Quality & Food Safety Director

Danone; Hoofddorp; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Danone is seeking a visionary Director of Standards, Risk Anticipation & Crisis to lead proactive risk management and standards development across the Specialised Nutrition portfolio. You will shape global quality programs, anticipate potential risks, and ensure crisis readiness while enabling innovation and safe, compliant products.

The role demands a Master’s degree with 10+ years in Quality and Food Safety leadership, strong cross‑functional leadership, and proven experience with HACCP, GMP,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 10+ years in Quality/Food Safety leadership.
• Expertise in risk management, HACCP, GMP, ISO 9001/22000.
• Experience in comparable product categories (FSMP, Pharma).
• Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder influence, and cross-functional teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Lead Global SN risk anticipation and mitigation strategy.
• Own the SN concession process and manage the portfolio.
• Design and deploy SN QFS standards for materials and processes.
• Lead governance forums and rollout training.
• Support crisis management and incident response.

Skills

Quality & food safety leadership

Risk management

HACCP

GMP

ISO 9001/22000

Regulatory compliance

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder influence

Leadership

Education

Master’s degree in relevant field

Job description

About the job

Are you a strategic thinker with deep expertise in Quality and Food Safety?

Do you thrive in complex, high-stakes environments where your decisions shape global standards and protect consumer trust?

We are seeking a visionary Director of Standards, Risk Anticipation & Crisis to lead our proactive risk management and standards development across the Specialised Nutrition (SN) category.

At Danone we are committed to our mission of “bringing health, through food to as many people as possible”.

One of our divisions within Danone is Specialised Nutrition where we develop science-based nutritional solutions that support health and growth from early life through adulthood, helping people with specific nutritional needs live healthier lives. At Danone we believe nutrition can make a profound difference to health.

Your own contribution

The successful candidate will be the global Specialised Nutrition (SN) lead for anticipating and mitigating Quality & Food Safery risks, designing robust standards, and ensuring crisis readiness across our SN portfolio. Your role is hugely impactful and pivotal in safeguarding product integrity, regulatory compliance, and consumer confidence and safety—while enabling innovation and operational excellence through working cross-functionally.

Please note this is not a financial risk role, this is concerning product integrity and being forward thinking on how we can anticipate our ”potential” risks better.

Key responsibilities

• Lead Global SN Risk Anticipation & Mitigation strategy: Drive horizon scanning, risk evaluation, and cross-functional mitigation planning. You’ll identify emerging risks and ensure mitigation plans are in place and actioned.
• Own the SN Concession Process: Manage and steer the global concession portfolio, ensuring risks are controlled and resolved
• Design and Deploy SN QFS Standards: Define technical requirements and guidelines for raw materials, processes, and finished products, ensuring standards are aligned with food safety, operational, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Drive Governance and Implementation: Lead governance forums, align Business Impact Analysis, and deliver standards through structured rollout plans and training across the business.
• Support Crisis Management: Act as a key advisor during incidents involving SN products, ensuring swift, informed, and effective responses.
• People management: Manage both a central team and a network of experts throughout Factories & Country Business Units to bring the best knowledge into the SNU Product categories Standards.

Stakeholder interactions

• Internal: QFS, Food Safety, Research & Innovation, Operations, Regulatory, Legal teams.
• External: Suppliers, Third Party Manufacturers, and global partners in standards and risk

About you

We are looking for a leader that has a successful track record within Quality & Food Safety;

• Master’s degree with 10+ years of experience in Quality/Food Safety leadership.
• Proven expertise in risk management, food safety systems (HACCP, GMP, ISO 9001/22000), and regulatory compliance.
• Experience in comparable Product categories (e.g. FSMP, Pharma)
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder influencing skills.
• Experience managing cross-functional and multicultural teams.
• Strong analytical problem solving and continuous improvement skills.
• Strategic mindset with the resilience to lead through complexity and change.

About Danone

Working here you’ll need to enjoy a fast-pace and complexity. But it’s packed with opportunities. You’ll work with some of the best-known brands in the world. Be innovative and entrepreneurial and the impact you could make might just amaze you.