Health & Safety & Environment Manager

Research & Innovation at Danone

About the job

Are you passionate about health & safety, sustainable operations, and driving a safety-first culture? Are you an experienced HSE professional with a background in facilities, engineering, or science?

We have an exciting opportunity as Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Manager at our Danone Global Research & Innovation site in Utrecht.

Our team's mission is to ensure the highest HSE standards for the operation of our research facilities and the protection of all colleagues and stakeholders. Key deliverables include:

• Leading and embedding a behavioral safety culture across all departments
• Managing HSE compliance for construction and innovation projects on-site
• Driving continuous improvement through risk analysis and practical problem-solving
• Ensuring regulatory compliance and Danone-wide alignment via HSE management systems
• Monitoring and analyzing performance through digital tools (e.g., SPHERA, Make-Online)

In your role as HSE Manager, being part of the Danone R&I Utrecht Site Management Team, your key responsibilities are:

• Own and lead the behavioral safety program (WISE) and champion a safety-first culture across the site
• Ensure HSE compliance and safety-in-design in cross-functional projects, including pilot plant and lab expansion
• Develop and maintain the site's HSE roadmap including regulatory compliance, ergonomics, emergency response, and contractor safety
• Conduct risk assessments, investigations, and implement mitigations using digital tools (Make-Online, SPHERA)
• Act as key liaison for internal stakeholders and external bodies (authorities, networks, service providers)

Meet your future manager.
You will report to Michael Koopmans, Site Director at Danone R&I Utrecht.

About you

Skills, Competencies & Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field with 5+ years of experience in HSE roles within FMCG, Food, Pharma or Research
• Strong communicator and facilitator, capable of influencing across all levels and functions
• Proven ability to operate in technical environments such as laboratories or pilot plants
• Solid knowledge of Dutch HSE legislation and experience with ISO 14001 / OHSAS 18001
• Proficient in MS Office and digital tools (SPHERA, Make-Online experience is a plus)
• Strategic mindset combined with a pragmatic, hands-on mentality and strong problem-solving skills
• Bilingual: Fluent in Dutch and English, written and spoken
• Passionate about people development and fostering a sustainable, autonomous safety culture

About Danone

At Danone we are committed to our mission “bringing health, through food to as many people as possible”. We are working together to make sure that our brands, like Nutricia and Nutrilon, create real benefits for people, communities and the planet. You will be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world. Being B Corp means to be part of a select movement of companies verified to be meeting the highest standards of social and environmental criteria and using business as a force for good. One Planet. One Health.

Our state-of-the-art research and innovation center builds bridges between food and science and is global in reach, founded on over 125 years of experience in life & food science, technology and user experience and is at the forefront of pioneering advances in specialized nutrition.

We offer:

All Danoners receive a complete package of benefits. This includes a competitive salary and yearly bonus, a premium free pension, 30 days of annual leave (with the opportunity to purchase more) and you will receive a monthly health care allowance. In addition, you can get discount on your gym membership, and we offer initiatives focused on nutrition, physical, and mental health. We provide continuous learning opportunities through workshops, online courses and training sessions.

We put people at the center of everything we do. Bring your unique perspective, ambitions and ideas to the table – the impact you could make might surprise you. We are committed to embrace diversity, nurturing an inclusive workplace where every individual is valued; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is deeply embedded in Danone's DNA.

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.

Need more information? Please contact Joost Rijksen, joost.rijksen@danone.com

* All applications will be considered for a vacancy without discrimination based on ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.