We’re proud to partner with Select Milk Producers, one of the nation’s largest and most innovative dairy cooperatives. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, Select Milk represents 110 family-owned dairies across the Southwest and Midwest. With more than 800 employees, 32 subsidiaries, 8 processing plants, and multiple joint ventures, Select Milk is recognized for its leadership in animal health, environmental sustainability, and product innovation. Generating nearly $3 billion in annual revenue and marketing over 10 billion pounds of milk each year, Select Milk Producers is helping shape the future of dairy and nutrition.
"We strive to go above and beyond what’s expected in providing for our families, leading our employees, caring for our land and animals, serving our customers, producing quality milk, and serving one another. This commitment is more than our business, it’s in our culture and our character. We believe in being accountable, in doing what’s right, in performing at our best, in setting a higher standard."
Select Milk Producers and its subsidiaries offer competitive compensation and a best-in-class benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, along with additional options to meet the needs of you and your family. Eligible employees also enjoy a 401(k) plan with up to a 6% company match, disability coverage, paid holidays, and vacation time. We take pride in fostering an inclusive workplace and are committed to being an equal opportunity employer.
About the Role
The Project Manager (PM) is a key member of the Select Services Commercial Solutions team, responsible for leading the development and execution of strategic capital and operational initiatives for both internal and external customers.
This role goes beyond traditional project management. The PM serves as a technical and execution leader across a wide range of customer-facing priorities, including plant operations, reliability, capital planning, environmental health and safety, sustainability, quality, continuous improvement, and innovation.
The ideal candidate brings strong engineering and manufacturing experience, thrives in fast-paced environments, and can lead complex projects from concept through commissioning while partnering effectively across a matrix organization.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Project Leadership & Execution
Lead the delivery of key customer project initiatives, ensuring scope, timeline, and execution expectations are met.
Manage project phases including scoping, approval, design, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
Lead project teams from concept through commissioning, qualification, and validation (CQV).
Ensure cash flow and financial discipline are maintained across assigned projects and sites.
Technical & Operational Support
Provide technical leadership across operational priorities including safety, reliability, food quality, and plant effectiveness.
Support on-site troubleshooting and root cause problem solving in high-pressure environments.
Develop and implement solutions that improve asset reliability, operational performance, and cost effectiveness.
Cross-Functional Partnership & Resource Management
Manage direct, dotted-line, and contract resources as assigned.
Build strong working relationships across customer teams including Operations, Quality, Finance, Sales, and Maintenance.
Proactively manage key equipment supplier and partner relationships.
Industry Standards & Continuous Improvement
Maintain awareness of current food processing technologies, engineering standards, and regulatory codes.
Apply lean manufacturing and continuous improvement concepts to engineering design and project execution.
Direct Supervisory Responsibilities
There are no current direct reports to this position.
Core Competencies
Success in this role requires a blend of execution discipline, technical credibility, and cross-functional leadership. The Project Manager must demonstrate the following core competencies:
Execution Excellence
Drives complex projects forward with urgency, structure, and accountability
Consistently delivers results across scope, schedule, cost, and operational readiness
Brings strong follow-through and ownership from concept through completion
Technical & Operational Credibility
Earns trust through practical engineering knowledge and plant-floor understanding
Applies sound judgment in equipment decisions, troubleshooting, and operational tradeoffs
Comfortable operating hands-on in manufacturing environments when needed
Structured Problem Solving
Quickly assesses ambiguous situations, identifies root causes, and develops actionable solutions
Anticipates risks early and builds mitigation plans before issues escalate
Uses data, field insight, and operational experience to guide decisions
Cross-Functional Influence & Collaboration
Builds strong partnerships across Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Finance, and Commercial teams
Leads effectively through influence in a matrix organization
Aligns diverse stakeholders toward shared outcomes and execution priorities
Customer & Partner Orientation
Represents Select Services with professionalism and credibility in customer-facing settings
Manages vendor and contractor relationships with clear expectations and accountability
Focuses on delivering solutions that improve customer outcomes and long-term value
Communication & Executive Presence
Communicates clearly and confidently with frontline teams and senior leadership
Translates technical complexity into practical recommendations and decision points
Provides concise, structured project updates that enable timely action
Continuous Improvement Mindset
Brings an operational excellence lens to every project
Identifies opportunities to improve reliability, safety, cost, and performance beyond the immediate scope
Embeds sustainability, compliance, and long-term asset discipline into execution
Adaptability & Resilience
Thrives in fast-paced environments with shifting priorities and high expectations
Maintains composure under pressure and drives progress through challenges
Comfortable with travel, field execution, and independent responsibility
Qualifications & Experience
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, Industrial Engineering, Analytics, or related field required.
MBA preferred (not required).
Equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered in lieu of a technical degree.
Experience
5+ years of experience in business analysis, operational analytics, finance analytics, strategy, consulting, or related roles.
Demonstrated experience building models, interpreting data, and delivering recommendations to leadership.
Experience in manufacturing, food, dairy, supply chain, or CPG environments is a plus.
Skills & Tools
Advanced Excel modeling and analysis capability
Strong PowerPoint skills (executive-ready storytelling)
Experience with data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, SSRS)
Experience with SQL for data querying preferred
Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP or equivalent) for accessing data is a plus
Work Environment
Primarily remote work environment; occasional time spent in production/farm/field settings as needed to understand operations and validate findings.
About Select
Select Milk is one of the nation’s largest and most progressive dairy cooperatives with likeminded producers that have earned a reputation for innovation in animal welfare, environmental sustainability, technology, and overall industry best practices. Established in 1994, Select Milk markets and processes milk from member dairies in the Southwest and the upper Mid-West. Headquartered in Dallas, the company has over 110 family-owned dairies, thirty-two wholly owned subsidiaries, and eight joint ventures with other major food/beverage producers.