Vice President of Dairy Pool

Organic Valley•Town of Stark, WI

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President of Dairy Pool is responsible for providing executive leadership for the Dairy Pool, ensuring strong operational execution, supply stability, and alignment with CROPP’s mission, Annual Operating Plan, and strategic initiatives. This role leads the core operational functions of the Dairy Pool, including dairy field teams, milk management, handling relationships, payroll administration, hauling coordination, and quality administration with a clear focus on operational excellence, supply stability, member value delivery, and cross-functional alignment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or business.
10+ years of experience in operations management required; dairy experience required.
Demonstrated leadership experience within dairy, agriculture, or member-based organizations.
Strong operational acumen with the ability to translate strategy into disciplined execution.
Deep understanding of cooperative business models and the importance of member value delivery.
Strong leadership and people management skills, with a proven ability to inspire and motivate teams.
Financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management.
Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.
Ability to adapt to changing market conditions and lead through ambiguity.
Proficiency in leveraging data and analytics to drive business decisions.
Collaborative mindset with experience working across multiple functions and levels of the organization.
Critical thinking and decision-making skills required; able to make effective decisions among broadly variable conditions.
Ability to travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

Project management skills preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for the Dairy Pool aligned to the Annual Operating Plan and long-term Cooperative strategy.
Own and manage all aspects of Dairy Pool operations, including field operations, milk management, handling relationships, payroll administration, and quality administration.
Lead field teams and regional dairy leadership, ensuring consistent execution and strong relationships with member-owners across all regions.
Oversee milk supply management, including member and non-member milk, Grassmilk programs, and contract compliance, in partnership with Supply Chain and Commercial teams.
Lead and develop Dairy Pool staff by setting clear performance expectations and providing ongoing feedback and coaching in support of Cooperative needs.
Partner closely with Forecasting & Analytics function to ensure Dairy Pool decisions are informed by accurate forecasts, field intelligence, and data insights.
Collaborate with Member Experience leadership to ensure Dairy Pool operations support a high-quality, consistent member experience.
Work cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Commercial, Quality, Finance, and Governance leaders to ensure end-to-end alignment from farm to market.
Lead organizational effectiveness within the Dairy Pool, including talent development, succession planning, and capability building for future needs.
Drive continuous improvement of core Dairy Pool processes impacting supply, quality, and operational efficiency.
Report on key performance indicators for functional areas of oversight.
Serve as a senior leader on the Pools leadership team, contributing to Cooperative strategy, decision-making, and change initiatives.
Represent the Dairy Pool in executive, member, and cross-functional forums as needed.
Evaluate and recommend continuous improvements in areas of responsibility.
Lead and participate in cross-functional projects and enterprise initiatives.
Coordinate and facilitate opportunities for career development and professional growth to enhance staff skills.
Lead and chair Dairy Member Executive Committees, including active participation and support of subcommittees ensuring alignment with Cooperative strategy and member priorities.
Attend farmer meetings, tradeshows and educational meetings.
Maintains confidential information with discretion.
Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Benefits

Comprehensive Health Insurance - Choice of plans for you and your family, including some that can be paired with an HSA (which CROPP contributes to on your behalf)
Supplemental insurances: we offer accidental insurance, critical illness insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance.
Time Off – 136 hours in the 1st year of employment prorated by start date. Plus 9 paid holidays, plus one floating holiday to use at will.
6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave – For all gendered partners in childbirth or adoption.
Vision & Dental Insurance – Free annual eye exam, discounts on glasses/contacts, flexible dental network, adult ortho.
401k – We match 100% up to the first 3% of an employee’s contribution, and then 50% for 3.1%-5.0% of employee contributions.
Free services at five local Neighborhood Family Clinics.
Tuition Reimbursement – Up to $1,500 per year to support continuing higher education.
Life Insurance - $50,000 policy funded by CROPP for each employee. Supplemental voluntary coverage available for employees, spouses, and children.
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability/AD&D Insurance - $50,000 of life insurance coverage of $50,000 of AD&D coverage funded by CROPP for each employee.
Employee Assistance Program - Free and Confidential for employees, spouses, and dependents.
Free onsite fitness centers available 24/7
Free biometric screenings (cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure) and health coaching.
Financial advisors and seminars
Annual $360 Lifestyle Spending Account
Flexible Scheduling
On-site all-organic cafeterias