Futures and Foresight Strategist (DK, SE, NL, GER, UK) - Viby

We’re making a bold shift, because staying the same isn’t an option. Consumer Intelligence is Arla’s reimagined Insights & Analytics function built to shape the future of dairy by putting real consumer understanding at the heart of everything we do. As the world around us changes fast, we’re stepping up with new capabilities, deeper expertise, and a sharper focus on impact. We’re not just here to answer questions, we’re here to challenge, to inspire, and to make sure the voice of the consumer drives the decisions that matter most in our business.

Join Arla’s Innovation and Futures team as Futures and Foresight Strategist, where you’ll help lead the organization’s long-horizon thinking on how societal, cultural, and technological shifts will shape the next decade of food, health, sustainability, and beyond. Sitting at the intersection of strategic insight and open innovation, you will guide Arla’s future-facing perspective and ensure that bold, disruptive foresight is embedded into how we innovate today.

How you will make an impact
As Futures and Foresight Strategist you will join our new Innovation and Futures team and help lead the organization’s long-horizon thinking on how societal, cultural, and technological shifts will shape the next decade of food, health, sustainability, and beyond. You will be the visionary voice that helps Arla navigate the future.

• Lead “future of” thinking across Arla: Own long-range foresight work focused on food, health, lifestyle, culture, sustainability, and the changing role of the consumer.
• Forecast disruptive opportunity spaces: Identify new areas for growth by analyzing macro trends and signals shaping tomorrow’s society. Develop strong narratives to inspire teams and inform early-stage innovation and brand strategy.
• Collaborate and influence: Work in close partnership with global innovation, brand, and sustainability teams, ensuring foresight is translated into actionable insight.
• Connect and curate external networks: Be Arla’s point of contact for foresight agencies, think tanks, academic experts, and future-facing forums. Bringing fresh and provocative voices into the business.
• Support global and local teams: Enable others across the business to apply long-term thinking in practical ways. Partner with local markets and business units to adapt and scale foresight for their specific contexts.
• Mentor and inspire: As a core team member of the Innovation and Futures pillar, help shape Arla’s internal capability around trends, future thinking, and curiosity-driven exploration.

What will make you successful

You are a strategic thinker, systems navigator, and compelling storyteller. You bring imagination and discipline in equal measure, grounding bold visions in strong evidence, while inspiring others to act on what’s possible.

You also bring:

• 7+ years’ experience in strategic foresight, trends, innovation strategy, or future-facing consulting
• Deep familiarity with foresight tools like PESTLE, STEEP, scenario planning, and horizon scanning
• Strong analytical capability, with a creative approach to connecting dots across culture, society, technology, and consumer behaviour
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders with clear, strategic storytelling and bold, imaginative thinking
• Experience working in matrixed global organizations and collaborating across innovation, marketing, and R&D functions
• A natural curiosity and passion for shaping a better, more sustainable future
• Confidence navigating ambiguity and pushing the boundaries of conventional business thinking

Would you like to join us?
As Futures and Foresight Strategist, you’ll be part of the team responsible for helping Arla navigate toward long-term, transformative growth. This is a chance to set direction, not just for products or brands, but for how a purpose-led company shows up in a changing world. You’ll have the space to think big, the tools to act smart, and the people to make it real.

Please apply as soon as possible as we will process applications on a continuous basis and close the recruitment once the right candidate is found. For any questions, please write Head of Innovation and Futures Intelligence, Simon Rasmussen siras@arlafoods.com