Position Summary:
At Danone, Manufacturing the best products and supplying them to meet demand is a key driver for our plant teams.   We are currently looking to hire a Production Director based in our Mount Crawford, Virginia beverage manufacturing facility.  The Production Director will oversee the manufacturing operations at this extra-large beverage manufacturing facility.  This role partners closely with the Sr. Plant Director to oversee all daily production activities, directly manage business unit leaders and drive strategic initiatives, while also fostering a culture of continuous improvement and safety. This role is responsible for ensuring customer orders are produced timely in a cost-effective manner with safety and quality as top priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead short- and medium-term production strategies to optimize labor, materials, and workflows.
• Drive accountability and cultural change through Danone’s Integrated Work Systems (IWS).
• Monitor and improve SQCDMN metrics (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Mobilization, Nature).
• Provide administrative direction across departments including Production, Packaging, Processing, Planning, and Purchasing.
• Manage operational budgets, cost controls, and profit/loss statements.
• Partner with HR in a union environment on hiring, performance, and employee relations.
• Oversee capital project planning and execution.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, FDA, safety, and food quality standards.
• Foster a collaborative, ethical, and high-performance culture across teams.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs and ladders, balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear.  Occasionally required to lift and / or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Willing to work off shift on a regular basis to support IWS coaching and team development.
• Be available nights and weekends for remote support of plant operations. 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.  The employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and may be exposed to loud noises in the plant.  The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to extreme cold, risk of electrical shock and vibration.

Engagement in our Integrated Work Systems (IWS)
Ensure adherence to plant standards (including but not limited to GMP, AIB, FDA, Quality, Safety, Finance, ISO, Daily Direction Setting, Driving Operational Efficiency). As a fundamental piece of the organization, your responsibility is to participate and own the implementation and deployment of related integrated work systems and corresponding pillars (Leadership foundation, Daily Direction Setting, Driving Operational Efficiency; Autonomous Maintenance; planned Maintenance; Focused Improvement; Education and Training; Environmental, Health and Safety; Quality; Organization; Supply Network; Early Equipment Management) with the objective of owning your space, owning your performance (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Mobilization, Nature) and owning your continuous improvement.  

Benefits:
Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options.    

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of education, experience, and skills that enable them to excel in this position. The following qualifications outline what we’re looking for, including both required and preferred criteria:

Education & Experience:

• A high school diploma or GED is required.   A bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, Food Science, or related field is preferred.  In lieu of completed degree, a combination of education and work experience will be considered. 
• 10+ years of production management experience in a high-speed food / beverage/ CPG manufacturing environment, required.
• 2+ years of UHT dairy processing experience (preferred).
• Experience in consumer packaging and continuous improvement methodologies (i.e. IWS, Lean, TPM), required.
• Experience with budget and cost management, required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to establish and react to changing priorities
• Ability to prioritize plant operations in light of multiple priorities and conflicting demands.
• Strong knowledge of GMP’s - to include regulations which govern food products
• Knowledge of safety policies and procedures regarding chemicals, equipment/machinery
• Excellent negotiation skills. - including an ability to understand sensitive situations.
• Strong leadership skills, strong influential ability and strong interpersonal and communication skills required to interact successfully with all levels of plant and organization, as well as to develop and coach teams.
• Strong analytical ability and have demonstrated problem solving and decision-making skills; ability to make decisions with limited information and to handle uncertainty and change.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to schedule activities, and are process-oriented; able to identify process improvements and implement change successfully.
• Ability to support a 24/7 production environment as business needs dictate.  Work schedules could include day or night shift schedules, and occasional weekends as business needs dictate.

Danone U.S. is part of Danone North America, a purpose-driven company and an industry leader in the food and beverage category. You’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world. Our strong portfolio of brands includes: Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, STōK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®. 

With approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., Danone North America's mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible. 

You’ll be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world, working to make sure our company creates real value for people and the planet. Come join our movement for a healthier world: One Planet. One Health BY YOU.

Danone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.

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