Director DDAI AI & Tech

Danone France is not trying to be the best company in the world, but the best company for the world! That's why all 26 of our brands in France are B Corp certified. B Corp is the compass that guides our CSR strategy! This certification allows us to challenge ourselves, continually improve and measure our social and environmental performance.

Danone's research and innovation (R&I) centre, located in Gif-sur-Yvette on the Saclay plateau, is a global center of excellence dedicated to food innovation research. Inaugurated in 2023, this ultra-modern center is at the heart of one of the world's leading scientific hubs. It is home to more than 500 passionate experts of 40 different nationalities, working in the fields of life sciences, health and nutrition, consumer experience and the development of tomorrow's products. Equipped with laboratories and pilot facilities, it supports innovation and development. The Danone R&I Center is part of a global research ecosystem designed to foster collaboration with food technology start-ups and accelerate innovation in partnership with consumers and food and health stakeholders.

DDAI (Data, Digital & AI) is one of the strategic pillars of Danone’s global R&I transformation. It exists to accelerate how we innovate — by embedding digital, data and artificial intelligence into every step of our scientific, product, and operational workflows. DDAI enables R&I teams to deliver faster, better, and more confidently, turning complex science and insights into real business impact.

• Accelerating innovation through digital twins, in silico models, advanced analytics, and GenAI tools.
• Strengthening scientific capabilities with proprietary AI models and integrated data ecosystems.
• Improving efficiency and compliance by digitizing QFS & R&I processes, enabling faster regulatory workflows.
• Upskilling the organization through the DDAI Academy and cross‑functional collaboration with IT & Data and QFS.

DDAI is building the digital, data and AI backbone of Danone R&I. Joining DDAI means joining a purpose‑driven, pioneering team at the heart of how Danone reinvents health through food, reshaping how Danone designs the next generation of products, services, and scientific breakthroughs powered by science and technology.

Position Overview

Reporting to the VP Global R&I Digital and AI, the Director DDAI AI & Tech is the senior technical & scientific leader for the entire DDAI program, and will:

• Provide technical expertise and leadership for the design and implementation of all DDAI solutions, ensuring they are robust, scalable, and cutting‑edge, in close collaboration with IT & Data.
• Act as senior management to lead, animate, and develop people in the R&I technical teams, including the Head of R&I Tech & Architecture and the Head of R&I AI & Algorithm.
• Define best practices and coordinate the community of data scientists, software engineers, and architects within R&I to foster innovation and influence portfolio strategy and technical excellence.
• Ensure a continuous tech and AI watch to identify and integrate major scientific and technological breakthroughs into our R&I landscape and play a key role in RFI/RFQ on the tech part.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and act on the strategy by providing technical leadership across the entire DDAI portfolio, guiding the design and implementation of solutions from concept to delivery.
• Lead, mentor, and develop people in the R&I technical teams, including the Head of R&I Tech & Architecture and the Head of R&I AI & Algorithm, delivering more and more through people/teams.
• Act as the primary technical liaison with the central IT & Data organization, leveraging influencing skill beyond immediate scope.
• Maintain a continuous tech and AI watch to identify emerging technologies and tools.
• Co-build the roadmap with and through others by co-designing and validating solution architectures with IT & Data.
• Direct Business Impact: Participate in the technical feasibility assessment and workload sizing for new DDAI use cases.
• Ensure the technical solutions for flagship projects are robust and SOTA.
• Animate and promote technical best practices for a technical community of data scientists, software engineers, and architects within R&I.

About you

• Master’s degree or ideally a PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in a senior technical & scientific role with a track record in delivery and proven technical leadership.
• Deep expertise in solution and data architecture, with experience designing and implementing scalable systems.
• Strong, hands‑on knowledge of AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science principles and their practical application to solve complex business problems.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams of architects, data scientists, and engineers to deliver innovative projects, with capacity to influence portfolio strategy.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to act as an effective bridge between R&I business units and central IT & Data teams.
• Experience in a CPG, Food & Beverage, or Pharmaceutical R&I environment is highly desirable. Ability to rebound under pressure and resilience and manage budget closely.

We are proud to promote diversity and equal opportunities within our teams. We believe that our differences make a difference and that an inclusive working environment will stimulate our growth as a company, as teams and as individuals. We will therefore consider all applications*, promoting an inclusive working culture where everyone can feel they belong.

*All applications will be considered regardless of origin, background, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability...

Job details

Dedicated to bringing health through food to as many people as possible, we are a leading global food & beverage company built on four businesses: Essential Dairy and Plant‑Based Products, Waters, Early Life Nutrition and Medical Nutrition.

#J-18808-Ljbffr