Plant QFS Laboratory Manager

Plant QFS Laboratory Manager

Job Location s: US-NJ-Bridgeton

:

Number of People to Hire: 1

Job Family:
Manufacturing

Level of

Experience:

Experienced Professionals

Job Summary: At Danone, ensuring food safety and product quality begins with reliable, scientifically-validated laboratory testing and independent results. We are currently looking to hire a QFS Plant Laboratory Manager (PQLab) based in our Bridgeton, New Jersey manufacturing facility to lead all laboratory activities at the plant level. In this critical Quality & Food Safety Laboratory Manager role, you will drive laboratory operations to ensure food safety, product quality, and process control through precision testing, rigorous quality systems, and strategic decision-making.

You will manage laboratory resources, budgets, and capabilities while ensuring compliance with Danone standards, regulatory requirements, and ISO 17025 accreditation where applicable. As a key member of the plant Quality & Food Safety organization, you will provide analytical leadership, support product release, and contribute to a strong culture of quality and safety across the site.

Key Responsibilities: As a key member of our team, you will play an important role in driving our mission forward. The following responsibilities outline the core expectations and contributions for this position:

• Lead all plant laboratory activities to support food safety, process control, and product release in compliance with Danone and regulatory requirements.
• Implement and maintain laboratory quality systems in line with Global Analytical Excellence standards and ISO 17025 requirements, as applicable.
• Achieve and sustain ISO 17025 accreditation for laboratory methods where required.
• Oversee daily laboratory operations, including testing execution, control plan adherence, equipment calibration, and maintenance.
• Manage finished product, raw material, packaging, and semi‑finished product testing and release in accordance with defined requirements.
• Interpret and approve laboratory results, identify nonconformities, and ensure timely escalation and resolution.
• Define, monitor, and report laboratory KPIs, including turnaround time, error rates, and analytical performance.
• Drive continuous improvement within the laboratory, including internal audits, nonconformance management, and process optimization.
• Lead laboratory digitalization and automation initiatives, including integration with LIMS and data systems.
• Develop, coach, and assess laboratory team capabilities, ensuring appropriate training, competency, and succession planning.
• Manage laboratory budgets, including labor, consumables, and operational costs.
• Coordinate and manage external laboratories, ensuring performance, approval status, and compliance.
• Support manufacturing and participate in crisis management activities as required.
• In plants implementing IWS, serve as a member of an IWS pillar team and own at least one Quality‑related system.

• Regularly required to walk and move throughout laboratory and manufacturing environments and remain stationary for periods of time.
• Frequently required to stand, sit, and use hands and arms to handle samples, laboratory equipment, and documentation.
• Occasionally required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb stairs or platforms, and access laboratory or production areas.
• May occasionally be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed primarily in a laboratory and manufacturing environment.
• Exposure may include noise, temperature variations, chemicals, food allergens, and required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Role may require flexibility to support production schedules, investigations, audits, or crisis situations.

Ensure adherence to plant standards and procedures (including but not limited to GMP, AIB, FDA, IWS, Quality, Safety, Finance, ISO, HOPE, Danone Behaviors, Daily…