Head of Innovation

Job Title:

Head of Innovation

Function:
Ornua Foods North America, Marketing

Reports to:

Senior Director, Brand Marketing OFNA

Location:

Evanston, Illinois

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business and/or Marketing.
• 10…