Director Of Strategic Initiatives Jobs in Ridgefield, CT

The Director, Insurance & Risk Management leads the design, implementation, and governance of Danone North America's insurance and risk management programs. Reporting directly to Senior Director of Tax and Risk Management for NORAM, with a dotted line to Corporate Director, Global Risk & Insurance in Paris, this role is responsible for safeguarding the organization through effective risk identification, assessment, mitigation, financing, and transfer strategies.

The position oversees commercial insurance programs, claims management, broker and insurer relationships, and insurance-related support for strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, divestitures, major capital projects, contractual risk assessments, and other significant business events. The Director partners closely with Legal, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, IT Security, HR, Procurement, Employee Health & Safety, Marketing/Sales, Global Risk teams, and other stakeholders to ensure comprehensive risk oversight and alignment with Danone's global standards.

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

• Develop and execute Danone North America’s insurance strategy, ensuring appropriate protection of company people, assets, operations, and financial strength.
• Lead the design, placement, administration, and ongoing management of insurance and risk transfer programs across multiple business units.
• Manage insurance programs including Property; Commercial General Liability / Excess Umbrella; Product Liability; Auto Liability; Workers’ Compensation; Directors & Officers (D&O); Employment Practices Liability (EPL); Fiduciary Liability; Cyber Insurance; Crime/Fidelity; Environmental Impairment Liability; Marine/Cargo; Product Contamination/Recall; and other specialty coverages.
• Lead local and annual insurance renewals, underwriting submissions, market negotiations, and policy wording reviews; negotiate coverage, pricing, and policy terms with insurers and brokers.
• Work closely global insurance teams of the parent company to optimize coverage structure, limits, deductibles, and total cost of risk.
• Develop and manage the insurance budget, including premium projections, retained claims / self-insured fund contributions, and total cost of risk analysis.
• Analyze market trends and develop renewal strategies that balance risk protection, cost, and business priorities.

Operational Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and prioritize operational and strategic risks with potential insurance, financial, reputational, or business continuity impacts.
• Support enterprise risk management activities as needed, including risk assessments, risk mitigation planning, and leadership reporting.
• Promote a risk-management culture and ensure the business involves Insurance & Risk Management in significant events, crises, transactions, projects, and organizational changes.
• Develop risk policies, insurance-related processes, and claims procedures to support consistent governance across the organization.

Claims & Loss Management

• Oversee major insurance claims, including property, casualty, workers’ compensation, and litigation-related insurance matters.
• Coordinate with brokers, carriers, legal counsel, business leaders, operational stakeholders, and other relevant partners to support timely claim resolution.
• Drive loss-prevention initiatives for insurable risks, including property engineering inspections, risk recommendations, and related follow-up actions.
• Coordinate property risk engineering recommendations and support business continuity and operational risk initiatives.
• Monitor claims performance and identify opportunities to reduce frequency, severity, and total cost of risk.

Contractual Risk Management

• Review customer, supplier, co-manufacturer, transportation, real estate, commercial, and other third-party agreements for insurance, indemnification, and risk transfer provisions.
• Advise business partners on risk allocation, contractual protections, indemnification, and insurance requirements.
• Provide advice to Procurement, Legal, Sales/Marketing, Logistics, and other internal stakeholders during contract negotiations.

Cyber & Emerging Risk Oversight

• Partner with Cyber Security and Digital teams to evaluate cyber risk exposures for insurance renewals and broader risk oversight.
• Assess evolving regulatory, operational, technological, and emerging risks that may affect Danone North America.
• Develop insurance and risk solutions for emerging threats in coordination with internal stakeholders and external advisors.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Projects

• Support acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, integrations, major capital projects, and other strategic initiatives.
• Conduct insurance and risk due diligence and evaluate transaction-specific liabilities and insurance requirements.
• Coordinate warranty and indemnity insurance or other transaction-specific insurance solutions when appropriate.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with insurance regulations and internal governance standards.
• Maintain accurate insurance records, certificates, filings, and reporting.
• Prepare management presentations and reports for leadership and global stakeholders.
• Support internal and external audits related to insurance and risk management activities.

