You can grow in your own way: Building bright careers at Saputo

Saputo strives to be a workplace that inspires growth and that provides support and guidance in an "employee-first" environment. Our Leadership program aims to provide diverse employees with a chance to explore and excel in leadership roles, and build the skills and confidence they need to lead with impact. We love giving people the tools to progress because we know that when we grow as individuals, we grow as a company.

But what does this really look like? We asked some employees from our Canadian, US, and Australian divisions to share their Saputo stories with us. Read what they had to say below.

Tina Galluccio - Senior Marketing Manager, Canada

Looking back at everything I’ve achieved at Saputo, I’m proud. Today, I hope my team would say I’m as valuable to them as my various leaders have been to me over the years.

I feel that Saputo really invests in its people. I know how fortunate I have been to get the opportunities I’ve had here. My colleagues are amazing, and we have an incredible culture that motivates all of us to work together and accomplish amazing things. Thanks to that camaraderie, my many wonderful leaders and mentors, and a constant exposure to multiple facets of the business, I’ve become a better marketer and a better leader. I’ve acquired a leadership certification that pushed me out of my comfort zone and strengthened my skills, and I’ve been trusted to lead teams and improve those skills even further.

What I love most of all is our freedom to be creative. We’re constantly encouraged to think for ourselves and develop new knowledge and fresh approaches to our work, which is very motivating. I’m always excited to see what’s next for us!

Danielle Penney - Quality Supervisor, Canada

I have always had a passion for teamwork and making a difference. I attribute a lot of my career progress to that. We get so many opportunities to work with each other at Saputo, and I see every role as a chance to learn more, especially from the people around me. That’s why Saputo has been so great. Developing strong relationships with my colleagues has been key to my professional growth. I’m constantly learning and growing in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Taking part in our Develop Your Leadership program was invaluable. It’s a perfect example of the resources available to Saputo employees to help us reach our full potential. I was able to identify my unique goals, develop my leadership skills, and foster a positive self-image. When I was eventually promoted to the position of Quality Supervisor, I couldn’t wait to take on the challenge. Time to put my skills to work!

Andréanne Lamarche - Plant Manager, Canada

I've always found the environment at Saputo extremely stimulating. Our projects are captivating, we all feel that we play an active part in the company’s success, and there’s a refreshing climate of collaboration and respect. We’re all inspired to put our knowledge to good use and achieve our common goals together.

Employees truly are at the heart of our culture. We’re constantly encouraged to discuss our development and goals with our leaders and participate in internal training programs that accelerate our careers. A while back, I did a course for future plant managers, and had the opportunity to speak with Saputo managers from all over the world. When the time came for me to take on my current role as manager at the Saint-Raymond plant, I embraced it with confidence.

I’ve learned a lot in this role. One of my most rewarding projects involved setting up a new production room at the plant. I had to deepen my understanding of project management, engineering, logistics and R&D, all while juggling several constraints from different teams at the same time. Finding compromises that suited everyone was a great opportunity to develop my interpersonal skills, too!

Jason Kelly - Site Manager, Australia

Saputo aims to support growth in every way, for every employee. Numerous training opportunities are sent our way, including internal programs to prepare us for future roles, and individual development plans (IDPs) created with our manager and HR business partner that focus on personal growth.

Throughout my Saputo journey, I have been constantly supported by great leaders and worked with teams that challenge the status quo. This environment has enabled me to continuously improve and grow both professionally and personally. Within seven years of joining Saputo’s operations, I had progressed from Operator, Leading Hand, Supervisor, to Plant Manager. I was suddenly reporting directly to the Board and responsible for a production plant P&L, including capital portfolio, while managing service level agreements for support services such as reliability, environment, and quality. As you can imagine, stepping into this role initially with no leadership experience was extremely challenging. However, I was supported every step of the way by the Great Ocean Ingredients team and Stephen Cook, our Senior Vice President, Supply Chain.

I’m now Site Manager of our Leongatha plant, surrounded by a can-do team and greatly supported by Belinda Pownall, our Regional Operations Manager. Being the kind of person who always thinks about ‘How I can’ rather than ‘Why I can’t’, my career here has been hugely rewarding. I’ve embraced the opportunity to grow and learn, and succeeded in a way I never thought possible.

Amanda Scholl – Director of Operations, USA

As a naturally curious person, I have a strong desire to understand how things work, and the ‘why’ behind the process. While not every experience at Saputo has been about climbing the corporate ladder, my path has been fulfilling all the same. I have always been motivated by the opportunities I have here to learn more about the dairy industry, the Company itself, and the people who work for it.

What stands out to me about Saputo is the open-mindedness of our people and leaders. New opportunities have come up for me at various times, and I’ve been able to honestly discuss them with my leader or mentor. They listen and ask questions to make sure my goals are being supported. The process has allowed me to move into challenging roles when the time was right.

Over the years, I’ve transitioned from a night shift supervisor to Quality Assurance, to Plant Manager at three different facilities, and then to my current role as Director. I’ve learned a lot from the teams I’ve led during that time, which shaped me into the leader I am today. I am very grateful for every person who has been a part of the journey.

Join #TeamSaputo. Head over to our careers page to see our current open roles – we’re hiring!