Job Description
Job Description
This role will lead the strategic and technical implementation of Low Carbon by Design (LCBD) initiatives focused on reducing the carbon footprint of key ingredients—particularly dairy, sweeteners, hydrocolloids systems—across the Danone NORAM portfolio with a focus on yogurt. The manager will act as a cross-functional integrator, driving innovation, scenario modeling, and governance to embed carbon-conscious decision-making into product development and innovation/renovation pipelines. The role will work closely across cross-functional stakeholders at the regional level, ensuring strategic / brand fit, commercial viability, and alignment to the Danone Impact Journey. The role will also serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to Global teams, providing expertise on global LCBD strategies.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Ingredient Decarbonization
Lead technical identification and development of a robust pipeline of potential decarbonization solutions spanning near-term reformulations, full ingredient replacements and alternatives, and transformative approaches
Lead the identification, prioritization, and integration of low-carbon alternatives for dairy, sweeteners, and hydrocolloid systems along with best-in-class manufacturing execution in collaboration with Research & Innovation, Strategic Insights & AnalyticsCategory, Sustainability, and Procurement teams
Develop and apply strategic selection frameworks (e.g., feasibility, cost, UX, carbon footprint, ROI) to assess ingredient swaps
Integrate commercial insights from cross-functional teams into solution development
Carbon Impact Modeling
Act as strategic advisor in partnership with the Sustainability team to conduct quantitative scenario modelling using dynamic volume/mix assumptions and enterprise emissions factors to evaluate the carbon impact of LCBD options Provide critical inputs on scenario modeling including BOM and other relevant spec data
· Support in quantifying technology feasibility, requirements, and timelines for product implementation
Innovation Pipeline Integration
Partner with R&I developers and Category team, with advisement from Sustainability team to embed LCBD products into the innovation and renovation (Inno/Reno) process.
Leverage learnings from this pilot to support the broader rollout of tools like HowGood Latis software for product-level carbon data across R&I and business unit leads
Ultimately lead roll-out of LCBD products into enterprise, in partnership with Category team
Governance & Change Management
- Establish and lead governance routines to track progress, resolve barriers, and ensure alignment with global LCBD strategy
Act as a change agent to drive adoption of LCBD practices across cross-functional teams.
- Work closely with Category, Sustainability, Strategic Insights & Analytics teams to ensure alignment across region and with overall strategy
Stakeholder Engagement
- Work closely with Category to ensure alignment across technical and commercial strategy
- Collaborate with global and local teams to ensure alignment and knowledge sharing
- Lead suppler & manufacturing strategy for LCBD solutions, strategy in key forums and decision-making bodies, in partnership with Procurement
- Collaborate across R&I to bring all relevant regional & global perspectives into the scope of work (e.g., Pack specs, Product specs, UX, etc.)
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in food science, Sustainability, Environmental Science, or related field.
- 8+ years of experience in product research/development, sustainability, carbon accounting, product life cycle assessment, or ingredient innovation, preferably in the dairy or CPG sector.
- Strong understanding of carbon accounting, LCA methodologies, and ingredient sourcing impacts.
- Experience with scenario modeling, product life cycle assessment tools (e.g., HowGood Latis).
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills as part of cross-functional projects
- Preferred Attributes
Familiarity with SBTi targets and regenerative agriculture principles
- Experience working with sugar reduction/hydrocolloid system strategies and consumer sensory trade-offs
- Passion for sustainability and a track record of driving change in complex organizations