Stakeholder, Broker & Insurer Management

• Lead relationships with brokers, carriers, insurers, consultants, and third-party vendors.
• Establish performance expectations and service-level objectives for external partners.
• Collaborate with global Danone teams to leverage best practices, market intelligence, and global standards.

The salary range for this position is $150,000 – $180,000 USD. 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.
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.

• Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Finance, Business, Accounting, Law, Insurance, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Professional insurance designations preferred, such as ARM (Associate in Risk Management) or CPCU; CRM, RIMS-CRMP, or equivalent designation a plus.
• 10–15 years of progressive insurance and risk management experience in the U.S. and Canada, ideally including experience with global coverages placed outside of the U.S.
• Experience with a multinational company and multi-cultural environment, preferably in a consumer products company.
• Demonstrated experience managing multimillion-dollar insurance programs.
• Strong experience with insurance renewals, policy wording and coverage reviews, claims management, and broker / insurer negotiations.
• Experience supporting M&A transactions and contractual risk management.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Leadership

• Strategic thinker capable of balancing risk mitigation with business objectives.
• Effective communicator with proven ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships.
• Strong executive presence and influencing skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives across multiple functions and geographies.

Deep Insurance & Risk Management Expertise

• Property & Casualty insurance, Cyber insurance, D&O, Fiduciary and EPL liability, and other financial lines.
• Environmental Impairment Liability, claims management, risk financing structures, business continuity and crisis management, contractual risk transfer, insurance budget / forecast planning, and property loss control.

Business Partnership

• Strong collaboration skills with internal stakeholders across multiple business units, including Finance, Legal, Operations, HR, IT, Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Employee Health & Safety, Sales/Marketing, and Logistics leaders.
• Ability to translate complex risk issues into actionable business recommendations.

Analytical Skills

• Strong quantitative and financial analysis capabilities.
• Experience evaluating total cost of risk and developing risk mitigation strategies.

Life at Danone
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
Our Brands
When you join us, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world, including Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, SToK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®.
Our Purpose
We’re committed to making a positive impact on our world. Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, we’re proud to be the world’s largest B Corp.
Learn more about our mission.
Our Benefits
Our commitment to making the world healthier starts with our employees. 

• Physical Wellbeing: We pay for the majority of your medical benefits – which include medical, dental and vision – with our competitive 80%/20% cost-sharing model.
• Mental Wellbeing: Danoners receive fitness discounts, unlimited flexible time off and hybrid work schedules. We also have a range of programs that support mental health and substance abuse.  
• Financial Support: We offer a performance-based bonus, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs and voluntary perks.
• Family Care: We offer caretaker benefits, 18 weeks of parental bonding, fertility, surrogacy, adoption benefits and pet insurance.

Learn more about our benefits.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Danone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.
#LI-NORAM
#LI-HYBRID

#LI-SM1
California Data Privacy Law

Life at Danone
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
Our Brands
When you join us, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world, including Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, SToK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®.
Our Purpose
We’re committed to making a positive impact on our world. Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, we’re proud to be the world’s largest B Corp.
Learn more about our mission.
Our Benefits
Our commitment to making the world healthier starts with our employees. 

• Physical Wellbeing: We pay for the majority of your medical benefits – which include medical, dental and vision – with our competitive 80%/20% cost-sharing model.
• Mental Wellbeing: Danoners receive fitness discounts, unlimited flexible time off and hybrid work schedules. We also have a range of programs that support mental health and substance abuse.  
• Financial Support: We offer a performance-based bonus, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs and voluntary perks.
• Family Care: We offer caretaker benefits, 18 weeks of parental bonding, fertility, surrogacy, adoption benefits and pet insurance.

Learn more about our benefits.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Danone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.
#LI-NORAM
#LI-HYBRID

#LI-SM1
California Data Privacy Law