This position operates within Danone’s Quality & Food Safety Department and works cross‑functionally with the Supply Chain organization. The primary responsibility is to ensure the quality and food safety of raw and packaging materials through strict adherence to Danone’s global standards. As part of a collaborative team, this role helps ensure that only the safest, highest‑quality, and most consistent materials are used in the production of Danone products.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead qualification of new supplier sites and new raw and packaging materials in alignment with global Quality and Food Safety (QFS) standards.
• Monitor and analyze supplier performance to support Business Continuity Planning (BCP) and dual‑sourcing initiatives while maintaining uncompromised quality and food safety.
• Partner with Research & Innovation (R&I) to execute material approval processes, including documentation reviews, item code creation, and specification review and approval.
• Develop, implement, and maintain QFS guidelines, standards, and training materials related to specification criteria.
• Serve as the QFS lead on cross‑functional project teams, representing QFS across sourcing, innovation, renovation, productivity, and other enterprise initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with Cycles & Procurement, R&I, Environmental Health & Safety, Sustainability, Regulatory, Food Safety, Project Management, and Operations to deliver products that meet Danone standards.
• Mitigate quality and food safety risks through the application of scientific principles, technical expertise, and global QFS standards.
• Plan and conduct supplier audits, including audit execution, report writing, corrective action follow‑up, and continuous improvement activities.
• Provide quality support to plant operations related to supplier and material performance.
• Lead root cause analysis and resolution of supplier quality issues and claims, ensuring timely and effective corrective actions.
• Apply Six Sigma, Lean, and other continuous improvement methodologies to improve quality, efficiency, and waste reduction.
• Stay current with regulatory requirements, certifying agency expectations, and internal Danone standards.
• Directly manage SQA team members responsible for supplier site and material qualification and improvement.
• Ensure global Supplier Lifecycle Management standards are consistently adopted and applied, leveraging a global community of practice and governance structure.
• Proactively collaborate across regions and categories to drive efficiency, standardization, and knowledge sharing.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

TRAVEL:  Estimated at 35%-50%

The salary range for this position is $105,000 – $157,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions.  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. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Science/Food Science/Technology or similar major
• 7+ years of combined experience with food, ingredients, quality and manufacturing
• Strong technical knowledge in food packaging and FSMA requirements
• Solid understanding of Quality Systems, Food Safety, Quality Assurance and current Food Regulations.
• Basic understanding of plant production systems, manufacturing equipment, GMP, SPC, sanitation and EHS.
• Strong auditing ability and willingness to further your auditing skills.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Mastery and globally recognized expertise in QFS systems and programs management.
• Strong ownership and demonstration of Danone behaviors and values
• Excellent communication skills with data driven decision making

• Ability to work under deadlines, with multiple priorities
• Ability to work cross-functionally within organization
• Must be adaptable and flexible
• Self-driven, results oriented, able to work independently
• Ability to work with confidential materials
• Excellent record keeping / documentation skills
• Detail oriented.
• Able to quickly learn new systems, tools, and programs

NONESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Trained in SQF, FSSC (GFSI), FSI auditing schemes.
• Experience managing external suppliers/co-manufacturers
• Previous experience in Food or Food Packaging Research and Innovation

• Prior or present responsibility as QA Manager/Engineer for a food manufacturing facility
• Working knowledge of SAP and/or similar ERP databases
• Working knowledge of Veeva, ETQ, Optiva and/or similar quality management systems

Life at Danone

With approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., our vibrant culture and endless growth opportunities are just a couple of the reasons our employees call themselves “Proud Danoners.” 

Learn more about Life at Danone

Our Brands

When you join us, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world, including 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®.

Our Purpose

We’re committed to making a positive impact on our world. Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, we’re proud to be the world’s largest B Corp.

Learn more about our mission.

Our Benefits

Our commitment to making the world healthier starts with our employees. 

• Physical Wellbeing: We pay for the majority of your medical benefits – which include medical, dental and vision – with our competitive 80%/20% cost-sharing model.
• Mental Wellbeing: Danoners receive fitness discounts, unlimited flexible time off and hybrid work schedules. We also have a range of programs that support mental health and substance abuse.  
• Financial Support: We offer a performance-based bonus, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs and voluntary perks.
• Family Care: We offer caretaker benefits, 18 weeks of parental bonding, fertility, surrogacy, adoption benefits and pet insurance.

Learn more about our benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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.

#LI-NORAM

#LI-ES2

#LI-HYBRID

California Data Privacy Law