Head of Ingredients, Ornua International

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Date: 12 Jun 2025

Location: Dubai, AE, 54993

Company: Ornua Co-operative Limited

 

 

Ornua is a dairy co-operative which sells dairy products on behalf of its members, Ireland’s dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. It is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, exporting to 110 countries worldwide. Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua has annualised sales of over €3.5 billion and a global team of 3,000 employees.

 

Ornua is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients. We operate from 10 business units worldwide, including 16 production facilities, and have sales and marketing teams working in-market across the globe in Africa, Asia, Germany, Ireland, the Middle East, Spain, the UK, and the US.

 

You may know us by our brands Kerrygold, Dubliner, Pilgrim’s Choice, Avantage, Forto, and BEO.

 

Why Join Ornua?

 

At Ornua, we’re more than just a business — we’re a purpose-driven, values-led co-operative creating lasting value for Irish dairy farming families.

 

Our culture is built on five core values that shape everything we do:

 

  1. Seek and Embrace New Ideas
  2. Make It Happen
  3. Be Your True Self
  4. Show You Care
  5. Achieve Great Things Together

 

We’re committed to your growth. That means:

 

  • Career Progression & Global Mobility – Unlock exciting opportunities across our international network.
  • Continuous Learning Culture – We invest in you so you can keep evolving.

 

Join a team where your contribution matters — and your future is full of possibility.

 

Ornua’s Growth

 

At Ornua, our co-operative ethos lies at the heart of how we do business. We care passionately about driving sustainable, profitable growth, underpinned by our ambitious ‘Path to Prosper’ strategy. We have delivered significant growth in our core business and. we have ambitious plans for continued growth over the next five years.

 

WHY THIS ROLE IS VALUABLE

 

We’re thrilled to announce an open position for Head of Ingredient based at our Dubai office. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone ready to take on a high-impact role in one of the most dynamic and fast-growing regions in our network.

 

Why consider Dubai?

 

  • Diverse set of markets in a region of growth - leading a business of $200m with a driven team.
  • Vibrant, Global City – Experience world-class infrastructure, diverse cultures, and endless professional and personal growth opportunities.
  • Strategic Regional Hub – Be at the heart of driving Ornua’s growth in the Middle East and beyond. Dubai connectivity to the world (two thirds of the world population within an 8 hr flight.

 

WHY THIS ROLE IS VALUABLE

 

Ornua’s Ingredient business across the Middle East and Africa represents  20% of our Group member supply and as such is a key strategic route to market for Irish dairy.

 

The Head of Ingredients will have responsibility for ensuring the strategy and execution of the business maximises the return to our members through efficient volume movement, particularly in our key categories of FFMP & Cheddar, while maintaining profitability.

 

 

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

 

  • Full P&L accountability for our Ingredients business across the Middle East.
  • Lead, develop and execute an exciting  five year growth plan for the business in conjunction with the Regional Heads.
  • With the member relations team, manage the supply base for our key strategic product category of Fat Filled Milk powder.
  • Provide accurate monthly  forecasts for the business, ensuring these proactively manage  working capital impacts across stock  and debtors appropriately.
  • With the International HR business partner, focus on the continued development of people, recognising talent and its cultivation as a key business enabler.  Ensure robust and well-developed succession plans are in place for key positions.
  • Through your team, curate the continued expansion of a sustainable customer base across the region.
  • Ensure the concerns of the business are addressed appropriately within the relevant parts of the wider Ornua Ingredient business.
  • Proactively and appropriately manage the level of risk within the busines
     

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

 

  • Minimum of 10 years experience in managing a commodity portfolio in International markets, preferably dairy
  • Excellent understanding of Global dairy markets and factors impacting volatility
  • Strong numeracy skills with the ability to interpret and interrogate financial data
  • Clearly demonstrates ownership of a business, makes considered decisions, manages performance and recognises success
  • Excellent people leadership skills with a clear commitment to developing talent
  • A strong role model for Ornua values and behaviours
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport at all levels of the organization
  • Flexibility and willingness to travel as appropriate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#LI-HYBRID

 


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