Director, Plant Quality and Food Safety

Job Title

Director of Plant Quality and Food Safety

Job Location

US-VA-Mount Crawford

Job Summary

At 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 Director of Plant Quality and Food Safety (internally titled QFS Director), based in Mt. Crawford, Virginia.

The QFS Director will strategically oversee the plant quality department, drive organizational excellence, and ensure product superiority. You will act as guardian of compliance to legal and regulatory standards and lead the delivery of best product every day, every time.

Key Responsibilities

• Food Safety, Compliance & Product Integrity: Ensure food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance for all products delivered to market, aligned with plant SQCDMN objectives and Danone Food Safety policies. Own product conformity through validation, approval, and release of raw materials, packaging, processes, and finished goods, including nonconforming product management. Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including PMO, LACF, and applicable certification and regulatory requirements.
• Quality Systems, Controls & Audits: Lead and sustain robust Quality & Food Safety systems, including sampling, monitoring, metrology, sanitation, environmental programs, preventive maintenance (cPM), and laboratory operations. Manage all plant certifications and audit programs (e.g., GFSI/FSSC, Kosher, Organic), driving strong preparation, execution, and corrective action plans.
• Continuous Improvement & Performance Management: Drive a strong quality culture through KPI ownership, performance tracking, PDCA problem-solving, and continuous improvement of key quality metrics (complaints, first pass yield, specification conformance, losses). Promote BuiltIn Quality, risk assessment, and process capability across all manufacturing steps and plant initiatives, including new products, processes, and equipment.
• Change Management, Innovation & Projects: Own quality elements of plant change management, ensuring proper validation, risk assessment, and execution of trials, renovations, and productivity initiatives in compliance with global standards.
• Stakeholder Leadership & Communication: Serve as the primary Quality & Food Safety representative for the plant, ensuring strong engagement, visibility, escalation, and communication with internal leaders, corporate partners, suppliers, and regulatory authorities.
• Talent, Training & Leadership: Develop, coach, and lead the Quality & Food Safety team, including capability building, training of first-line leaders, and cross-functional collaboration. Lead the plant Quality Pillar within TPM / Lean systems, modeling Danone Leadership Behaviors and driving ownership across operations.
• Financial & Resource Stewardship: Build and manage the plant QFS budget (FTE, OPEX, CAPEX) in close partnership with the Plant Director and Corporate Quality.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Physical Demands: The physical demands described are representative of those needed to perform the essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
• Work Environment: The work environment may include proximity to moving mechanical parts, wet or humid conditions, exposure to fumes or chemicals, loud noises, high places, and potential exposure to extreme temperatures or electrical hazards.

Engagement in Integrated Work Systems (IWS)

Ensure adherence to plant standards and procedures, including GMP, AIB, FDA, IWS, Quality, Safety, Finance, ISO, HOPE, and Danone Behaviors. Participate in and own the implementation of IWS system pillars with the objective of owning space, performance (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Mobilization, Nature), and continuous improvement.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation includes a performance-based bonus and a strong benefits package (Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, Paid Parental Bonding Leave, and additional options).

About You

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of education, experience, and skills to excel in this position. The following qualifications outline required and preferred criteria.

Education & Experience:

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

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong communication, leadership, interpersonal, and project management skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Capability to act as a change agent and build positive relationships on a foundation of trust.
• Technical expertise in root-cause analysis and implementing effective solutions. Formal root cause analysis training is preferred and should be demonstrated.
• Ability to interpret data to identify key factors contributing to product success and communicate findings to non-technical leaders.
• Ability to anticipate and articulate a 3-5 year strategic vision for Quality excellence.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal quality regulations is desirable.
• Ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment; work schedules may include early morning, late night, or weekend work as needed.

About Us

Danone U.S. is part of Danone North America. We are an industry leader with brands including 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. Danone North America employs roughly 5,000 people across 13 production locations, with a mission 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 create real value for people and the planet. Equal Opportunity employer statement retained in full as per original text.