Senior Ventures Director (Danone Ventures)

Danone is a global leader in healthy food through its three businesses: Essential Dairy and Plant Based Products, Waters, and Specialized Nutrition. Its mission, bringing health through food to as many people as possible, embodies its commitment to human progress and business success.

To further this mission, Danone Ventures (DV), Danone's corporate venture team, was formed. Through DV, we identify early stage food and foodtech start-ups that share our vision of a future of healthy and sustainable food. Leveraging equity investments as a tool, we help facilitate strong value creating partnerships between Danone and start-ups. We have strong beliefs and convictions and look to partner with like-minded start-up's as a key criterion of our investment philosophy.

We are seeking a bright, self-motivated, and thoughtful Ventures Director with 10-12 years of professional experience. This role will have a dual focus:

Strategic Leadership - Exploration and Deal Sourcing

The Ventures Director will lead DV's strategic exploration efforts, working closely with the DV Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer and VP of Partnerships & Science. This includes driving deal sourcing, coordinating position papers, and shaping the strategic thinking around our investment territories.

1. Investment Execution & Portfolio Engagement

The Director will also contribute to DV's investment and partnership activities-supporting new investments and actively engaging with our portfolio companies. This includes due diligence, investment recommendations, investment execution, and operational support across DV and broader Danone initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deal Sourcing:
  Establish and manage sourcing process to build a robust pipeline. Lead weekly sourcing meetings and ensure alignment across the DV team.
• Strategic Positioning:
  Coordinate DV's position papers, delivering deep-dive analyses on emerging trends, technologies, and ecosystems relevant to our investment focus.
• Territory Development:
  Co-lead strategic assessment of current and potential investment territories. Attend key industry events and propose new areas of exploration.
• Investment Process:
  Identify and evaluate investment opportunities. Conduct screenings, due diligence, industry research; prepare investment memos and coordinate investment process through completion.
• Team Leadership:
  Manage and mentor the team's junior analyst, fostering personal development and collaboration within the DV team.
• Operational Support:
  Contribute to the day-to-day operations of DV and support cross-functional initiatives within Danone.

The base compensation range for this position is $200k-230k commensurate with experience. 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.

• You have a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Strategy, Marketing or related fields from a top university; MBA preferred
• You have relevant experience (10-12 years), preferably in Strategy Consulting, Corporate Strategy or Venture Capital

• You have strong analytical and critical thinking skills with attention to detail
• You have a passion for food, health, sustainability, and innovation, with strong curiosity for science driven innovation in food
• You have a good level of understanding of corporate finance concepts (business plan, valuation, venture capital)
• You have proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• You have excellent communication and organizational skills
• You are a self-starter with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, lean, cross-functional, collaborative, international environment
• You have strong interpersonal skills and a team-oriented mindset

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.

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