Start-up Leader

Danone; Minster (OH); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Danone North America seeks a Start-Up Leader to drive the successful startup of initiatives in Minster, Ohio, aligning with Global Initiatives Management, ensuring readiness, risk mitigation, and delivering objectives while supporting zero-loss goals. You will own the full startup lifecycle from planning to closeout to improve quality and productivity.

The role emphasizes integrating new processes into plant systems, continuous improvement, and coaching teams to sustain high performance in a

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent preferred.
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience with demonstrated technical aptitude and leadership.
• Milk processing experience with fluid controls preferred (HTST, CIP).
• Project Management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead start-up models and initiatives per Global Initiatives Management standards.
• Improve quality, reduce downtime, and accelerate productivity during start-ups.
• Oversee the site start-up team, staffing and communications.
• Track, report, and close-out start-up performance and initiative deliverables.
• Maintain the Change Masterplan and dashboard across the lifecycle.
• Coordinate risk assessments and cross-functional alignment for start-ups.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Project management

Process improvement

SAP

Quality systems

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent

5+ years manufacturing experience

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Office

Job description

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 Start‑Up Leader (SUL) based in Minster, Ohio!

Start‑Up Leader (SUL) is accountable for implementing the successful start‑up of assigned initiatives in alignment with Global Initiatives Management standards. The role ensures readiness, risk mitigation, and delivery of initiative objectives while supporting zero-loss ambition at the site.

This position is responsible for managing the full startup lifecycle from planning and risk assessment to execution and final closeout while improving quality, minimizing downtime, and accelerating productivity. Acting as the primary operations point of contact, the Start‑Up Leader (SUL) ensures seamless integration of new processes into plant systems, supports continuous improvement efforts, and enables manufacturing teams to achieve sustainable, high-performance outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

As a key member of our team, you will play an important role in driving our mission forward. The following responsibilities outline the core expectations and contributions for this position:

• Implementing GRPM2 (Glidepath PR Month 2), ISU (Instantaneous Start‑Up), G2T (Going to Target) or equivalent start‑up models as defined by Global Initiatives Management
• Delivering initiative outcomes that support compelling business needs by improving:
  • Quality-by-design
  • Reduction of plant unplanned downtime associated with the initiative
  • Productivity and speed to deliver results
• Oversee the site start‑up team assigned to the initiative including staffing, resourcing and communication plan
• Activate the GSUM+ process, including DDS routines and communication with Operations on progress against tasks, deliverables, and results
• Integrate initiative deliverables into plant standard systems
• Owns tracking, reporting, and final close‑out of:
  • Start‑Up process performance
  • Overall initiative deliverables
• Maintain the Change Masterplan and Dashboard across the initiative lifecycle
• Ensure system scope, documentation, and start‑up readiness
• Train and qualify teams in GSUM+ and supporting tools
• Support Site GSUM+ SWP health checks and IM Pillar assessments
• Provide support to core operations as needed
• Enable early manufacturing involvement and align on start‑up success criteria
• Own completion of the GSUM+ Initiative Tracker
• Lead Manufacturing Readiness, ISU Risk Assessments, and TT&T plans
• Coordinate plant‑level risk mitigation with operations and external partners
• Serve as the single operations point of contact for pre/post start‑up actions, issue resolution, and cross‑functional alignment
• All other duties as assigned

Physical Demands

• While performing duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop; kneel; crouch; crawl; taste and/or smell, talk and hear.
• Ability to bend & stoop at waist level as well as bend & twist neck and head.
• The employee must regularly endure repetitive minimal to moderate lifting 10lbs up to 50lbs and occasional team lifting above 50lbs. Requires normal range of hearing and vision (including colors) to record, prepare and communicate appropriate reports and results.
• The employee is frequently standing on a concrete surface for 8-, 10- or 12-hour shifts
• Occasionally may need to climb stairs, step ladders, stool.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Work schedules could include nights, weekends and/or holidays to provide the ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as business needs dictate.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and may be exposed to loud noises in the plant.

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:

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

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:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Bachelor’s degree, engineering degree or equivalent preferred
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience with demonstrated technical aptitude and leadership
• Milk processing experience with fluid controls preferred (experience with HTST, pasteurization, CIP)
• Project Management experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Fundamental skills in influencing and persuasion
• Strong interpersonal skills associated with developing trusting relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to prioritize and multitask
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and SAP
• Ability to work in a fluid environment
• Ability to identify problems, draw conclusions, and make recommended solutions
• Ability to be self-directed with little supervision
• Ability to adjust schedule to support 24/7 Manufacturing Operation, may include working overtime, night shift and/or weekends as needed.

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.