Manufacturing Project & Innovation Leader

Short Intro and About the Job

Job SummaryAt Danone, Manufacturing the best products and supplying them to meet demand is a key driver for our plant teams.   We are currently looking to hire a Site Initiative Execution Leader based in Mt. Crawford, Virginia!  

The Site Initiative Execution Leader Acts as the factory’s single point of contact for all innovation, renovation, productivity, and sourcing projects, providing technical and industrial leadership from early feasibility through execution and post launch review. The role bridges Operations, R&I/R&D, C&P, Finance, and Engineering to ensure projects are feasible, resourced, homologated, and executed in line with factory capabilities, while driving continuous improvement, standardization, and performance optimization.

Key ResponsibilitiesAs a key member of our team, you will play an important role in driving our mission forward. The following responsibilities outline the core expectations and contributions for this position:

• Serve as the site Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for all project stakeholders (Innovation, Renovation, Productivity, Sourcing), including iPRO, R&I/R&D, C&P, Operations, Quality, and Finance.
• Provide technical and technological expertise to assess industrial pre feasibility during the define phase for all projects.
• Assess and plan factory resources (CAPEX, OPEX), ensuring alignment with factory capabilities and homologation requirements.
• Act as factory project leader, integrating engineering and operations resources through trials, start ups, and execution phases.
• Lead and execute industrial trials for innovation, productivity, and quality projects, including industrial tests, new product start-ups, artwork, and specification validations.
• Build and deliver feasibility assessments for project briefs, industrial test requests, and R&P specification changes, ensuring optimal fit with industrial capabilities.
• Propose and support best technical and industrial recommendations to align R&P specifications with factory constraints and opportunities.
• Own and lead the factory homologation process, including local stage gate governance and compliance with homologation standards.
• Lead local duplication and simple productivity projects per RACI, ensuring learnings are captured and shared through the regional network.
• Schedule, organize, and optimize industrial testing and start up activities to minimize disruption and maximize efficiency.
• Generate and communicate project trial reports, outcomes, and key learnings to project teams and stakeholders.
• Support post launch project reviews and contribute to defining and improving execution standards.
• Identify and promote new innovation and productivity opportunities at site level.
• Conduct performance monitoring and postmortem analyses, comparing estimates versus actuals (performance, losses, manufacturing costs).
• Maintain strong understanding of the end-to-end factory value chain, particularly for materials and industrial processes
• Other duties as assigned

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

• Work is performed in a manufacturing environment with exposure to moderate noise and temperature variations.
• Work schedules could include nights, weekends and/or holidays to provide the ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as business needs dictate.  

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 - $190K per year.  The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, internal equity, and market conditions.  Danone U.S. 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.

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:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related field, required.  Advanced degree or certification in Project Management, Operations Excellence, or Supply Chain, preferred. 
• 10 + years of experience in manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or project execution roles, required. 
• Experience leading site level initiatives or innovation execution in a manufacturing environment, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and supply chain integration
• Solid knowledge of project and initiative execution frameworks, including:
  • InnoPro (Level 2)
  • GSUM+ (Level 3)
  • SHERPA / CAPEX governance (Level 2)
  • Project Management methodology (Level 2)
• Financial acumen with COGS fluency and understanding of cost drivers in manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of industrial trials, start-ups, and scale up processes.
• Stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and align cross functional teams.
• People management skills, including direct leadership of Feasibility Managers and matrix teams.
• Strong initiative and project execution skills, ensuring disciplined delivery from planning through implementation.
• Proven ability to execute and manage industrial trials, including coordination, documentation, and outcome communication.
• Excellent prioritization and organizational skills, managing multiple initiatives simultaneously in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to lead in a fast paced, results driven environment, maintaining focus on delivery and business impact
• Demonstrated capability to manage multiple priorities while meeting timelines and quality expectations.
• Ability to translate technical, operational, and financial inputs into clear recommendations and decisions.
• Capacity to drive results through others, fostering accountability and collaboration across functions.
• High energy, resilience, and adaptability in managing change and operational complexity.
• Must be mentally adaptable and flexible in dealing with a variety of people
• Must be able to communicate providing verbal feedback in a professional manner

About Us, We offer and What's next

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,  STōK® 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.#LI-NORAM #LI-ONSITE #LI-KH1California Data Privacy Law