VP, Categories Quality & Food Safety

This role is responsible for the overall and end to end Quality & Food Safety performance for all categories - design to manufacturing (supply points and COMANs). The categories Quality & Food Safety leader is accountable to make sure all market observations and issues are being channelled through the most efficient way across different functions and stakeholders, ensuring consumer trust and operational excellence.

Main purposes of the Categories QFS VP role include:

Define and execute the Categories QFS strategy aligned with global standards and business priorities to

Quality in Operations

Develop QFS capabilities in plants and COMANS
• Strengthen implementation and adherence of product and operational standards and increase performance in plants and COMANS
• Ensure the Quality Management System within the factories meets the needs of the product and consumer.
• Drive a QFS culture of transparency, continuous improvement and zero-defect minded executional excellence.
• monitor end-to-end QFS performance and consumer satisfaction metrics, reporting, data and insights analytics and make strategies for addressing gaps and performance issue as well as recognizing good performance
• Ensure the right resources (CapEx,OpEx and people) are in place to drive food safety compliance and consumer satisfaction.
• Develop the capabilities within the category QFS team and in the factories to deliver the digital and IWS agenda.

Quality in Design

• Develop and implement the right process of Quality in design, insuring RFT on all projects

• Ensure new products and processes are designed to meet relevant regulatory and quality and food safety criteria.
• Ensure products are designed with consumers needs in mind and that end user experience is fully integrated into the design stage
• Ensure end to end processes within factories, including the quality management system, deliver a product that is consistent, functional and meets customer expectations
• Address QFS performance issues with existing products, ensuring that issues are raised, actioned and resolved

The role covers all end-to-end QFS design and operational activities, for all categories with NORAM including assuring a strong link to the brand/ category and commercial leadership through the QFS VP NORAM leadership role.

The salary range for this position is $275,000-315,000 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.

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 technically 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 in the Europe zone
• Develop strategies for continuous QFS improvement in designated category but also input to zone QFS strategy
• Interact seamlessly and proactively as a peer/partner with all relevant functions as needed to assure successful delivery of QFS objectives in the category.

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 risk 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.

Key expectations

• 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.
• Leader and advocate / owner for IWSsuccess
• Train the Trainer Qualified for delivery of QFS training to factory leadership teams
• Undisputed, consistent servant leadership.
• 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
• Willingness to travel up to 50%

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Science/Food Science/Technology or similar major
• 15+ years combined experience with food, ingredients quality and manufacturing
• Prior responsibility as QFS Lead within the Food & Beverage industry
• Prior experience within one or more of the following categories strongly preferred: yogurt and cultured dairy, plant based food & beverages, coffee & creamers, waters, or specialized nutrition

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, STK 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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