APAC Supplier Quality Management Director

The APAC Supplier Quality Management (SQM) Director leads the Supplier Quality Management agenda across Asia Pacific, ensuring robust supplier governance, material safety, quality compliance, risk management, and business continuity throughout Danone's sourcing network. Acting as the primary strategic partner to Category & Procurement (C&P), Operations, R&I and Global SQM teams, the role drives end-to-end supplier quality excellence across raw materials, packaging materials and strategic supplier partnerships. The position safeguards Danone's license to operate, protects consumers and brands, and enables sustainable business growth through a resilient and high-performing supplier ecosystem across Asia Pacific. The role leads the APAC SQM organization of approximately 20 supplier quality professionals located across APAC CBUs and serves as the regional focal point for supplier quality governance, capability building, transformation and continuous improvement. As a member of the APAC QFS Leadership Team, this role plays a critical role in shaping the future supplier quality agenda, sourcing resilience strategy, and quality transformation roadmap across one of Danone's most diverse and dynamic regions. Key Accountabilities 1. Supplier Quality Governance & Compliance • Own and deploy the APAC Supplier Quality Management strategy aligned with Global QFS and SQM standards. • Establish and maintain robust supplier governance systems and quality oversight across all APAC sourcing categories. • Ensure supplier quality processes, policies and standards are implemented consistently across markets. • Drive compliance with Danone QFS requirements, regulatory obligations and industry standards. • Act as the escalation owner for high-risk supplier quality issues impacting consumer safety, brand reputation or business continuity. 2. Material Safety & Fit-for-Purpose Assurance • Ensure all raw materials, packaging materials and sourcing solutions are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. • Lead supplier qualification, approval and ongoing performance monitoring processes. • Provide quality leadership for innovation, renovation, productivity and sourcing transformation projects. • Partner with R&I, Operations and Procurement to secure material quality during product and supplier changes. 3. Supplier Risk Management & Business Continuity • Build and execute the regional supplier quality risk management framework. • Assess and mitigate supplier-related quality, food safety and business continuity risks. • Lead quality input into dual sourcing, risk mitigation and Business Continuity Planning (BCP) initiatives. • Drive proactive management of high-risk suppliers and strategic sourcing vulnerabilities. • Support critical business decisions related to supplier performance, risk exposure and sourcing resilience. • Lead the regional response to significant supplier-related quality and food safety incidents, ensuring rapid containment, risk assessment, executive communication, and effective recovery. • Serve as the APAC SQM crisis lead during supplier-related quality events. 4. Supplier Performance, Audit & Continuous Improvement • Lead resolution of material non-conformities, supplier quality incidents and recurring performance issues. • Ensure sustainable resolution of supplier quality and performance issues through robust governance and continuous improvement programs. • Oversee supplier qualification, surveillance and maintenance audit programs across APAC. • Ensure audit resources and expertise are deployed according to supplier complexity, risk level and business impact. • Strengthen audit methodologies and promote a culture of prevention and risk anticipation. 5. Strategic Partnership & Cross-Functional Leadership • Serve as the single APAC SQM point of contact for Category & Procurement leadership on supplier quality strategy, supplier risk governance, and sourcing transformation initiatives. • Partner with Global SQM and SRM teams to co-develop and deploy supplier quality standards, governance frameworks, and strategic improvement programs across APAC. • Influence sourcing strategies through quality, risk and sustainability perspectives. • Lead alignment across Operations, Procurement, R&I and QFS functions to support business objectives. • Represent APAC in global supplier quality governance forums and transformation initiatives. • Integrate supplier quality, food safety, sustainability, and responsible sourcing requirements into supplier governance and sourcing decisions. • Partner with Procurement, Sustainability and APAC Co-Manufacturing teams to strengthen supplier quality, responsible sourcing, and supply network resilience. 6. Organization Leadership & Capability Building • Lead, coach and develop a regional SQM organization of approximately 20 professionals across APAC markets. • Build a high-performing SQM community through talent development, succession planning, capability building and organizational effectiveness initiatives. • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 7. Supplier Quality Transformation & Supplier Capability Building • Lead the transformation of APAC Supplier Quality Management operating models, governance frameworks and supplier management practices to support evolving sourcing and business strategies. • Drive simplification, harmonization and standardization of supplier quality processes across APAC markets. • Build future-fit supplier capabilities in quality systems, regulatory compliance, risk management, auditing, continuous improvement and performance management. • Accelerate supplier quality maturity through digital enablement, data-driven insights, innovation and best-practice sharing. Key Business Impact The role has significant enterprise-level impact through: • Protection of Danone's license to operate, consumer safety and Danone brand reputation through proactive management of supplier food safety and quality risks. • De…