About the Job:
The Research & Innovation Director of Food/Beverage Packaging co-leads with the VP of packaging the vision, strategy, and end‑to‑end execution of consumer‑centric, future‑forward packaging that fuels business growth, strengthens competitiveness, and advances our sustainability and productivity commitments. This leader elevates packaging as a strategic lever—driving superior consumer experiences, unlocking innovation, improving performance on shelf, and shaping the next generation of materials and technologies.
This leader will bring deep technical rigor, strong design‑to‑scale capabilities, and the ability to influence across the enterprise to deliver packaging that is safe, delightful, efficient, and circular. This Director will be the primary contact for the General Manager of the food/beverage business and partner strongly with cross‑functional partners and leverage the expertise internally and externally. The Director will build and inspire a high‑performing team and will serve as a visible champion for packaging excellence within the U.S. and across the global network. The focus of this position will be on our Plant Based & Beverage category.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Growth
Serve as an enterprise leader who uses deep packaging expertise to shape a growth‑driving innovation and renovation pipeline.
Develop and execute a 3–5 year consumer‑ and business‑centric packaging strategy, including innovation, cost transformation, and sustainability roadmaps.
Elevate packaging as a competitive advantage—improving product superiority, brand equity, speed to market, and cost position.
Translate business priorities into actionable R&I plans that deliver measurable results.
Ensure product and pack R&I team, and way so working are cohesive and operating as one.
Packaging Excellence & Future Capabilities
Strengthen end‑to‑end packaging capabilities: concept creation, design, materials science, prototyping, testing, validation, scale‑up, commercialization, and lifecycle optimization.
Build future‑ready competencies in areas such as:
advanced materials, biomaterials, barrier science
circular systems, recyclability, reuse, refill
intelligent & connected packaging
automation & digital simulation, including digital twins, rapid prototyping
consumer experience engineering and spec defining (sensory, usability, ergonomics)
Create & implement best‑in‑class packaging standards, validation processes & performance KPIs.
Business Delivery & Accountability
Increase accountability for business performance through smart portfolio choices, prioritization, risk management, and budget stewardship.
Lead packaging strategy for new business models and emerging channels.
Drive speed, rigor, and excellence from lab to large‑scale commercialization.
Cross‑Functional & Global Influence
Partner seamlessly with Brand, R&I, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, and Sustainability teams to ensure packaging solutions meet consumer needs and operational realities.
Actively engage in the global packaging network to leverage insights, capabilities, scale, and best practices.
Build strategic external partnerships with suppliers, startups, universities, and technology organizations to unlock breakthrough innovation in partnership with global.
Team Leadership & Culture
Lead and grow a high‑performing team of 5+ packaging engineers and managers, fostering curiosity, accountability, transparency, and collaboration.
Develop future-ready talent and build an inclusive, inspired and collaborative team culture.
Coach, mentor, and develop technical and leadership skills to build the next generation of packaging experts and leaders
The salary range for this position is $146,000-210,000USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. 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. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.
About You:
You are a transformational packaging leader with a proven ability to create, scale, and protect packaging that drives business growth, differentiation, and sustainability. You combine deep technical mastery with strategic enterprise leadership, and you consistently raise the bar on consumer experience, operational excellence, and competitive advantage.
You Bring: A strong track record of holistic, end‑to‑end packaging leadership, including the creation, development, validation, scale‑up, and post‑launch protection of packaging solutions that are structurally ownable, functional, sustainable, and commercially impactful.
Experience delivering packaging that wins with consumers and delivers business impact —from growth acceleration to margin improvement to supply chain efficiency.
A Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science (Packaging, Mechanical, Chemical, Materials, etc.) ; a Master’s degree in Packaging, Environmental Science, Materials Engineering, or related fields is preferred.
10–15+ years of experience in packaging, engineering, materials science, or a related technical field, ideally within food, beverage, or CPG.
Demonstrated leadership of complex cross‑functional teams, partnering with Marketing, Manufacturing, R&I, Procurement, Quality, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Design, and external partners to bring superior packaging to market.
Ability to make smart, timely decisions in ambiguity, using judgment, data, consumer insight, and experience to advise the business.
A holistic understanding of products, processes, and manufacturing systems, with strong appreciation for operational realities on the plant floor.
Forward‑looking technical curiosity —you challenge teams to explore new materials, technologies, formats, and design possibilities to unlock step‑change innovation.
A strategic mindset that anticipates future business opportunities and risks, ensuring that packaging remains a lever for sustainable competitive advantage.
Ability to integrate evolving business context, sustainability regulations, competitive dynamics, and consumer trends into functional priorities and roadmaps.
Strong problem‑solving skills, with the ability to translate complexity into simple, compelling solutions.
Deep technical credibility in packaging strategy, materials science, sustainability, and transformation, with a passion for elevating standards and capability.
Broad understanding of connected functions including marketing, consumer insights, industrial design, regulatory, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial channels.
Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, able to influence at all levels, simplify technical concepts, and inspire teams toward a shared vision.
Strong business acumen with understanding of R&I value levers including growth, productivity, risk mitigation, quality, and speed.
A highly autonomous operating style, with strong judgment, transparency, and ability to manage up, across, and down.
Ability to travel approximately 25% for plant visits, supplier engagements, consumer immersions, and global network collaboration.
About Us Life at Danone
With approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., our vibrant culture and endless growth opportunities are just a couple of the reasons our employees call themselves “Proud Danoners.”
Our Brands When you join us, you’ll work with some of the best‑known food and beverage brands in the world, including 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®.
Our Purpose:
We’re committed to making a positive impact on our world. Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, we’re proud to be the world’s largest B Corp.
Our Benefits Physical Wellbeing: We pay for the majority of your medical benefits – which include medical, dental and vision – with our competitive 80%/20% cost‑sharing model.
Mental Wellbeing: Danoners receive fitness discounts, unlimited flexible time off and hybrid work schedules. We also have a range of programs that support mental health and substance abuse.
Financial Support: We offer a performance‑based bonus, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs and voluntary perks.
Family Care: We offer caretaker benefits, 18 weeks of parental bonding, fertility, surrogacy, adoption benefits and pet insurance.
Equal Opportunity Employer
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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