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Sustainability Project Manager - Value Chain

Agropur • United States • Added on Sep 21, 2026
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As the Sustainability Project Manager, you will orchestrate the implementation of environmental and social initiatives across the North American dairy supply chain. Your daily focus centers on bridging the gap between corporate sustainability goals and the operational realities of sales and supply chain teams. By managing customer engagements and value chain emissions performance, you ensure that sustainability is not just a reporting exercise but a core component of commercial operations.

This role matters because the dairy industry faces critical pressures regarding carbon footprint and resource management. You will be at the forefront of decarbonizing the value chain, helping a major cooperative translate high-level environmental commitments into measurable outcomes that resonate with global retailers and industrial partners. Your work directly influences how thousands of member farms and dozens of plants adapt to a circular economy.

This suits someone who possesses a strong commercial acumen and the project management skills to navigate complex, cross-functional organizations. You should be comfortable translating technical ESG data into compelling business cases for internal and external stakeholders.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission involves driving sustainability value creation throughout the entire dairy supply chain. You will be responsible for implementing cross-functional initiatives that align with both Agropur’s strategic objectives and the increasing environmental demands of the retail and food service sectors. Day-to-day, this includes managing customer engagement workstreams and monitoring value chain emissions performance. You will serve as the technical lead for sustainability within the commercial and operations teams, ensuring that environmental goals are integrated into standard business processes and reporting cycles.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates can expect to gain deep expertise in Scope 3 emissions management within the agricultural sector, which is one of the most complex areas of sustainability reporting. You will learn to navigate the intersection of cooperative economics and corporate ESG requirements. Furthermore, there is significant exposure to life cycle assessment tools and industry-specific metrics for animal welfare and water stewardship. The role offers a front-row seat to how a multi-billion dollar food manufacturer transitions toward a low-carbon business model while maintaining profitability.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings at least five years of experience, preferably with a blend of food industry knowledge and business development expertise. A strong grasp of P&L and sales processes is essential to ensure that sustainability initiatives are commercially viable. You should possess strong project management skills, moving fluidly from the conceptual stage to execution. Educational backgrounds in environmental science, business, or supply chain management are highly valued, especially when paired with an ability to influence senior management.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Focus your application on demonstrating your ability to speak both 'sustainability' and 'business.' Show specific examples where you have delivered ROI-positive environmental projects or managed complex stakeholder relationships across different business units. Since Agropur is a cooperative, highlighting an understanding of stakeholder-led organizations and how to build consensus among diverse groups (from farmers to C-suite executives) will differentiate you from candidates who only have experience in traditional corporate structures.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses heavily on value chain decarbonization and environmental stewardship. Given the nature of dairy production, you will likely address methane reduction, soil health, and water efficiency initiatives throughout the supply chain. There is also a strong emphasis on social sustainability and animal welfare, aligning with the cooperative's 'Better Dairy, Better World' vision. You will work to ensure these standards are communicated effectively to customers and verified through rigorous reporting frameworks.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the chief challenges will be aligning the long-term nature of sustainability goals with the short-term financial pressures of the food manufacturing industry. Coordinating initiatives across 29 different plants and thousands of independent member farms requires immense diplomatic skill. Additionally, accurately measuring and reducing Scope 3 emissions remains a technical hurdle in agriculture. You will need to build strong data collection processes in environments where data might not always be readily available or standardized.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with a meeting with the Supply Chain and Operations teams to review the progress of a waste reduction project, followed by a briefing with the Sales team to prepare for a major retailer's ESG audit. In the afternoon, you might switch to data analysis, updating sustainability metrics for quarterly reporting, or drafting a business case for a new initiative to present to the Category VPs. Your schedule will be highly varied, alternating between strategic planning and hands-on problem-solving.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

This role provides high visibility by working directly with Business Unit Presidents and Operations Leaders. Success here can lead to senior leadership roles within the sustainability department or lateral moves into commercial strategy and supply chain management. As the dairy industry continues to evolve under environmental regulations, professionals who can successfully bridge the gap between operational efficiency and ESG will be in high demand, offering a clear path toward executive-level sustainability roles.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will frequently interact with Category VPs and Business Unit Presidents, providing them with recommendations that align sustainability with organizational goals. These internal leaders are critical for securing resources and buy-in for new projects. External interactions will include global retail customers, industrial partners, and industry associations. You will also collaborate closely with farm-level stakeholders and procurement teams to ensure that sustainability standards are met at the source of production.

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