Plant Quality and Food Safety Director

Job Summary

We are seeking a Quality & Food Safety Director to join our Mount Crawford, Virginia beverage manufacturing facility. As a key member of the plant leadership team, you will oversee product quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement for iconic brands including International Delight, STK, Silk, and So Delicious. Reporting to the Sr. Plant Director, in this role, you will lead a Quality organization of approximately 30 direct and indirect team members at one of Danone's flagship manufacturing facilities, producing products trusted by millions of consumers every day. This highly visible role provides the opportunity to shape plant strategy, develop talent, and drive product superiority across a complex 700+ employee operation with 14 production lines.

Relocation support is available for qualified candidates. Located in Virginia's scenic Shenandoah Valley, Mount Crawford offers a high quality of life, affordable housing, excellent outdoor recreation, and convenient access to Charlottesville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C.

Why Join Danone?

Lead Quality & Food Safety for Danone USA's largest beverage manufacturing facility
• Serve as a key member of the plant leadership team
• Influence plant strategy, performance, and consumer trust
• Develop and lead a high-performing quality organization
• Gain exposure to senior operations and quality leaders across Danone USA

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all plant Quality & Food Safety teams and programs
• Serve as the plant's senior quality leader and food safety authority
• Ensure compliance with FDA, PMO, FSSC/GFSI and customer requirements
• Drive quality culture and continuous improvement initiatives
• Lead audit readiness and certification programs
• Partner with operations to improve product performance and reduce losses
• Develop and coach high-performing quality teams
• Oversee change management, validation, and risk assessment activities
• Manage department budgets and resource planning
• Shape the long-term quality strategy for the facility

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs and ladders, balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear. Occasionally required to lift and / or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and may be exposed to loud noises in the plant. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to extreme cold, risk of electrical shock and vibration.

Engagement in our Integrated Work Systems:
Ensure adherence to plant standards and procedures (including but not limited to GMP, AIB, FDA, IWS, Quality, Safety, Finance, ISO, HOPE, Danone Behaviors, Daily Direction Setting, Driving OE). As a fundamental piece of the organization, your responsibility is to participate and own the implementation and deployment of IWS system and its pillars (Leadership foundation, Daily Direction Setting, Driving OE; Autonomous Maintenance; planned Maintenance; Focused Improvement; Education and Training; Environmental, Health and Safety; Quality; Organization; Supply Network; Early Equipment Management) with the objective of owning your space, owning your performance (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Mobilization, Nature) and owning your continuous improvement.

Compensation & Benefits:

The salary range for this position is: $150K-$200K per year. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate's relevant experience, internal equity, and market conditions. This role also offers an annual performance-based bonus (23% STI target and is eligible for participation in our LTI program), 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.

About You:
The ideal candidate will bring a combination of education, experience, and skills that enable them to excel in this position. The following qualifications outline what we're looking for, including both required and preferred criteria:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in food science or microbiology or related field, required.
• 10+ years of quality experience within a food or beverage manufacturing environment, required.
• Prior experience within dairy or beverage manufacturing environment is highly desired.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Highly developed communication, leadership, interpersonal, project management skills, coupled with organizational sensitivity and the ability to influence key decision makers at all levels.
• Act as a change agent who is able to build positive relationships on a foundation of trust and mutual respect.
• Technical expertise in finding root cause of quality issues and implementing best solution possible.
• Formal root cause analysis training preferred and must be demonstrated.
• Ability to sift through data to find key factors that contribute to a successful product and the ability to communicate this information to non-technical plant leaders and employees.
• Able to anticipate and prepare 3-5-year strategic vision for Quality excellence.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal quality regulations is desired.
• Ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as business needs dictate. Work schedules could include early morning, late night or weekend work as needed.

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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