Senior Director, Exports

Ornua Co-operative Limited•Town of Lincoln, WI

13d

About The Position

Ornua (meaning “new gold”) is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, proudly bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world since 1961. Are you a Sales Leader looking for the challenge of taking a mission driven organization to its next level of success? Ornua is actively seeking a Senior Director, Exports to join the Ornua Family as we continue our growth trajectory. This position will play a key role in the development and execution of export sales strategies across key international markets, building strong customer partnerships while collaborating cross-functionally to deliver innovative, value-added dairy solutions that support Ornua’s long-term growth. The Senior Director of Export Sales will play a pivotal role in expanding Ornua Ingredients North America’s global footprint by driving commercial growth across international markets. With a particular emphasis on Mexico, Central America, and South America, this role balances new customer acquisition with strategic account development to deliver sustainable, profitable export growth. You will collaborate with internal teams to navigate market complexities and deliver tailored, high-performance cheese solutions that meet diverse global customer needs. You are a strategic, commercially driven sales leader with a proven ability to grow business across international markets. You bring deep experience in export sales and a strong understanding of the market dynamics across Mexico, Central America, and South America, paired with the ability to identify new opportunities and convert them into long-term partnerships. You thrive in a relationship-driven environment, combining strong cross-cultural communication and negotiation skills with a hands-on approach to business development and account leadership. You are equally comfortable opening new doors as you are strengthening existing customer relationships, always focused on delivering value and sustainable growth. At Ornua, success is not just about what you do — it’s how you do it. You demonstrate our values by seeking new ideas, making things happen, showing care for your teammates, being your authentic self, and achieving great things together.

Requirements

10+ years in international sales, export, or global business development
Proven success in both hunting and farming roles across global markets
Deep knowledge of Mexico, Central America, and South America market dynamics
Strong cross-cultural communication and negotiation skills
Familiarity with export regulations, logistics, and documentation
Technical solution selling capability across diverse customer needs
Willingness to travel internationally for customer meetings and trade events
Spanish language proficiency required
Must be located near a major international airport

Nice To Haves

Dairy industry experience preferred

Responsibilities

Strategic Prospecting & Business Development
Identify and convert new export customers, with focus on Mexico, Central, and South America
Build pipeline through targeted outreach and regional market intelligence
Represent Ornua at international trade shows and customer meetings
Customer-Centric Solution Development
Partner with export customers and internal teams to deliver tailored cheese solutions
Translate customer needs into actionable briefs and align with R&D and regulatory teams
Sales Execution & Operational Excellence
Ensure timely delivery of export documentation, samples, and specifications
Collaborate on pricing strategies that reflect market dynamics and Ornua benchmarks
Market Intelligence & Value Creation
Analyze global market data to identify growth opportunities
Champion Ornua’s go-to-market pillars across international markets
Leadership Engagement & Brand Stewardship
Represent Ornua’s brand and values in all global customer interactions