Head of Innovation

Job Title: Head of Innovation 

Function: Ornua Foods North America, Marketing 

Reports to: Senior Director, Brand Marketing OFNA 

Location: Evanston, Illinois 

Career Level: M3 

Position Type: Full-Time 

Schedule: Standard business hours 

Ornua (meaning “new gold”) is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, proudly bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world since 1961. 

Are you an experienced innovation leader looking for the challenge of shaping a consumer-led growth agenda in the U.S. market? 

Ornua is actively seeking a Head of Innovation to join the Ornua Family as we continue our growth trajectory. 

WHY THIS ROLE IS VALUABLE 

Reporting to the Senior Director, Brand Marketing OFNA, the Head of Innovation will lead the U.S. innovation agenda and build a robust, consumer-led pipeline of products. This role is responsible for portfolio strategy and management, adaptation of global platforms for the U.S. market, disciplined stage-gate execution, and support for key customers. Working across Insights, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and global partners, this leader will translate consumer and category opportunities into commercially viable launches, renovations, and portfolio decisions that support sustainable growth. 

WHAT YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 

• Develop and lead a consumer-insight-driven innovation strategy that identifies unmet and underserved consumer needs while aligning with market dynamics, competitive trends, brand priorities, and financial objectives. 

• Lead the end-to-end innovation process from strategy and concept development through commercialization, including product design, channel strategy, pricing, packaging, forecasting, and market launch execution. 

• Collaborate with Global Innovation Team to drive the prioritization, scaling, localization, and consistency of innovation development, while adapting global platforms and ideas to meet U.S. market needs. 

• Direct stage-gate governance and investment decision-making, evaluating strategic fit, market opportunity, consumer demand, competitive landscape, sales potential, profitability, commercial risk, resource requirements, and timing. 

• Partner cross-functionally to move concepts from insight through commercialization, ensuring clear ownership, sound decision-making, and strong execution.  

• Manage innovation priorities, pipeline investments, and budgets to ensure resources are aligned against the highest-value growth opportunities. 

• Provide innovation support for key customers and translate customer and market needs into actionable growth opportunities. 

• Lead executive communications and manage key stakeholders across OFNA and the wider Ornua Group. 

• Establish performance metrics and success criteria, continuously monitor innovation and portfolio performance, and recommend actions to improve business outcomes. 

WHAT YOU WILL BRING 

• Strong leadership capability within a CPG marketing and innovation environment. 

• Fluency in consumer-led innovation methods, including Design Thinking and disciplined new product development processes. 

• Deep understanding of the U.S. retail, consumer, and competitive landscape. 

• Strong commercial judgment, with the ability to evaluate opportunities using consumer, category, financial, and operational inputs. 

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and negotiation skills. 

• Advanced communication and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to influence senior leaders and align cross-functional teams. 

• A collaborative, self-motivated approach with the energy to balance local business needs and broader Group priorities. 

• A passion for high-quality food and building brands and products that deliver meaningful consumer value. 

EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business and/or Marketing. 

• 10 years of relevant CPG experience, including demonstrated success in innovation including leading innovation strategy, product development and commercialization. 

• Experience with consumer products sold through retail channels. 

• Experience managing at least 1 direct report. 

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders at multiple levels. 

• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 20%. 

• Authorization to work for any employer in the United States. 

Desired Qualifications 

• MBA or other relevant advanced degree. 

• Food and beverage industry experience. 

• Experience adapting global innovation platforms for the U.S. market. 

• Proven capability to lead in a matrix organization driving collaboration across businesses and functions. 

ORNUA VALUES AND COMPETENCIES 

At Ornua, our Values guide how we work together and care for one another to achieve great things. Our five values encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care, and Achieve Great Things Together. 

• Curiosity: Creates an environment for innovative thinking and recognizes creative ideas and continuous improvement. 

• Ownership: Empowers performance, ensures quality and delivery, and makes decisions that support sustainable growth. 

• Communicative: Applies advanced communication skills to create an honest, constructive impact and achieve desired outcomes. 

• Collaborative: Works effectively across functions, cultures, personalities, and levels to build strong relationships and deliver performance.