The Senior Director, Strategy & Growth is an enterprise-focused business leader responsible for translating Gay Lea Foods’ long-term strategic ambition into sustainable multi-year growth, profitability and value creation. With an enterprise mindset, the Senior Director, Strategy & Growth leads the Cheese business’ strategic agenda, ensuring transparent visibility to priorities, sequenced initiatives, aligned resources and disciplined delivery against strategic and financial commitments. The role leads the Cheese marketing organization and coordinates cross-functional resources to identify current sources of consumer demand, build a breakthrough innovation pipeline and recommend investments that shape the next phase of growth.

It maintains a strong external orientation, grounded in consumers, customers, competitors, category dynamics and market trends. The role owns the 3-year roadmap, annual execution plan and business performance agenda, working through enterprise partners to mobilize the capabilities and resources required to deliver results. Own the long-term strategy and growth agenda for the Cheese Business in alignment with the Company’s Strategic Plan.

Orchestrate and integrate the Cheese Business priorities across Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, R&D;, Finance and Commercial Capabilities. Demonstrate enterprise thinking by understanding how business decisions impact milk utilization, manufacturing networks, capacity, by-product value streams, customers and overall enterprise performance.

Business

Performance & P&L; Accountability Accountable for Business performance including volume, revenue, profitability, market share, and strategic initiatives. Identify risks, opportunities, and performance gaps, leading corrective actions through enterprise governance and planning forums.



Partner with Finance to evaluate performance drivers and optimize investment decisions.

Stay informed on short-term performance and ensure it continues to support long-term strategic priorities and growth ambitions. Build a culture of high-performance, accountability and high engagement. Ensure marketing investments deliver measurable business results and strengthen brand equity.

Translate consumer, customer and market insights into strategic actions and growth opportunities. Champion a consumer-first and customer-focused culture across the organization. Own the Cheese portfolio strategy across brands, customers, and channels to drive sustainable growth and profitability.

Own the Cheese innovation strategy, pipeline, and prioritization process. Leads through influence, collaboration and clear decision framing. Balances long-term vision with disciplined annual execution.

Makes fact-based decisions using data, insights and financial analysis. Challenges assumptions and drives continuous improvement. Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field Willingness to travel as required Hybrid work environment, minimum 3 days a week in office Gay Lea Foods is a Canadian, dairy farmer owned co operative with a explicit purpose: to enrich life with dairy.

Founded in 1958, the co operative produces high quality dairy products while creating lasting value for farming families, meaningful opportunities for employees, and positive impact in communities across Canada. As a co operative, Gay Lea Foods believes that when the business succeeds, its members, people, and communities should succeed along with it.

Gay Lea

Foods is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in our workplace.

Gay Lea

Foods may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support aspects of the recruitment process, including screening and assessment. Thank you for your interest in Gay Lea Foods.

📌 Senior Director, Strategy & Growth - Cheese (Toronto)
🏢 Gay Lea
📍 Toronto