Manager, Dairy Community Sustainability Outreach

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy is working across the dairy community to advance our vision of dairy providing transformative good for people and planet. Founded by dairy farmers through Dairy Management Inc, the Innovation Center brings leaders from across dairy companies, farmers, NGOs, CPG companies, academia, government and more to align on pre-competitive priorities, identify innovative solutions, share best practices and drive positive impact in health and wellbeing, environmental stewardship, animal care and communities.

About the Role

This is an office-based role in Rosemont, IL with hybrid flexibility. Visa sponsorship and relocation are not available for this position.

The Manager, Dairy Community Sustainability Outreach position is part of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy team and advances execution of the organization’s B2B outreach efforts across the dairy value chain, building engagement, support and participation in the U.S. dairy community’s social responsibility and sustainability platform.

INNOVATION CENTER OUTREACH: Support the Innovation Center as it progresses toward a future where dairy unlocks transformative good for people and the planet.

• Support Innovation Center outreach efforts to internal and external dairy value chain stakeholders, ensuring appropriate POV for audience(s)
  • Maintain and build relationships with targeted companies; participate in meetings with dairy companies and contribute to Innovation Center staff presentations and talking points
  • Support B2B engagement and outreach and recruitment with the dairy community through existing programming and channels i.e., Linkedin, Common Voice, Dairy Sustainability Alliance membership etc.
  • Monitor, dispatch and respond to requests that come into the Innovation Center and Stewardship Commitment Inboxes.
  • Project manage Innovation Center updates to USdairy.com
• Manage and analyze industry tracking system and updating of tool to report industry public-facing commitments and progress against priorities and related initiatives
• Track results and draft salesforce reports on Innovation Center outreach efforts
• Maintain and update Board company profiles and industry engagement in the IC
• Develop Innovation Center resources for dairy stakeholders
• Support reporting of progress against Innovation Center’s strategic plan for IC or DMI requests.
• Project-manage Innovation Center updates to USdairy.com

INNOVATION CENTER PROGRAMS: Support other Innovation Center-wide programs with high dairy community engagement.

• Dairy Sustainability Alliance: support advancement of the Alliance as a main platform for engaging with the dairy community on social responsibility
  • Member Outreach: Gather information for monthly Dairy Sustainability Alliance updates and quarterly newsletters
  • Sustainable Agriculture Summit: Participate in planning meetings, support development of communications materials and provide onsite support
  • Additional Material: Support drafting / creation of additional Dairy Sustainability Alliance materials/resources as needed
• U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment: support the committee and member outreach of the industry’s social responsibility pledge
• U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards Program: support this important showcase of U.S. dairy community successes as this program evolves in 2023.

Dairy Food industry and retail engagement:

• Manage and analyze retail and foodservice tracking system and updating of tool to analyze and report on public-facing commitments and progress against priorities and dairy related initiatives
• Support quarterly bulletin for dairy customer audience.
• Assist, as needed, with the development of materials and resources for food industry outreach and engagement.
• Engage in food industry outreach strategy development, measurement, and execution.

• Education & Experience: 

• • Bachelor's Degree
  • 3-5 years' in corporate communications, community relations, or public affairs

• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• • Excellent people and relationship building skills
  • Extreme attention to detail
  • High level of writing and presentation editing skills
  • Above average project management skills
  • Excellent grammatical and proof-reading skills
  • Full proficiency in Windows, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint
  • Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills to support data collection, analysis and reporting
  • Ideal candidates will have solid experience working with defined tables, pivot tables, formulas and functions, and data visualization, paired with attention to detail and strong analytical skills
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Ability to handle multiple simultaneous projects and shifting priorities
  • Strong member service philosophy
  • Ability to follow-up on details and communicate accurately
  • Able to work independently as well as in a team environment

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). We also offer generous maternity and paid paternal leave plans. 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.

More About Us

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.

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.

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