Director, Transportation

Short Intro and About the Job

Quality, efficiency, and safety are central to our work at Danone. Our Supply Chain team produces high-quality products and ensures they are available to meet demand at the right time and right cost. We are seeking a Director, Transportation based in White Plains, NY, or Louisville, CO.

Our Operations function connects and streamlines the end-to-end value chain. By working as one integrated team, we deliver a superior product experience, turn challenges into competitive advantages, align objectives, allocate resources effectively, and prioritize high-value initiatives. Transportation is essential to serving our customers and satisfying consumers as the final step before our products reach the shelf.

 Key responsibilities include:

• Lead Danone US transportation strategy and execution as an integrated capability.
• Develop service-focused operating plans that drive continuous improvement and net productivity across transportation operations.
• Oversee daily operations while building the strategic framework, roadmap, and network needed to support Danone North America’s long-term growth.
• Serve as a member of the Logistics Leadership Team.
• Own transportation spending across outbound, interplant, shuttle, and OS&D operations—one of North America’s largest spend categories—and deliver the transportation components of rolling forecasts.
• Own the strategy and execution of transportation operations, driving service, cost, capacity, and operational performance while ensuring accountability and continuous improvement across strategic third-party partners, including Uber Freight.
• Establish governance, business reviews, and corrective-action processes with carriers, third-party logistics providers, and internal stakeholders.
• Improve on-time delivery, tender acceptance, cost per shipment, utilization, claims, dwell time, and transportation safety.
• Optimize the transportation network through mode shifts, route redesign, load consolidation, backhaul development, and dynamic capacity planning.
• Implement and continuously improve processes, KPIs, and scorecards that strengthen accountability and results.
• Partner with Logistics Procurement to lead carrier sourcing, contract negotiations, bid events, and capacity strategies across refrigerated truckload, dedicated, intermodal, LTL, and specialty transportation.
• Balance cost and service to meet Danone’s customer and consumer expectations.
• Collaborate with Customer Operations, Sales, Supply Planning, Warehousing, Procurement, Finance, and Manufacturing to improve end-to-end supply chain performance.
• Advance transportation technology and data capabilities, including transportation management systems, real-time visibility, predictive analytics, automation, and reporting.
• Lead talent management and development across the function.

The salary range for this position is $150,000-220,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone USA 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.

About You

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
• 12+ years of relevant logistics experience, preferably in consumer products.
• 8+ years of transportation/logistics experience, including 4+ years in transportation leadership roles.
• Deep knowledge of refrigerated truckload, dedicated fleets, intermodal, LTL, shuttle, and specialty transportation operations.
• Proven experience managing large transportation budgets and delivering measurable cost productivity.
• Strong command of transportation KPIs, including on-time delivery, tender acceptance, cost per shipment, utilization, dwell time, claims, and safety.
• Experience managing third-party logistics providers through governance, scorecards, and business reviews.
• Proven ability to develop transportation strategies, optimize networks, balance cost and service, and lead continuous improvement.
• Proficiency with transportation management systems, ERP platforms, real-time visibility tools, Power BI, and advanced analytics.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and align stakeholders in a highly matrixed, cross-functional organization.
• Strong people leadership experience, including team building, talent development, performance management, and succession planning.
• Excellent executive communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• Deep supply chain expertise, including inventory control, transportation, and distribution.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and strategic thinking to optimize supply chains and improve efficiency.
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence senior leadership decisions.
• Ability to negotiate change and compromise across multiple levels of Operations and influence stakeholders in a highly matrixed environment.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, business-case development, and productivity tracking.
• Process improvement or Lean Six Sigma certification preferred.

About Us, We offer and What's next

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. 

• Physical Wellbeing: We pay for the majority of your medical benefits – which include medical, dental and vision – with our competitive 80%/20% cost-sharing model.
• Mental Wellbeing: Danoners receive fitness discounts, unlimited flexible time off and hybrid work schedules. We also have a range of programs that support mental health and substance abuse.  
• Financial Support: We offer a performance-based bonus, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs and voluntary perks.
• Family Care: We offer caretaker benefits, 18 weeks of parental bonding, fertility, surrogacy, adoption benefits and pet insurance.

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-NORAMEmployee & Applicant Privacy Policy