Director Environmental Health and Safety
Danone
Director Environmental Health and Safety
Danone
Global foods and beverages company
The Director, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) leads the enterprise EHS strategy for Danone US and Canada, building a proactive, data-driven culture that protects people, communities, and the environment while enabling operational excellence. This leader owns the EHS roadmap, compliance governance, IWS Safety Pillar integration, Workers’ Compensation strategy, and continuous improvement of safety and environmental performance across manufacturing plants, offices, sales, and R&D facilities. The role also represents Danone USA within global health, safety, and wellbeing forums.
Key Responsibilities
-Set and execute the multi-year EHS strategy, standards, governance, and performance roadmap for Danone US and Canada.
-Strengthen a proactive safety culture by embedding EHS into daily management, IWS, leadership routines, and frontline capability building.
-Lead the IWS Safety Pillar and ensure safety is integrated into DDS, AM, PM, E&T, and other core operating systems.
-Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, Canadian and local regulatory requirements, Danone standards, and external audit expectations.
-Use EHS data, digital tools, automation, and leading indicators to improve visibility, reduce risk, and accelerate corrective action.
-Lead incident investigation, root cause analysis, case management, and enterprise-wide sharing of corrective and preventive actions.
-Oversee Workers’ Compensation strategy, injury management, claims reduction, and return-to-work processes.
-Provide functional leadership for core EHS programs, including WISE2, 12 Safety Basics, LOTO, machine safety, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, contractor safety, emergency response, and high-risk work standards.
-Advance environmental compliance and sustainability performance, including permitting, waste, wastewater, stormwater, air emissions, recycling, spill prevention, and Zero Waste to Landfill.
-Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Digital Manufacturing, HR, Legal, and Global EHS leaders to align risk priorities, investments, and capability plans.
-Develop, coach, and connect the corporate and site EHS network; build talent, onboarding, training, and best-practice replication across locations.
Physical Demands
-Stand, walk, and move throughout a manufacturing facility, including production, warehouse, office, and outdoor areas, for extended periods of time.
-Sit intermittently to perform administrative, planning, and reporting functions
-Use hands and fingers to operate computers, phones, office equipment, and other standard business tools.
-Reach with hands and arms and occasionally bend, stoop, or crouch while observing operations or engaging employees on the production floor.
-Must be able to travel occasionally to manufacturing sites, corporate offices or offsite meetings as business needs require.
-This role may occasionally be required to lift and/or move materials such as files, training materials, personal protective equipment, or office supplies. Lifting is generally limited and incidental to the role and does not involve continuous or production level of physical exertion.
Specific sensory abilities required include:
-Vision, with or without correction, sufficient to review documents, observe working conditions, and monitor compliance
-Hearing, with or without correction, sufficient to communicate effectively with employees and leaders in both office and manufacturing environments
-This role requires standing for extended periods and lifting up to 25 lbs.
Work Environment
-This position will frequently be in manufacturing plant environment and requires regular presence on the production floor. The employee may be exposed to moderate noise, moving mechanical parts, and temperature variations.
-Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when accessing designated areas of the facility.
-Work schedules could include nights, weekends and/or holidays to provide the ability to support a 24/7 or a 24/5 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 base salary range for this position is: $180,000 - $265,000 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.
Education & Experience:
-Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Environmental Health, Engineering, Chemistry, or related field, required; master’s degree preferred.
-Professional EHS certifications preferred, such as CSP, CIH, CHMM, PE, or equivalent.
-15+ years of progressive EHS leadership experience across plant and multi-site/regional or corporate environments, required; global experience preferred.
-Deep knowledge of U.S. and Canadian EHS regulatory requirements and management systems in manufacturing or related operations.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
-Enterprise EHS strategy, governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance expertise.
-Strong manufacturing acumen with hands-on understanding of equipment, utilities, warehousing, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, and high-risk work.
-Ability to convert data, trends, and leading indicators into clear priorities, risk controls, and measurable business outcomes.
-Executive presence and influence with senior leaders, plant teams, global partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
-Proven change leadership, program management, communication, coaching, and talent-development capability.
-Comfort leading through ambiguity, competing priorities, strict deadlines, and complex matrixed relationships.
-Ability to travel to headquarters and plant locations across the U.S. and Canada, with periodic international travel.
Life at DanoneWith 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 DanoneOur BrandsWhen 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 PurposeWe’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 BenefitsOur commitment to making the world healthier starts with our employees.
Learn more about our benefits.Equal Opportunity EmployerDanone 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
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Danone is a global food and beverage company focused on Essential Dairy & Plant-Based products, Waters, and Specialized Nutrition. It sells brands like Actimel, Activia, Alpro, Evian, Nutricia, and Volvic across more than 120 markets, employing over 100,000 people. Its products aim to support health and sustainability, guided by the One Planet. One Health framework and 2030 goals, with a plan to pursue B Corp certification by 2025. It differentiates itself with a mission-driven approach, the Entreprise à Mission status in France, and strong sustainability commitments across a diversified brand portfolio to bring healthy, sustainable eating to as many people as possible.
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