Senior Director Supplier Quality Management (SQM)

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Senior Director of Supplier Quality Management (SQM) to lead our global strategy on Danone Supplier Quality Management Programs. This role is crucial in ensuring conformity to our internal Quality and Food Safety (QFS) standards, designed to deliver products that meet consumer expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive leadership and capability of SME expertise for SQM, developing suppliers to meet Danone’s category-specific requirements.
• Ensure that Danone’s SQM programs are robustly designed, well-documented, effectively executed, and continuously improved.
• Lead global SQM networks to achieve business targets, including improvement roadmaps, scale/scope development, and preferred supplier partnerships.
• Oversee compliance with Danone requirements, including escalation procedures.
• Lead a global team of Supplier Quality experts.
• Represent the QFS function in senior management forums, governance, and innovation processes.
• Part of the Global QFS Board of Danone.

Key Deliverables:

• Develop and deliver the Global SQM roadmap.
• Ensure QFS compliance while supporting Danone’s transformation and productivity projects.
• Successfully complete strategic transformation projects.
• Serve as the primary owner for all SQM Danone standards.

Main Interactions:

• Internal: Cycles & Procurement, Worldwide CBU network, Danone Food Safety Center, Category leaders, senior management forums, governance, and QFS board.
• External: External suppliers of raw materials and packaging, other food companies with Danone partnerships, manufacturing and lab equipment suppliers.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strategic vision and superior contribution to business strategy.
• Senior stakeholder management.
• Problem-solving, negotiation, influencing, conflict management, and continuous improvement.
• Maturity in dealing with ambiguity while adhering to Danone’s values and high standards.
• People and system management, organizational development, change management, and team empowerment.
• Knowledge of product and process technologies, food science, and food safety basics.
• Holistic business acumen and contextualized thinking.

Key Metrics:

• Product concession requests.
• Supplier quality metrics (e.g., defect rates, audit fulfillment, and compliance levels).
• Strategic project delivery.

Education & Experience:

• Master’s degree in Food Technology, Engineering, or Quality Management.
• 15- 20 years of relevant experience.