The R&I FMCG Categories Department’s mission is to:

• Co-build the category strategy.
• Co-develop category R&I roadmap with Advanced Technology, MNS (Medical and Nutritional Science) & UX
• Lead global R&I category projects and coordinate roll-out with Zones/CBUs teams
• Own the category toolbox and category product standards including Danone Impact Journey and nutritional standards
• Co-create category IP strategy with the MNS & Advanced Techno teams
• Drive category simplification by effective partnering with category lead and R&I zones
• Co-own the portfolio strategy with the category Leaders
• Drive people excellence by building skills and competencies on the category, in partnership with zones R&I

It is an R&I department 100% dedicated to FMCG Categories in alignment with the global Categories organization for Dairy, Plant Based and Waters.

We are looking for our future Director to work on the platform "Functionals” for the Waters category. This crucial role will have primary responsibility for managing global R&I projects, building R&I roadmaps and co-building category strategies for this platform. The ideal candidate will have a strong R&D background, a strategic mindset and will be a strong critical thinker.

This role is based in our Global Research & Innovation Center, Saclay south Paris. 

Your main responsibilities will focus on:

• Co-develop the Category Strategies:
  • Collaborate with the global Waters Category teams to co-build robust categories strategies (i.e. Strategic Plan) for the Functionals platform.
  • Cascade the Global Category strategy of their platform across R&I, ensuring this strategy is effectively communicated and implemented across R&I.
• Shape R&I Pipelines and Leverage S&T (Science and Technology) Assets:
  • Translate global categories roadmaps into actionable R&I pipelines for their platform.
  • Integrate insights from S&T assets and projects from MNS, Advanced techno and UX R&I teams into category strategies and into R&I pipelines for the platform
  • Co-build patent strategy for their platform with MNS and Advanced techno.
• Lead Global Projects and Facilitate Project Transfer to Regions:
  • Collaborate with Advanced teams, MNS and Zones R&I teams to deliver proof of concept for successful project outcomes.
  • Co-build briefs with Zones to ensure successful roll-out, while local adaptation and implementation is done by Zones.
  • Be the guardian of products standards for their platform (including Danone Impact Journey, Nutrition standards, GTS…) to maintain competitive advantage.
• Promote knowledge Sharing and Bridge Regional Insights:
  • Share insights and foster collaboration between R&I and Global Categories
  • Bring insights and needs from regional markets to the global categories team.
  • Share best practices and foster a collaborative environment within their platform, promoting it as a global R&I community of practice.

The criteria below remain indicative. A candidate who has a different combination of experience and skills could also be considered.

1. Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field
2. At least 12 years of experience in different R&D roles or at the interface or R&D and business, including significant exposure to global and regional strategic positions.
3. Strategy and Critical Thinking: Demonstrated prowess in strategical thinking and critical analysis of complex business challenges.
4. Deep Consumer Understanding: Possess a deep understanding of consumer behavior and preferences.
5. Change leadership: proven track record of leading transformation projects and driving change, with the ability to operate effectively in a matrix environment.
6. Influential communication: exceptional ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership, with clear, persuasive communication.
7. Team leadership: experience in leading cross-functional teams, demonstrating the ability to inspire, challenge, and drive performance.
8. Extensive experience in science, technology and nutrition: Mastery of the areas of science and technology relevant to the category platform, as well as a solid understanding of nutritional concepts and their application.
9. Strong Business Skills: Demonstrate strong business skills, including financial literacy, market understanding, and the ability to align strategies with business objectives.
10. Fluency in English is essential for this role

Our employer commitments: 

• The guarantee of a relevant, competitive and scalable compensation package, through external benchmark and internal equity. It consists among other things of a fixed salary, an yearly bonus, gain sharing, and a Danone share.
• Flexibility of working from your home an average of 8-9 days per month.
• Skills development for all, thanks to our Danone Academy France and through a year-round managerial conversation cycle.
• The possibility to use up to 3 days a year of volunteering through the platform Vendredi.
• Parenting policy benefits, such as extended Parental Leave (14 additional maternity/paternity days covered), or the ability to convert some earnings into time off
• Other benefits include a complementary pension scheme, health care plan, CSE (partial participation to the cost of some social activity).

We are proud to promote diversity and equal opportunity within our teams. We believe that our differences will make a difference, and that an inclusive work environment will drive our growth as a company, as a team, and as individuals. We will therefore consider all applications* by fostering an inclusive work culture where everyone can feel at home. 

We have also chosen to remove inclusive writing from our job offers because its complexity penalizes people with cognitive disabilities, including dyslexia, dysphasia, or apraxia.

*All nominations will be considered regardless of origin, background, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability…

One Planet, One Health - BY YOU! 

Our four core values "HOPE": HUMANISM, OPENNESS, CLOSENESS and ENTHUSIASM serve as our compass. 

Every day, you will make decisions that impact our economic and societal performance, as well as our ability to achieve our ambitions.  

At Danone, you can just be yourself. We are convinced that it is up to YOU to define how you work, develop and progress. 

With us, you will work in a challenging, authentic, and caring environment.  

Want to know more about the daily life of our danoners? Check out our LinkedIn page and our @DanoneTalentFrance Instagram account. 

You want to take action to bring health through food to as many people as possible? Join us!

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