R&I Senior Manager - Operations

Danone; Utrecht; Hybrid; EUR 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and annual bonus

Premium pension plan

30 days annual leave + leave purchase

Job summary

Danone Utrecht is seeking an R&I Senior Manager - Operations to lead a global product development team across the SN R&I network. This hybrid role in Utrecht focuses on innovation, project delivery, and ensuring product quality and design principles are applied throughout the development cycle.

The position requires 8+ years in related roles, strong leadership, and proven cross-functional collaboration in R&I, quality, and operations. A MSc/PhD in Food tech or chemical engineering is preferred.

Qualifications

• MSc/PhD in Food Technology, Food Science, or Chemical Engineering.
• 8+ years in product development, industrialization or related leadership.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams across R&I, operations and quality.
• Strong knowledge of Specialized Nutrition powdered formulas is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high performing Product Design and Development Team across SN R&I network.
• Design and develop consumer-centric innovations aligned with category mission.
• Set rigorous benchmarks to ensure Right by Design.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Problem solving

Remote team management

Education

MSc/PhD in Food Technology or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt)

Job description

About The Job

Utrecht/Hybrid

For the Specialized Nutrition R&I (SN R&I) division we are looking for an R&I Senior Manager - Operationslocated at Utrecht.

As R&I Senior Manager - Operations, you will lead the development and implementation of products across our global manufacturing network. You will work closely with Operations, Quality, Procurement, and R&I teams to deliver innovation, drive continuous improvement, and build strong technical capabilities.

In this position you will have the following accountabilities and responsibilities:

• Leading a large team of (Senior) Product Development Managers located over different supply points within the Global SN Network in a demanding and high paced cross-functional setting.
• Ensuring the team acts as linking pin between global R&I and the factory, regarding product & continuous improvement related topics.
• Key member in project management including feasibility study, risk assessment, and building and delivering qualification plan till product launch.
• Ensuring that all development guaranty Product compliance with regulatory, food safety, nutritional, sensory, physical and chemical requirements, keeping the consumer’s voice at the heart of our activities; Ensure Design principles are fully deployed across the team.
• Ensuring new and reformulated products can be implemented in production scale and that targeted product performance as well as operational efficiencies are achieved.
• Working closely with the Center of Excellence team on Product Design and Specification principles.
• Coaching and mentoring team members, in various challenging product development projects in multidisciplinary teams with colleagues from R&I, operations, procurement and quality.
• Inspiring the team to co-create a team atmosphere with a continuous drive for growth, excellence and effectiveness with a business mindset.
• Defining strategic resources planning for optimal efficiency, between Inno, Fuel For Growth (F4G) and capability projects.
• Acting as the F4G SPOC for all Categories.
• Engaging and growing team members by focusing their expertise to deliver tangible outcomes & milestones, with a high focus on quality in execution, safe guarding SN R&I fundamental role.

The R&I Senior Manager - Operations is a member of the Early Life Nutrition Category, reporting into the Sr. Director SN R&I ELN Category.

About You

The Senior Team Leader position is an opportunity to lead a high-performing team, drive for Category growth, and make a tangible impact on the lives of our consumers. We invite dedicated professionals with a passion for innovation and excellence to join us in this exciting journey.

Your profile:

• Confident & positive personality, with ability to engage others in a complex multi-disciplinary setting.
• Driven & resilient to face and overcome challenges in a dynamic and demanding environment.
• Capable of working in cross-functional project teams with challenging deliverables and deadlines.
• Comfortable managing a remote team in an international & dynamic organization, with various disciplines at several locations.
• Result driven, problem solving, entrepreneurial mindset.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Your expertise:

• MSc/PhD degree in Food Technology/Food Science, Chemical engineering.
• At least 8 years of experience in Product Development, Product Stewardship, Industrialization, Manufacturing Science & Technology, Technical Development, Innovation Management, Operations R&D, or related technical leadership roles.
• Stakeholder Management/Influence & Engagement.
• Experience in Team management and development in R&D, Quality or Operations environment.
• Strong technological background in Specialized Nutrition know-how, especially for Powder Formula is a plus.
• Methodic and having Continuous Improvement and Excellence in Execution mindset. Green Belt / Black Belt Six-Sigma would be a plus.

Your vision:

• Lead a high performing Product Design and Development Team.
• Design and Develop consumer centric innovations that truly reflect the mission of the category.
• Setting rigorous benchmarks to ensure Right by Design.

About Us

At Danone we are committed to our mission “bringing health, through food to as many people as possible”. We are working together to make sure that our brands, like Nutricia and Nutrilon, create real benefits for people, communities and the planet. You will be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world. Being B Corp means to be part of a select movement of companies verified to be meeting the highest standards of social and environmental criteria and using business as a force for good. One Planet. One Health.

Our state-of-the-art research and innovation center builds bridges between food and science and is global in reach, founded on over 125 years of experience in life & food science, technology and user experience and is at the forefront of pioneering advances in specialized nutrition.

We offer:

The salary range for this role is €105.000 – €125.000 gross annually (including 8% holiday allowance). Your final offer will reflect your skills and experience while also ensuring alignment with our internal equity and salary framework. All Danoners receive a complete package of benefits. This includes a competitive salary and yearly bonus, a premium free pension, 30 days of annual leave (with the opportunity to purchase more) and you will receive a monthly health care allowance. In addition, you can get discount on your gym membership, and we offer initiatives focused on nutrition, physical, and mental health. We provide continuous learning opportunities through workshops, online courses and training sessions.

We put people at the center of everything we do. Bring your unique perspective, ambitions and ideas to the table – the impact you could make might surprise you. We are committed to embrace diversity, nurturing an inclusive workplace where every individual is valued; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is deeply embedded in Danone's DNA.

Need more information?

Need more information? Please contact Camila Grosso, Talent Manager via [e-mail]

* All applications will be considered for a vacancy without discrimination based on ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

#LI-NL #LI-HYBRID