically distributed teams.
Ability to travel approximately 30%.

Responsibilities

Define and execute the process technology roadmap supporting Agropur’s 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 a senior technical authority in dairy ingredient processing, including membrane separation, ion exchange, protein fractionation, evaporation, drying, crystallization, lactose processing and related unit operations.
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 while strengthening organizational capability, succession depth and critical dairy-processing expertise.