Director, Integrated Work Systems (IWS)

Danone; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Danone in Dallas, TX is seeking an IWS Director to lead the Integrated Work Systems transformation and build operational capability across the plant. You will champion continuous improvement, coach leaders, and partner with the Plant Leadership Team to deliver safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity gains.

The role calls for a track record in Lean, TPM, and Operational Excellence, with strong change leadership and the ability to manage large teams in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, operations, or related field required.
• Proven success leading Lean Manufacturing, TPM, IWS, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Experience driving organizational transformation and cultural change across large teams.
• Experience managing budgets, costs, and strategic planning.
• Ability to influence through matrix organizations and lead cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead Operational Excellence across the site; drive the IWS transformation strategy.
• Develop and coach world-class teams; build capability for daily management and problem solving.
• Influence and drive change as the site IWS lead coach and trusted advisor to Plant Leadership.
• Champion culture and engagement by prioritizing safety, quality, inclusion, and respect.
• Foster accountability, engagement, and continuous learning across all levels of the organization.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Operational Excellence

Continuous Improvement

Change Management

Strategic Planning

Project Management

Leadership

Budget & Cost Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, Business, Operations, or related field

Job description

Short Intro and About the Job

Lead Transformation. Build Capability. Drive World-Class Performance.

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 an IWS Director based in our Dallas, TX manufacturing plant!

We are seeking an experienced Director, Integrated Work Systems (IWS) to join our leadership team in Dallas, Texas, one of our largest manufacturing facilities. This is a highly visible leadership opportunity for a transformational manufacturing professional who is passionate about operational excellence, capability building, continuous improvement, and developing high-performing teams.

The OpportunityAs the IWS Director, you will be the site's champion for continuous improvement, responsible for driving factory-wide performance through Danone's Integrated Work Systems (IWS) framework. Partnering closely with the Plant Leadership Team, you will shape the factory's strategic direction, accelerate performance improvement, and build organizational capability to achieve world-class results in safety, quality, productivity, service, and cost.This role is ideal for a proven operational leader who thrives on influencing change, coaching leaders, and creating sustainable business results through people and systems.

What You'll Do

• Lead Operational Excellence
  • Drive and coordinate the site-wide IWS transformation strategy
  • Lead the factory's journey toward zero losses and continuous improvement.
  • Improve operational performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity metrics.
  • Build and sustain productivity pipelines that drive manufacturing cost improvements and operational efficiency.
• Develop World-Class Teams
  • Coach plant leaders, department managers, frontline leaders, and equipment owners.
  • Build organizational capability around daily management systems, problem-solving, and operational excellence principles.
  • Develop leadership talent and succession pipelines across the site.
  • Create an environment of accountability, engagement, and continuous learning.
• Influence and Drive Change
  • Serve as the site's lead IWS coach and trusted advisor to the Plant Leadership Team.
  • Facilitate site-wide improvement reviews and strategic planning processes.
  • Share and reapply best practices across the broader manufacturing network.
  • Foster a culture where problems are surfaced, solved, and prevented through disciplined execution.
• Champion Culture and Engagement
  • Promote a culture that prioritizes safety, quality, inclusion, and respect.
  • Strengthen team engagement and labor relations.
  • Be a visible leader on the manufacturing floor, coaching teams where the work happens.
  • Build strong relationships across all levels of the organization and within the local community.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs and ladders, balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear. Occasionally required to lift and / or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands:

• Must understand vague and implicit instructions and react favorably in all work situations.
• Must be mentally adaptable and flexible in dealing with a variety of people.
• Must be able to communicate providing verbal feedback in a professional manner.
• Ability to give, receive and analyze information, formulate work plans, prepare written materials, and articulate goals and action plans.
• Must understand people and be able to communicate effectively with them.

Work Environment

• Work is performed in a manufacturing environment with exposure to moderate noise and temperature variations.
• Work schedules could include nights, weekends and/or holidays to provide the ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as business needs dictate.

Engagement in our Integrated Work SystemsEnsure adherence to plant standards and procedures (including but not limited to GMP, AIB, FDA, IWS, Quality, Safety, Finance, ISO, HOPE, Danone Behaviors, Daily Direction Setting, Driving OE). As a fundamental piece of the organization, your responsibility is to participate and own the implementation and deployment of IWS system and its pillars (Leadership foundation, Daily Direction Setting, Driving OE; Autonomous Maintenance; planned Maintenance; Focused Improvement; Education and Training; Environmental, Health and Safety; Quality; Organization; Supply Network; Early Equipment Management) with the objective of owning your space, owning your performance (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Mobilization, Nature) and owning your continuous improvement.

Compensation & Benefits: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.

About You

What We're Looking For:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Business, Operations, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading Lean Manufacturing, TPM, IWS, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement programs.
• Experience leading organizational transformation and cultural change initiatives.
• Experience managing large teams and influencing through matrix organizations.
• Experience with budget and cost management
• Strong project management and strategic planning capabilities.
• Proven experience driving productivity, cost reduction, and operational performance improvements.
• Ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as business needs dictate.

Preferred Leadership Attributes

• Natural coach and developer of people.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect strategy to execution.
• Exceptional communication and influence skills.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity and inspire change.
• Collaborative leader who builds authentic relationships and trusts diverse perspectives.
• Passion for developing high-performing teams and future leaders.

About Us, We offer and What's next

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 include: Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, STōK® 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.