Head of Commercial Innovation and Product Management

Arla Denmark is focused on delivering strong market execution, driving sustainability, and unlocking new growth through innovation. With more than 20 strategic brands and a broad, dynamic portfolio, we continuously develop new concepts, grow existing categories, and explore untapped opportunities to meet the evolving needs of Danish consumers.

Our setup combines the scale and collaboration of a centralized Eurozone team with agile, market-driven execution. We are currently looking for a Senior Manager, Head of Commercial Innovation & Product Management to lead the commercial innovation, product management and master data in the Danish market.

How you will make an impact

In this position, you will define and create an innovation pipeline that looks to defend or create new platforms for business growth in the Danish retail market.

You will own the local innovation agenda and work together with both local and global brand and category owners, as well as have the ownership of developing the long-term local innovation pipeline across categories. From concept development to product development (in collaboration with NPD) to securing stage/gate approval and implementation – where Product Management plays a key role in securing alignment with Supply Chain. All this in very close collaboration with the local brand and category organization. Also, you will work closely together with Global and European colleagues to understand and influence innovation projects that goes across markets.

Furthermore, you will lead a team of skilled Product Managers and Master Data owners who play a key role in both maintaining our existing portfolio and enabling innovation. The team manages ~600 products, supports ~50 launches and ~150 redesigns annually, and ensures compliance, system excellence, and smooth implementation across the value chain. They also contribute to strategic initiatives such as packaging legislation, data governance, and Arla Denmark growth projects.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Securing a strong local innovation pipeline, creating an effective local stage/gate process and prioritization of commercial innovation resources across brands and categories
• Owning the master data process and the quality of the data in Arla Denmark
• Leading a team of 13 colleagues including local innovation managers, product managers and master data specialists to ensure they are working as a team securing synergies wherever possible
• Owning the commercial innovation pipeline to ensure that the business delivers against the KPIs
• Driving the creation and delivery of the +3-year innovation strategy aligned with the category and relevant brand strategies that support the ambitions of the overall category innovation KPIs
• Ensure company compliance to policies and processes/procedures are in place,
  understood and adopted e.g., natural and health guidelines
• Working closely together with category, brand and NPD colleagues in our Local, Global and European teams
• Being a member of the Danish Marketing Leadership Team driving the Danish marketing agenda

What will make you successful

We imagine that the right candidate has full knowledge and leadership of the innovation pipeline (SPRING Gate) process or similar stage/gate processes, gained from 7+ years of work experience in FMCG. You bring a passion for driving commercial results with a business development mindset and for creatively developing brands through innovation. You are adept at using your business acumen and creative flair to influence shopper and consumer behavior through innovation, to drive growth, P&L, scale and equity!

You are an experienced people manager and your personality enables you to develop a highly motivated and skilled team that has a big drive to deliver, is able to learn and adapt and is fully engaged with the purpose of Arla Foods. You are resilient and able to overcome challenges and are able to influence others and to build strong relationships.
Moreover you are an excellent communicator, with a clear vision and skills and personality to rally customers, consumers and the Arla organization.

Furthermore, you bring

• Expertise in consumer and shopper insights and translating that to actional propositions
• Strong project management skills enabling you to drive excellent execution
• Experience with project and/or product management
• A digital native or experienced digital operator that can leverage digital platforms to fuel our innovation pipeline and master product and master data
• Fluency in Danish and English

What do we offer?

We are committed to professional development and promoting from within. Our positive and collaborative culture will bring out the best in you. And you will join a market leader who produces nutritious household-favourite brands in a way that makes things better for our customers, the farmers who own us and the whole world.

Application and contact

Please apply as soon as possible as we process applications on an ongoing basis. If you have any specific questions about the role that are important before sending your application, please contact VP Marketing and Innovation in Arla Denmark, Ann-Camilla Kjæmpe on ann-camilla.kjaempe@arlafoods.com