Description

Position is a Chicagoland-based flexible/hybrid arrangement. No visa sponsorship or relocation available for this role.

People. Planet. Community.

Dairy’s journey starts on the farm, and the road we travel demonstrates our unwavering commitment to sustainable nutrition, as our farmers provide lasting and meaningful nourishment to people, the planet and our communities, both urban and rural.

Role Purpose

This position plays a central role in advancing both Dairy Management Inc.’s and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy’s environmental stewardship efforts. As a member of the DMI Environmental Stewardship Team, this individual will support team operations, including budget and strategic planning. She/he will also advance the work of the Innovation Center’s Environmental Stewardship Committee, a multi-stakeholder industry group that guides strategy to achieve collective industry environmental goals, including those set in 2020 to achieve GHG neutrality, optimize water use and improve water quality by 2050.

Additionally, she/he will work closely with DMI’s Environmental Research and Sustainability teams as well as the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy’s Net Zero Initiative team to ensure cross-functional coordination and collaboration. The position will provide an important connection point across DMI and Innovation Center teams, as well as with partner organizations, including regional checkoff organizations, the National Milk Producers Federation and more.

This position reports to the EVP of Environmental Stewardship.

Responsibilities

Lead the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy’s Environmental Stewardship Committee operations
- Manage the Environmental Stewardship Committee meeting schedule, documents, preparations and follow up
- Build, maintain, and grow relationships with Environmental Stewardship Committee members
- Manage and support the Environmental Stewardship Committee task forces and working groups (Regenerative Agriculture, Goals Measurement, Processor Working Group) to complete their assigned objectives and report back to the Committee
- Track and report progress on Committee strategies and initiatives, to a variety of internal and external audiences
- Ensure timely and relevant communications to the Environmental Stewardship Committee, knowing how to message appropriately to the diverse group of members in an effective way
Lead/Facilitate projects to define and scope sustainability topics for U.S. dairy (e.g. regenerative agriculture, circularity, resource recovery), including integration of stakeholder feedback and outreach to thought leaders and dairy community
Support cross-organizational collaboration to advance the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative, connecting regularly with other checkoff organizations and dairy associations to ensure coordinated implementation of key tasks

Coordinate cross-functional input to communications and resource development and facilitate streamlined processes that support sustainability outreach strategies to dairy cooperatives, processors, farm advisors and dairy stakeholders
Track team budget spend and contracts status
Support development of sustainability related presentations and materials, providing subject matter expertise, input and review

Requirements

Skills & Abilities

Relationship management skills and positive track record working with national-level organizations, associations, agencies, and companies in agriculture, dairy and/or sustainability
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and successfully track results and report impact regularly
Effective leader of productive and collaborative teams
Proven success influencing stakeholders without direct reporting relationships
Experienced group facilitator with a record of success achieving results
Ability to apply creative thinking to accelerate progress or overcome obstacles
Strong communication, interpersonal and listening skills and a desire for constant improvement
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving industry
Demonstrated capacity to be self-directed within a team and have passion for collaborative efforts

Education & Experience

Degree in agriculture, sustainability, communications, environmental studies or related field
Knowledge of agriculture and agriculture sustainability topics; dairy sustainability knowledge preferred
5+ years experience in managing projects or programs
Well-versed in multi-stakeholder relationship management

Other

Willingness to travel domestically approximately up to 20% of time

Benefits

We know that in order to meet our goal of growing dairy demand, we need the best people. We offer competitive compensation and generous benefits to help our employees balance their work and personal lives. Our Rosemont office is conveniently located across from O’Hare Airport and is accessible to the CTA Blue Line and Metra transit.

Our comprehensive health and welfare plans offer medical, dental, vision, life, short-term and long-term disability and flexible spending accounts (health care, dependent care, transit and parking). Our 401k provides up to a 10% match and includes a Roth account. DMI reserves the right to change or end its benefits plans or programs at any time.

Dairy Management Inc.™ is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to the principles of diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) is funded by America’s 29,000+ dairy farmers, as well as dairy importers. Created to help increase sales and demand for dairy products, DMI and its related organizations work to increase demand for dairy through research, education and innovation, and to maintain confidence in dairy foods, farms and businesses. DMI manages National Dairy Council and the American Dairy Association, and founded the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. DMI works with state and regional promotion organizations to implement these programs across the country.

We regret it is not possible to communicate with candidates except those who most closely match our requirements. Thank you.

Description Position

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