Quality & Food Safety (QFS) Process Technology Director

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

Job summary

Danone seeks a QFS Process Technology Director to drive global governance for aseptic, ESL, and thermal processing across manufacturing sites. You will establish standards, validation programs, and CAPEX support while guiding start-ups and incident resolution.

The role reports to the QFS Global Senior Director Operations and Process with a focus on capability building and network leadership across the globe.

Qualifications

• 12–15+ years in thermal and/or aseptic processing with global governance exposure.
• Demonstrated expertise in thermal/aseptic processing hygienic design, sanitation validation, EM, shelf-life modeling, and packaging barrier/integrity.
• Strong RCA/CAPA leadership
• Lean/Six Sigma, SPC, and validation methodologies preferred.
• Data driven decision making; digital & automation savvy
• Cross functional influence and stakeholder management
• Coaching & capability building
• Incident/crisis leadership and resilience

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Governance: maintain global technology and validation strategy for aseptic/ESL/thermal processes and filling technologies.
• Steward global standards for: aseptic processing, UHT/ESL, pasteurization, sterilization, hygienic design, CIP (Clean in place) and SIP (Santize in place) expectations, and filling integrity.
• Govern validation and revalidation frameworks: protocols, challenge testing principles, acceptance criteria, and triggers for revalidation.
• Provide technical governance for major CAPEX and Start-up excellence start-ups: provide expertise in advanced technology, equipment design criteria, commissioning and performance qualification strategy.
• Provide technical leadership in major incidents involving sterility assurance, thermal control deviations, or filling failures.
• Sponsor RCAs, ensure corrective actions are robust, verified, and globally shared.
• Capability Building & Network Leadership - sponsor global Capability Academy for aseptic/ESL/thermal/filling,
• Drive technical communities of practice, coaching experts and site teams.

Skills

Aseptic processing

Thermal processing

Hygienic design

Sanitation validation

RCA/CAPA

Lean Six Sigma

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional leadership

Coaching capability

Incident leadership

Education

MSc/PhD in Food/Process/Chemical Eng

Tools

SPC

Validation methodologies

Job description

Short Intro and About the Job

Within the Global Quality and Food Safety team, the Standards and Risk Management (SRM) team plays a key role in guaranteeing the integrity and quality of Danone's Products by translating science and industry-leading practices into standards, Processes and routines to be used By All of Danone.

As Quality & Food Safety (QFS) Process Technology Director, you will be responsible to ensure the ongoing safety and quality of Danone products by establishing and driving QFS governance and compliance in manufacturing environments across the network. Provide global leadership and governance for aseptic, ESL (extended shelf life), and thermal processing technologies to ensure safe, compliant, validated, and high performing operations, enabling innovation, capacity expansion, and reliable start-ups across the network. Drive capability, digitalization, and continuous improvement to prevent incidents, protect consumers, and support growth

This role will report to the QFS Global Senior Director Operations and Process

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategy & Governance: maintain global technology and validation strategy for aseptic/ESL/thermal processes and filling technologies.
• Steward global standards for: aseptic processing, UHT/ESL, pasteurization, sterilization, hygienic design, CIP (Clean in place) and SIP (Santize in place) expectations, and filling integrity.
• Govern validation and revalidation frameworks: protocols, challenge testing principles, acceptance criteria, and triggers for revalidation.
• Provide technical governance for major CAPEX and Start-up excellence start-ups: provide expertise in advanced technology, equipment design criteria, commissioning and performance qualification strategy.
• Provide technical leadership in major incidents involving sterility assurance, thermal control deviations, or filling failures.
• Sponsor RCAs, ensure corrective actions are robust, verified, and globally shared.
• Capability Building & Network Leadership - sponsor global Capability Academy for aseptic/ESL/thermal/filling,
• Drive technical communities of practice, coaching experts and site teams.

KEY DELIVERABLES

• Global standards for aseptic, ESL, UHT, pasteurization, sterilization and filling.
• Validation, challenge testing and revalidation protocols.
• Support CAPEX projects, start ups and new line commissioning.
• Reduction in process related severe FS incidents
• Processing technology academies & expert

About You

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• MSc/PhD in Food/Process/Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
• 12–15+ years in thermal and/or aseptic processing, with multi-site/global governance exposure
• Demonstrated expertise in thermal/aseptic processing hygienic design, sanitation validation, EM, shelf-life modeling, and packaging barrier/integrity.
• Strong RCA/CAPA leadership
• Lean/Six Sigma, SPC, and validation methodologies preferred.
• Data driven decision making; digital & automation savvy
• Cross functional influence and stakeholder management
• Coaching & capability building
• Incident/crisis leadership and resilience

About Us, We offer and What's next

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.

We are proud to be an equal employer. We are convinced our differences make the difference and that an inclusive working environment will drive our growth as a business, as teams and as individuals. We will therefore considerallapplicants for employment* fostering an inclusive working culture that is accessible for all.