Commercial Innovation Manager - Aarhus

Arla Foods; Aarhus; On-site; DKK 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Arla Foods Denmark is seeking an Innovation Manager to own the Denmark stage-gate process and drive complex projects from concept to launch in collaboration with Marketing, Supply Chain, NPD and Finance. The role sits at the intersection of strategy, process excellence and execution, aiming to accelerate learning with agile testing and strengthen local-global collaboration.

Fluent in Danish and English, with 5+ years in innovation or process management, you will challenge the status quo and

Qualifications

• You are an experienced innovation and/or process manager who thrives when navigating complexity and bringing people together around a common goal.
• Have 5+ years of experience within innovation, innovation process management, project management or a related field.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects in a matrix organization; food- or beverages industry is an advantage.
• Understand how to translate consumer and business opportunities into commercial results.
• Are structured, organized and comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Build trust quickly and influence stakeholders without formal authority.
• Are fluent in Danish and English.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex innovation and renovation projects from idea to launch.
• Ensure strong stakeholder alignment across Marketing, Supply Chain, NPD, Sales and Finance.
• Create momentum and secure progress throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare and facilitate key decision points and governance forums.
• Lead and continuously improve the innovation stage-gate process.
• Simplify ways of working and strengthen governance and decision-making.
• Support colleagues across Marketing in navigating innovation projects.
• Accelerate learning through agile testing and experimentation.
• Drive alignment and seamless handovers between Arla Denmark and Global Innovation teams.
• Ensure clear roles, responsibilities and effective collaboration across the innovation network.
• Bring inspiration and best practices into the Danish business.

Skills

Innovation management

Project management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Agile experimentation

Fluent Danish

Fluent English

Job description

How You Will Make An Impact

As our new Innovation Manager, you will have a two folded responsibility. Firstly, you will act as the business owner of Arla Denmark's innovation stage-gate process, ensuring efficient governance, clear decision-making and continuous improvements to how we work with innovation. Secondly, you will lead complex and business-critical innovation projects from concept to launch in close collaboration with Category, Brand, Supply Chain, New Product Development and other key stakeholders.

The role sits at the intersection of strategy, process excellence and execution. You will help challenge current ways of working, strengthen collaboration between local and global teams, and contribute to increasing the speed and impact of innovation in Arla Denmark.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Drive innovation projects

• Lead complex innovation and renovation projects from idea to launch.
• Ensure strong stakeholder alignment across Marketing, Supply Chain, NPD, Sales and Finance.
• Create momentum and secure progress throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare and facilitate key decision points and governance forums.

Develop and strengthen our innovation process

• Lead and continuously improve the innovation stage-gate process.
• Simplify ways of working and strengthen governance and decision-making.
• Support colleagues across Marketing in navigating innovation projects.
• Accelerate learning through agile testing and experimentation.

Build stronger local-global collaboration

• Drive alignment and seamless handovers between Arla Denmark and Global Innovation teams.
• Ensure clear roles, responsibilities and effective collaboration across the innovation network.
• Bring inspiration and best practices into the Danish business.

What Will Make You Successful

You are an experienced innovation and/or process manager who thrives when navigating complexity and bringing people together around a common goal. You combine strong execution skills with a curiosity for how innovation can be done better. You enjoy challenging the status quo, creating clarity in ambiguity and balancing commercial, consumer and operational perspectives.

We imagine that you

• Have 5+ years of experience within innovation, innovation process management, project management or a related field.
• Have experience leading cross-functional projects in a matrix organization and within food- or beverages industry is an advantage
• Understand how to translate consumer and business opportunities into commercial results.
• Are structured, organized and comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Build trust quickly and influence stakeholders without formal authority.
• Are fluent in Danish and English.

What We Offer

This is an opportunity to make a visible impact on the future of innovation in Arla Denmark.

You will join a highly engaged team with ambitious goals, broad stakeholder exposure and strong support for professional development. The role offers significant influence on both the innovations we bring to market and the way we work with innovation across the organization.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.