Plant Quality Food Safety Manager

Danone; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Medical

Dental

Vision

Prescription Drug Coverage

401k Plan

Wellness Program

Life Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Flexible Time Off

Paid Parental Bonding Leave

Other benefit plan options

Job summary

Danone is seeking a proactive Plant Quality Food Safety Leader (PQM) for our Jacksonville, FL beverage facility. You will spearhead Quality & Food Safety, ensuring products meet the highest standards while building a culture of safety throughout the plant.

You will drive the Quality Business Plan, collaborate across functions, and lead a team of ~20 professionals. This role supports 24/7 operations and requires a strong background in regulated manufacturing and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food science, food technology, chemistry, microbiology or related field is required.
• 5+ years in quality, food safety or related function within regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading teams and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of Quality and Food Safety Management Systems in food/beverage manufacturing or regulated environments.
• Working knowledge of food safety regulations, risk-based quality principles, and compliance requirements.
• Strong communication skills and ability to engage at all levels.
• Structured problem-solving and continuous improvement experience.
• Ability to work in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and strengthen Quality & Food Safety programs across Jacksonville plant operations.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, FSSC 22000 and Danone standards.
• Champion a culture of quality, food safety and consumer-first decisions.
• Develop and execute the site's Quality Business Plan aligned with strategy.
• Drive continuous improvement in quality, food safety, and ops performance.
• Lead Quality & Food Safety teams and develop talent.
• Provide quality governance for plant projects and risk assessments.
• Manage product quality incidents and crisis response when needed.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain and others for results.
• Own departmental budget and participate in capital investments.

Skills

Leadership

Quality culture

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Problem solving

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

About the Job

Make an Impact Where Quality Matters Most

At Danone, quality and food safety are at the heart of everything we do. We're looking for a passionate and strategic Plant Quality Food Safety Manager, internally called QFS Plant Leader (PQM), to lead our Quality & Food Safety function at our Jacksonville, Florida beverage manufacturing facility. In this role, you'll help ensure that every product we produce meets the highest standards of quality, compliance, and consumer trust while building a culture where food safety is everyone's responsibility. As a key member of the Jacksonville plant leadership team, reporting to the Plant Director, you'll be responsible for safeguarding product quality, ensuring regulatory compliance, and building a culture where food safety is embedded in every decision. You'll lead a Quality and Food safety organization of approximately 20 associates and leaders while partnering across the business to drive performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Do

As the site Quality & Food Safety leader, you will:

• Lead and continuously strengthen Quality & Food Safety programs across all of the Jacksonville plant operations.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, customer, and Danone standards, including FDA requirements, FSSC 22000, and other relevant certifications.
• Champion a culture of quality, food safety, and consumer-first decision making throughout the organization.
• Develop and execute the site's Quality Business Plan, aligning priorities with plant and company strategy.
• Drive continuous improvement in quality, food safety, and operational performance through data-driven decision making.
• Lead Quality & Food Safety teams, coaching and developing talent to build strong organizational capability.
• Provide quality governance for plant projects, change management initiatives, and risk assessments.
• Manage product quality incidents and lead crisis response activities when needed.
• Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and other functions to ensure consistent execution and results.
• Own departmental budget management and participate in key capital investment projects.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to walk and move throughout a manufacturing facility and remain stationary for periods of time.
• Frequently required to stand, sit, and use hands and arms to handle, feel, or reach.
• Occasionally required to climb stairs, ladders, or elevated platforms and to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• May occasionally be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, 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 may include nights, weekends, and/or holidays as needed to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

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

• performance-based bonus
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Prescription Drug Coverage
• 401k Plan
• Wellness Program
• Life Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Time Off
• Paid Parental Bonding Leave
• other benefit plan options

About You

Who You Are

You are a purpose-driven leader who understands that protecting consumers is both a responsibility and a privilege. You bring a strong combination of technical expertise, business acumen, and people leadership. You inspire teams, influence stakeholders, and thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where quality and food safety are non-negotiable.

What You’ll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, or another related field, required.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in quality, food safety, or a related function within food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading teams and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of Quality and Food Safety Management Systems within a food or beverage manufacturing or regulated environment.
• Working knowledge of food safety regulations, risk‑based quality principles, and compliance requirements.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated success using structured problem-solving and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to work in and support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as business needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related scientific discipline.
• Experience working in highly regulated manufacturing environments with advanced quality systems and certification requirements.

About Us

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, 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. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.

California Data Privacy Law