Launch Leader

Danone North America; Mount Crawford (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401k Plan

Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

Danone North America in Mount Crawford, Virginia is seeking a Launch Leader to drive site-level change across innovation, renovation, productivity, and sourcing initiatives. You will ensure early manufacturing engagement, strong execution discipline, and successful vertical start-ups while minimizing disruption and enabling speed and reliability across the plant.

The role requires coordinating master plans with operations, leading start-up teams, and guiding complex initiatives using SWP and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 8 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or project execution roles.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Support and coordinate the site/module change master plan, linking upstream and downstream resources.
• Align the site change plan with the Operations master plan to minimize impact to production and cost.
• Represent Manufacturing during preliminary definition of site-impacting projects.
• Lead the site Launch Team to execute initiatives, standards, technology transfer, and training.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Change management

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Manufacturing leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field

Advanced degree or certification in Project Management, Operations Excellence, or Supply Chain

Job description

Launch Leader

Job Locations: US-VA-Mount Crawford

Short Intro and About the Job

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 a Launch Leader based in Mt. Crawford, Virginia!

This role is accountable for leading and coordinating site level change across innovation, renovation, productivity, and sourcing initiatives. The position ensures early manufacturing engagement, strong execution discipline, and successful vertical start-ups while minimizing production disruption and enabling speed, reliability, and performance across the plant.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and coordinate the site/module change master plan, ensuring strong manufacturing linkage between upstream and downstream (plant) resources.
• Align the site change master plan with the Operations master plan to minimize impact to production, productivity, cost, and inventory.
• Represent Manufacturing during the preliminary definition of all site-impacting projects, providing early input prior to start-up team formation.
• Apply GSUM+ change classification to define appropriate staffing, capability, and support strategies.
• Lead and coach site start-up leaders in the execution of GSUM+ Standard Work Processes (SWP).
• Act as the site escalation point to remove barriers and ensure alignment of work processes to required initiative deliverables.
• Lead the site Launch Team to execute initiative deliverables, standards, technology transfer, and training to operations.
• Manage initiative start-ups and serve as Start-up Leader for the most complex site initiatives.
• Leverage strong knowledge of site systems (planning, DDS, RTT, etc.) and organizational structure to drive effective execution and integration with operations.

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.

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 Systems

Ensure 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:

The salary range for this position is: $120K -$158K per year. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate's relevant experience, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone U.S. 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.

• 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

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of education, experience, and skills that enable them to excel in this position. The following qualifications outline what we're looking for, including both required and preferred criteria:

Education & Experience

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related field
• Preferred: Advanced degree or certification in Project Management, Operations Excellence, or Supply Chain
• Required: 8 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or project execution roles

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and align cross functional teams
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Solid knowledge of manufacturing operating standards and ways of working
• Demonstrated capability to coach and develop others through change and execution
• Skills in operation management, leading change within a manufacturing setting, ability to develop and execute training plans.
• Working knowledge of project management techniques-cost and schedule
• 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

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 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.

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ID: 2026-26558

Number of People to Hire: 1

Job Family: Manufacturing

Level of Experience: Experienced Professionals