Director, Technical Services Packaging

At Danone North America, we are committed to delivering world-class manufacturing performance through purpose-driven leadership, innovation, and continuous improvement. As Director, Technical Services Packaging, you will lead the strategic deployment of technical excellence across our manufacturing network, with a focus on packaging systems, equipment reliability, and site capability. This role is central to achieving productivity, quality, and agility goals while embedding a culture of proactive problem-solving and capability building.

You will benchmark and integrate best practices from North America, Global Danone operations and leading external CPG organizations to elevate our technical capabilities and ensure our manufacturing systems are future-ready.

Job Responsibilities:

Lead the Manufacturing Technical Optimization strategy across Danone North America on the Secondary Packaging Platform through your team: growing capability, aligning on standards and ways of working, and solving chronic technical issues.
• Develop and deploy contingency plans for critical incidents such as equipment failures and supply disruptions to mitigate operational risks, ensure supply, and limit any financial risk.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Innovation teams on new capacity installations and packaging innovations to ensure seamless integration with existing systems.

Operational Execution

• Implement advanced analytics and digital tools (e.g., IoT, predictive maintenance platforms) to monitor equipment performance, forecast maintenance needs, and inform strategic decisions.
• Provide packaging and equipment technical support at manufacturing sites to resolve issues that hinder performance and throughput.
• Ensure packaging material specifications align with equipment capabilities and performance standards.

Capability Building

• Design and enhance training programs for key manufacturing equipment centers, partnering with HR and L&D to build frontline technical capabilities.
• Drive best practice sharing across sites to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and elevate technical standards through the development of a COE.
• Lead technical workshops and forums to foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

Supplier & Partner Management

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with equipment suppliers, technology partners, and service providers to ensure access to cutting-edge solutions and reliable support.
• Influence supplier development and co-innovation efforts to meet evolving manufacturing needs.
• Partner with other functions within the organization to deliver strategic, operational, and learning capability. These include: Engineering, HR, MCLs, R&I, Procurement, Plant Teams, PMO

The salary range for this position is $135,000-185,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate's relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone North America 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.

Experience and Education Requirement

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Packaging Science, or related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, technical services, or engineering roles within a food and beverage CPG environment.
• Proven success in implementing technical optimization programs across multi-site operations.
• Expertise in TPM, IWS, Lean, and digital manufacturing tools.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to translate data into actionable insights.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Solid technical base refined with extensive corporate and plant experience
• Optimization of packaging lines
• TPM, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing
• Proficient in Excel, Power BI and SAP
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence across functions.
• Successfully skilled at dealing with divergent opinions within project teams and/or external resources

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.

#LI-NORAM