Senior Team Leader Statistics

Research & Innovation

About the job

Utrecht/Hybrid

Are you passionate about Statistics, Technical Leadership, and Study Design? And are you an experienced people leader with a strong background in Statistics?

In that case we have an exciting opportunity as Senior Team Leader Statistics for you. Our team's mission is to ensure the highest standards of statistical methodology across Danone R&I studies. In your role as Senior Team Leader Statistics, being part of Biometrics and Health Data team, your key responsibilities are:

• Build, coach, and retain a motivated, skilled team of statisticians; tailor mentoring and career development to individual strengths and aspirations.
• Establish a culture of psychological safety, continuous learning, and knowledge sharing; encourage innovation and adaptability.
• Provide subject‑matter leadership on study design, sample size calculations, interim rules, analysis plans, analysis conduct, and results interpretation; maintain scientific rigor throughout.
• Act as a senior expert for complex statistical challenges and regulatory requirements; partner with clinical researchers, scientists, data management, programmers, medical, and regulatory colleagues to align strategies with portfolio goals.
• Ensure work complies with applicable regulations and Danone’s Quality Management System (QMS); champion best practices in documentation, validation, and audit readiness.
• Champion modern methods: analysis of data from digital health tools, RWD/RWE, causal inference approaches, and Bayesian/adaptive designs.
• Drive responsible GenAI adoption for quality improvements and efficiency gains, with human oversight and appropriate risk controls.
• Translate business questions into fit‑for‑purpose analysis strategies and communicate insights clearly to non‑statistical stakeholders.
• Contribute to long‑term analytics capability building and the digital maturity roadmap across MNS/R&I.

Meet your future manager! You will report to Sophie Swinkels, Director Methodology & Statistics.

About you

The Senior Team Leader position is not just a job; it is an opportunity to lead a high-performing team, drive innovation, and make a tangible impact on the lives of our consumers. We invite dedicated professionals with a passion for innovation and excellence to join us in this exciting journey.

Key requirements:

• Advanced degree (MSc/PhD) in Statistics, Biostatistics, or a closely related field; strong knowledge of statistical methodologies, inference, and experimental design.
• Proven leadership experience managing statistical teams (coaching, performance management, succession planning).
• Strong knowledge of regulatory standards; understanding of GDPR implications for clinical data and analytics.
• Hands‑on proficiency with R and/or SAS.
• Demonstrated ability to operate within QMS environments and prepare for audits/inspections.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management; ability to influence, simplify complex topics, and build trust.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with causal inference, integration of real‑world data/evidence, adaptive/Bayesian methods, or simulation‑based design.
• Familiarity with modern engineering practices (Git, CI/CD, containers) and cloud analytics.
• Exposure to responsible GenAI evaluation and deployment in analytics workflows, including risk/benefit assessments aligned to internal policy.
• Working knowledge of CDISC and validation practices.

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.

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.

Need more information?

Please contact Robin Hiariej via robin.hiariej@danone.com.