Chief of Staff - Director, R&I - Strategic Planning and Performance

This is a pivotal leadership role designed to propel key initiatives forward and accelerate the Research & Innovation (R&I) organization toward its future vision. The Chief of Staff will act as a strategic partner to the CRIO and the Executive team, elevating the effectiveness of R&I leadership for the benefit of the broader business. This position requires a highly resourceful individual with strong emotional intelligence, analytical rigor, and the ability to stay several steps ahead of the executive team.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning & Performance Management
  • Annual & Long-Term Planning: Lead the annual and long-term strategic planning process to align with broader enterprise strategies.
  • Performance Dashboards: Partner with the data science team to build automated, consistent dashboards that track R&I performance measures and critical metrics.
  • Data Validation: Identify and validate data sources in partnership with key leaders to ensure accuracy in exception reporting and trend analysis.
  • Decision Support: Develop measures to add rigor to decision-making, helping leaders determine where R&I should spend time for the greatest impact.
• Executive Advisory & Representation
  • Right-Hand Advisor: Serve as a confidant and sounding board for the CRIO, offering objective, enterprise-wide perspectives without specific "turf" considerations.
  • Executive Representation: Represent the CRIO in critical meetings, articulating their viewpoints and decisions while managing their agenda to maximize efficiency.
  • Succession & Objectives: Advise the Head of R&I and project manage annual objectives to ensure all groups within the organization are successful.
• Governance & Operating Model
  • Leadership Forums: Drive agendas and content for R&I Leadership Team (LT) meetings and Townhalls, ensuring a focus on both strategic priorities and tactical updates.
  • Meeting Management: Facilitate team communication, manage follow-ups on project metrics, and partner with EA support to maintain an accessible framework for prep materials and minutes.
  • Way of Working: Implement standards for the division, such as email protocols (e.g., clear subject lines like "Decision Needed" or "Seeking Approval") to facilitate faster information assimilation.
  • Prioritization: Challenge the leadership group on "go vs. no-go" initiatives, tracking deferred projects for future consideration.
• Communications & Engagement
  • Strategic Framework: Develop a communications cadence for engaging the broader team through town halls, recorded videos, and site visits.
  • Executive Presence: Consolidate weekly reporting for the executive committee and partner with the CRIO on quarterly board documents and external communications.
  • Culture & Engagement: Assess employee engagement survey results and sponsor action teams to drive meaningful change in organizational culture.
• Strategic Transformation & Catalytic Leadership
  • Agile Innovation Catalyst: Drive a cultural shift toward agile innovation and experimentation, championing a "test & learn/fail fast" mentality to accelerate speed-to-market.
  • Organizational Transformation: Lead one or more high-priority strategic projects in direct partnership with senior leadership to fundamentally transform organizational capabilities.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Work across the North America R&I Leadership team by partnering with other function leads towards the seamless execution of key organizational goals and collective success.
  • Best-in-Class Talent Development: Create a superior team of associates by modeling and coaching high-level leadership behaviors and setting modern standards for excellence.
  • Cross-Technical Synergy: Strengthen cross-technical collaboration and knowledge sharing to break down silos and leverage the full scale of the North America R&I expertise.
  • Strategic Influence: Act as a change agent to influence and strengthen the R&I teams, ensuring the division is viewed as a high-impact, indispensable driver of enterprise growth.

Success Factors

• Professionalism: High level of executive presence, professionalism, and absolute respect for confidentiality.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to rapidly assimilate complex data and present it in a consumable, articulated form.
• Collaboration: Strong alignment with data science, business operations, and leadership teams across the global and local organization.
• Adaptability: Proficiency in navigating fast-paced, complex environments while maintaining extreme attention to detail.

Requirements

• Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in Business or related degrees; advanced degree preferred.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience, ideally within a large consumer packaged goods company or consulting firm. Prior management consulting, internal consulting, or advisory experience with demonstrated success solving complex business challenges and influencing stakeholders strongly preferred.
• Strategic Collaboration: Proven ability to serve as a strategic partner to senior leadership, with experience in strategic workforce planning, performance management frameworks, and the development of metrics to measure business impact and drive data-informed decision making.
• Analytical Thinker: Ability to rapidly assimilate vital information and articulate appropriate responses in both written and oral communication.
• Dynamic Environment: Proficiency in navigating complex, fast-paced environments and coordinating with numerous stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Management: Demonstrable emotional intelligence and the ability to foster relationships within large organizations.
• Adaptability: Ability to acclimate to varying environments and effectively engage with individuals across all hierarchical levels.
• Project Management: Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with a keen attention to detail.

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.

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.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $149,000-214,000 USD. 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.

Schedule

To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment. This role is considered a “hybrid” position that allows for flexible work, meaning it is a role where collaboration with key stakeholders in Danone Hubs occurs. While you may have the option to work from home on a schedule as agreed to with your supervisor, you are also expected to regularly report to your assigned office location at least 3 days per week.