This is a pivotal leadership role designed to propel key initiatives forward and accelerate the Research & Innovation (R&I) organization toward its future vision. The Chief of Staff will act as a strategic partner to the CRIO and the Executive team, elevating the effectiveness of R&I leadership for the benefit of the broader business. This position requires a highly resourceful individual with strong emotional intelligence, analytical rigor, and the ability to stay several steps ahead of the executive team.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Performance Management

• Annual & Long-Term Planning: Lead the annual and long-term strategic planning process to align with broader enterprise strategies.
• Performance Dashboards: Partner with the data science team to build automated, consistent dashboards that track R&I performance measures and critical metrics.
• Data Validation: Identify and validate data sources in partnership with key leaders to ensure accuracy in exception reporting and trend analysis.
• Decision Support: Develop measures to add rigor to decision-making, helping leaders determine where R&I should spend time for the greatest impact.

Executive Advisory & Representation

• Right-Hand Advisor: Serve as a confidant and sounding board for the CRIO, offering objective, enterprise-wide perspectives without specific "turf" considerations.
• Executive Representation: Represent the CRIO in critical meetings, articulating their viewpoints and decisions while managing their agenda to maximize efficiency.
• Succession & Objectives: Advise the Head of R&I and project manage annual objectives to ensure all groups within the organization are successful.

Governance & Operating Model

• Leadership Forums: Drive agendas and content for R&I Leadership Team (LT) meetings and Townhalls, ensuring a focus on both strategic priorities and tactical updates.
• Meeting Management: Facilitate team communication, manage follow-ups on project metrics, and partner with EA support to maintain an accessible framework for prep materials and minutes.
• Way of Working: Implement standards for the division, such as email protocols (e.g., clear subject lines like "Decision Needed" or "Seeking Approval") to facilitate faster information assimilation.
• Prioritization: Challenge the leadership group on "go vs. no-go" initiatives, tracking deferred projects for future consideration.

Communications & Engagement

• Strategic Framework: Develop a communications cadence for engaging the broader team through town halls, recorded videos, and site visits.
• Executive Presence: Consolidate weekly reporting for the executive committee and partner with the CRIO on quarterly board documents and external communications.
• Culture & Engagement: Assess employee engagement survey results and sponsor action teams to drive meaningful change in organizational culture.

Strategic Transformation & Catalytic Leadership

• Agile Innovation Catalyst: Drive a cultural shift toward agile innovation and experimentation, championing a "test & learn/fail fast" mentality to accelerate speed-to-market.
• Organizational Transformation: Lead one or more high-priority strategic projects in direct partnership with senior leadership to fundamentally transform organizational capabilities.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Work across the North America R&I Leadership team by partnering with other function leads towards the seamless execution of key organizational goals and collective success.
• Best-in-Class Talent Development: Create a superior team of associates by modeling and coaching high-level leadership behaviors and setting modern standards for excellence.
• Cross-Technical Synergy: Strengthen cross-technical collaboration and knowledge sharing to break down silos and leverage the full scale of the North America R&I expertise.
• Strategic Influence: Act as a change agent to influence and strengthen the R&I teams, ensuring the division is viewed as a high-impact, indispensable driver of enterprise growth.

Success Factors

• Professionalism: High level of executive presence, professionalism, and absolute respect for confidentiality.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to rapidly assimilate complex data and present it in a consumable, articulated form.
• Collaboration: Strong alignment with data science, business operations, and leadership teams across the global and local organization.
• Adaptability: Proficiency in navigating fast-paced, complex environments while maintaining extreme attention to detail.

The salary range for this position is $149,000-214,000 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.

This role is considered a “hybrid” position that allows for flexible work, meaning it is a role where collaboration with key stakeholders in Danone Hubs occurs. While you may have the option to work from home on a schedule as agreed to with your supervisor, you are also expected to regularly report to your assigned office location at least 3 days per week.