Global Innovation Lead

JOB TITLE: Global Innovation Lead 

REPORTS TO: Global Head of Marketing  

LOCATION: Dublin  

Company Background 

Ornua is an Irish dairy co-operative that markets and sells dairy products on behalf of its Members, Ireland’s dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. Ornua is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products and has annualised sales of €3.4 billion. Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua has a strong global team of 2,900 employees, operating from 10 business units worldwide, including 13 production facilities. Ornua’s core purpose is to build profitable routes to market for Irish dairy products. 

The Group is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients. Ornua Foods is responsible for the marketing and sales of Ornua’s consumer brands, including Ireland’s most successful food export, Kerrygold, as well as Kerrygold Dubliner, Pilgrims Choice, Forto and BEO milk powders. 

Ornua Ingredients is responsible for the procurement of Irish and non-Irish dairy products, for the sale of dairy ingredients to food manufacturing and foodservice customers across the world, and for managing volatility through de-risking and trading strategies. 

Ornua’s Values 

At Ornua, our Values lie at the core of everything that we do and how we behave both individually and as a business. Our five values, and their underlying behaviours, encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care and Achieve Great Things Together. 

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 

The Global Innovation Lead plays a key role in shaping the future of Ornua and the Kerrygold brand. This person will serve as the thought leader and catalyst who will spearhead the development of the innovation pipeline and commercialization of projects across key categories, focusing on consumer needs, brand fit, and commercial impact. 

The role works across teams and geographies to turn ideas into strong, viable concepts that align with the Kerrygold brand’s strategy and values. This is a high-impact role that helps drive long-term brand growth through relevant, scalable innovation. 

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: 

• Identify growth opportunities and manage idea generation for new products that align with Kerrygold’s strategy and enhance brand strength. 

• Build and manage a 3–5-year innovation pipeline, grounded in consumer insight, aligned to brand strategy, and designed to deliver sustainable growth. 

• Ensure all innovation projects are aligned with Kerrygold’s Global Brand & Business Strategy. 

• Work alongside the Consumer & Market Knowledge team to shape concepts that are rooted in strong consumer, category, and market insights. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and Business Units to develop front-end innovation and maintain alignment across key stakeholders. 

• Support Business Units in translating ideas into winning concepts tailored to the markets’ needs. 

• Be the conduit to R&D and other partners to deliver robust product and packaging briefs as part of the early Business Case stage. 

• Work with Global Marketing to make sure innovation fits with the brand architecture and contributes to long-term equity building. 

• Champion ways of working around innovation that drive collaboration and speed to market, and foster a culture that encourages bold, consumer-led thinking. 

• Be an engaged member of the Global Brands Leadership Team, contributing to overall brand and portfolio strategy. 

KEY REQUIREMENTS: 

• Proven experience leading innovation strategy and developing pipelines in FMCG/CPG, ideally within food, dairy, or nutrition. 

• Expertise in front-end innovation, including insight generation, concept development, and early-stage business case creation. 

• Strong track record of cross-functional collaboration, bringing together R&D, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to deliver innovation. 

• Well-versed in global consumer trends and category dynamics, with the ability to turn insights into commercially viable innovation. 

• Commercially minded with a strong balance of creativity and strategic thinking. 

• Skilled in managing multiple projects and driving ideas from concept through to successful launch. 

• Effective communicator and collaborator, with experience influencing stakeholders at all levels. 

• Adept at navigating global, matrixed environments. 

• Passionate about innovation and developing product concepts that are distinct and relevant with consumers and strengthens brand equity. 

ORNUA COMPETENCIES: 

• Customer Focus : Puts the consumer at the heart of innovation—champions consumer insight as the foundation for pipeline development. Integrates brand equity and commercial needs while identifying innovation opportunities that drive both value and relevance for the Kerrygold brand. 

• Curiosity : Promotes a learning mindset and actively seeks out new ideas, technologies, and ways of working. Encourages bold thinking and is unafraid to question convention to unlock breakthrough concepts for the brand. 

• Forward-Looking : Thinks ahead and anticipates future category trends, translating them into a clear, long-term innovation roadmap. Helps teams navigate the complexity of early-stage innovation and competitive dynamics. 

• Working Together : Collaborates across Central and Market teams, creating alignment from idea to execution. Builds strong relationships with R&D, Regulatory, Marketing, Consumer & Marketplace Knowledge and Insights, and Commercial partners to ensure innovation is viable, scalable, and consistent with the brand’s strategy. 

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE IS THURSDAY 12TH JUNE