Research & Innovation R&I Senior Director - Dairy Protein Platform H/F Danone

DANONE is a global food and nutrition company holding top positions in healthy food through its four businesses: Essential Plant based and dairy products, Specialized Nutrition and Waters. Our mission, bringing health through food to as many people as possible, embodies commitment to human progress and business success, adding purpose to nearly 90,000 Danoners daily.

You will be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps in the world. Being B Corp means to be part of a select movement of companies verified to be meeting the highest standards of social and environmental criteria and using business as a force for good. One Planet. One Health.

For passionate people looking for autonomy and exciting career opportunities, Danone truly has something special inside

Context & Role Rationale

Dairy Protein is a strategic growth pillar for Danone. As consumer expectations evolve around protein quality, performance, metabolic health, healthy aging, the category requires strong, science-backed, consumer-centric innovation at scale.

Within Danone's new Research & Innovation (R&I) operating model, this role is a senior strategic leadership position, embedded in the Global R&I Categories FMCG team. The role is designed to shape and co-build the category strategy, to translate our Science & Technology assets into a category roadmap, and to lead global projects, ensuring innovation delivers differentiation, scale, and growth impact.

This is not a product development role or a regional execution role. It is a global R&I leadership role, operating at the interface of science, categories, and zones. Requiring strong conviction-based influencing within a complex multi layered organization,

Mission

To define, build, and deliver the Dairy Protein R&I strategy and innovation pipeline by bridging consumer insights and translating science and technology through differentiated global projects that drive innovation at scale.

The role ensures that Dairy Protein innovation is:

- Scientifically credible and differentiated
- Aligned with Danone's nutrition, health, and sustainability ambitions

Scope of the Role

- Geographic reach: Global, with strong interaction with lead markets and regions
- Operating model: Global R&I Categories, in strong interdependence with Advanced Technology, Regional / Zone R&I teams, Marketing & Global Category teams

Key Responsibilities:

Define & Drive Dairy Protein Category R&I Strategy:

- Translate category strategy into clear R&I priorities, end-to-end innovation pipeline, and capability needs
- Anticipate and integrate consumer, science, technology, and regulatory trends impacting the category

Co-Build & Orchestrate the Dairy Protein Innovation Pipeline:

- Ensure the pipeline is: Consumer-centric and insight-led, Scientifically differentiated and credible, Designed for multi-market scalability
- Ensure alignment and coherence between global platforms/projects and regional pipelines

Lead Global Projects at Scale:

- Ensure projects are designed for innovation at scale, not single-market optimization
- Support regions in adapting and deploying global platforms while preserving strategic intent and differentiation

Commercialize Science & Technology for Differentiation:

- Translate complex science and technology into: Clear innovation platforms, Credible benefits and claims, Compelling consumer value propositions
- Play an active role in R&I FMCG Categories governance and decision-making
- Promote transparency, discipline, and pace while preserving creativity and ambition

Stakeholder Management, Influencing & One-R&I Mindset:

- Influence without direct authority through: Strong points of view, Fact-based recommendations, Clear framing of trade-offs and decisions
- Promote a One R&I mindset, two-way dialogue, and sharing of best practices across regions

Key Interfaces:

- Advanced Technology/R&I teams
- Regulatory Affairs
- Operations and Cycles & Procurement
- Finance