This role is responsible for category QFS performance in manufacturing in Danone owned factories.

The main purpose of the Category QFS Manufacturing role is to ensure operational QFS excellence.  We are looking to hire a total of 4 Category QFS Manufacturing Directors -- 2 focused on our Yogurt + Happy Family category & 2 focused on our Plant Based + Beverage category.

Job Responsibilities

• To be a main point of contact with the factory QFS organization ensuring sufficient time and leadership to develop QFS capability within factory teams
• To establish a 2 way stream of feedback to and from US factories, category teams and global QFS to ensure a strengthening of standards and increased performance.
• To be accountable for the implementation of the Danone QFS product and operational QFS standards across all the factories (Danone owned or Co-Manufacturers) within the designated category.
• To ensure the Quality Management System within the factories meets the needs of the product and consumer.
• To drive within each factory a QFS culture of transparency, continuous improvement and zero-defect minded executional excellence.
• To monitor end-to-end QFS performance and consumer satisfaction metrics, reporting, data and insights analytics and make strategies for addressing gaps and performance issues as well as recognizing good performance
• To co-design with factories and supply chain change projects (CapEx and OpEx) to drive food safety compliance and consumer satisfaction.
• To be an IWS expert and lead delivery of the Quality Pillar
• To develop the capabilities within the category QFS team and in the factories to deliver & execute the digital and IWS agenda.

The role covers all end-to-end QFS design and operational activities, within the designated category within the US.

Key Deliverables

Leadership

• Lead by example with a servant leadership focus enabling a culture of teamwork and trust across all teams
• Develop highly competent factory QFS organizations that are technical and capable of implementing strong quality management systems
• Establish a category network linking factories, technical expertise and global QFS teams to drive best practice, shared learnings and ultimately category performance
• Establish strong, collaborative relationships with Factory Directors, Operations, R&I, C&P and Supply Chain teams
• Work openly and proactively with zone QFS teams and categories to drive overall performance
• Develop strategies for continuous QFS improvement in designated category but also input to US + Canada FS strategy

Compliance

• Ensure implementation of food safety and quality policy, procedures and standards in factories and in quality in design processes
• Deliver the implementation of reference analytical tools and methods in factory laboratories
• Ensure audit non-conformances are followed up and closed

Governance & Reporting

• Ensure transparency in reporting issues, KPIs and QFS risks using the Danone systems and standards
• Fully interrogate KPIs and consumer feedback to evaluate product performance and protect brand integrity
• Escalate and manage issues and potential QFS risks timely, to appropriate stakeholders while fully securing product, brand integrity and consumer safety. This includes risks due to factory team capability, performance or product non-conformance.
• Ensure robust action plans created from a deep root cause analysis are in place and follow up on action closure.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• This role will require traveling on a regular basis to plants

The salary range for this position is $136,000 - $245,000 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.

Education & Experience

• 10 years in Operations Quality or Operations with a quality driven mindset

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong ownership and demonstration of Danone behaviors and values.
• Proven strategic mindset with servant leadership in focus to enable functional teams for execution with excellence.
• Mastery and globally recognized expertise in QFS systems and programs management.
• Excellent communication skills and leadership courage.
• Strong leadership to drive change within the organization.
• Strong problem solving skills and focus on enabling excellence in execution.
• Facts and data driven, with strong synthesis and analytical capabilities.

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

California Data Privacy Law