Head of Sales, Europe

Date: 20 Aug 2025

Location: Dublin, IE, D02 H638

Company: Ornua Co-operative Limited

JOB DESCRIPTION

 

JOB TITLE:                       Head of Sales Europe, OFI

REPORTS TO:                  Managing Director, Ornua Foods International

LOCATION:                      Dublin, Ireland

 

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, exporting to 110 countries worldwide. Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua has annualised sales of over €3.4 billion and a global team of 2,800 employees.

 

Ornua is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients. We operate from 10 business units worldwide, including 12 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.

 

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.

 

About the Role

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to spearhead Kerrygold’s growth across European markets. The role will also be responsible for managing a number of smaller customers in Ornua’s Rest of Asia Markets. This pivotal role will shape and execute our commercial strategy, drive innovation, and foster key partnerships, ensuring long-term financial success and market leadership.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

  • Strategic Leadership: Provide clear direction and visionary leadership for the team, leading the development and execution of a robust growth strategy.
  • Executive Collaboration: Play an integral role on the Ornua Foods International Leadership Team, contributing to high-level strategic decisions and the broader business agenda.
  • Aligned to GBBS priorities, lead the development of a comprehensive market growth strategy & GTM plan for Ornua Foods in key growth markets with P&L accountability.
  • Commercial Strategy: Develop and implement effective commercial plans that support financial targets and long-term business objectives.
  • Partnership Management: Cultivate and strengthen relationships with key distribution partners and stakeholders to build trust and secure long-term collaboration.
  • Cross-Functional Alignment: Collaborate closely with teams across marketing, finance, product development, and operations to ensure cohesive execution and strategic alignment.
  • Market Insight: Monitor consumer trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging opportunities to inform decision-making and maintain a competitive edge.
  • Revenue Diversification: Lead initiatives to expand revenue streams through product innovation, private label strategies (PPA), and alternative business models.
  • Portfolio Strategy: Define and implement a focused, long-term portfolio strategy aligned with Kerrygold’s vision for growth across European markets.
  • Innovation Pipeline: Develop and manage a structured pipeline of high-impact product innovations tailored to European consumer preferences.
  • Agility & Responsiveness: Promote a culture of agility, enabling the business to adapt swiftly to market changes and capitalize on new opportunities.

 

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

 

  • Proven senior leadership experience within the FMCG or food & beverage industry, ideally with pan-European market exposure.
  • Demonstrated success in developing and executing commercial strategies that deliver strong financial and market share growth.
  • Experience managing cross-functional teams and influencing at executive leadership level.
  • A strong background in business development, market expansion, and innovation pipeline management.
  • Track record of building and maintaining strategic partnerships and distributor relationships across diverse markets.
  • Strategic thinker with a strong commercial acumen and an entrepreneurial mindset.
  • Deep understanding of European consumer trends, retail landscapes, and competitive dynamics.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.
  • Strong financial literacy, with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and P&L ownership.
  • Inclusive and collaborative leadership style, with a focus on empowering teams and driving performance.
  • Resilient, adaptable, and solution-oriented, with a continuous improvement mindset.

 

ORNUA COMPETENCIES:

 

  • Curiosity: Creates an environment for innovative thinking; rewards and recognises creative thinking and continuous improvement.

 

  • Forward-Looking: Inspires and drive change; creates cross-functional strategic plans with positive social impact.

 

  • Ownership: Empowers performance, ensures quality and delivery; rewards initiatives, courage and success and makes decisions about sustainable growth.

 

  • Working Together: Creates and reinforces a collaborative culture within and across the organisation and sets up external, strategic alliances and partnerships.

ROLE CLOSING FOR APPLICATIONS, Friday 29th August


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