Senior Manager, Mission & Sustainability – Innovation & Strategy

Senior Manager, Mission & Sustainability – Innovation & Strategy

• United States
• Louisville, White Plains
• Hybrid
• USD 130000.
• Permanent Full-Time
• Posted: 11 Mar 2026

This Senior Manager role sits at the intersection of sustainability strategy and product innovation. The position partners closely with Research & Innovation (R&I), Categories, Procurement, and Finance to embed carbon and nature priorities into product design and innovation decisions.

The role is strategy‑led and highly hands‑on, using analytics, scenario modeling, and decision frameworks to guide tradeoffs and help the business deliver products with lower carbon footprints while supporting growth and feasibility.

This is a senior individual contributor role with high visibility and executive exposure, operating through influence rather than direct authority.

• Lead enterprise and category‑level strategies to reduce product carbon footprints.
• Shape long‑term roadmaps that integrate sustainability priorities into innovation and renovation pipelines.
• Serve as the day‑to‑day strategy lead for carbon reduction initiatives.
• Partner closely with Research & Innovation to assess ingredients, technologies, and design approaches that advance sustainability goals.
• Influence early‑stage product and packaging decisions using clear decision frameworks.
• Translate consumer insights, market trends, and sustainability opportunities into actionable guidance for innovation teams.

• Develop and apply scenario modeling to evaluate carbon, cost, feasibility, and growth tradeoffs.
• Partner with analytics teams to embed insights into tools used for forecasting and tracking progress toward climate goals.
• Define and monitor a focused set of KPIs that support decision‑making within innovation governance.

• Influence and align stakeholders across Categories, R&I, Procurement, Operations, Finance, and Global Sustainability.
• Prepare high‑impact materials and insights for senior leadership discussions.
• Contribute to governance routines that integrate sustainability metrics into business and innovation decision‑making.

• Sustainability priorities are embedded into innovation routines, not added after the fact.
• Category and R&I teams actively use decision frameworks and models to guide product design choices.
• Clear progress is visible against carbon reduction goals, with strong business alignment.

This position requires 25% travel. 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.

The salary range for this position is $130,000–$165,000. 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.

We’re looking for a strategic business thinker who can apply sustainability expertise in a commercial, innovation‑driven environment.

(No required experience details provided.)

• CPG or food & beverage experience
• Sustainability experience related to carbon, climate, or nature
• MBA or advanced strategy training

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.”

Learn more about Life at Danone.

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