Senior Commercial Innovation Manager, Arla Denmark - Aarhus

After a number of years driving added value through our milk and building the Arla brand via a number of key categories and channels, our strategy for 2026 focusses on enhancing our business based on driving sustainability, focusing on our strongholds and leveraging the scale of the Arla brand via a centralized Eurozone team and strong execution in the markets. We are currently looking for a Senior Commercial Innovation Manager to lead the commercial innovation in the Danish market.

 

How you will make an impact

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

 

You will own the local innovation agenda and have the end-to-end 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 secure implementation with Supply Chain and Production colleagues. 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.

 

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
• Leading a team of four colleagues including local innovation managers 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 and specific innovation KPIs
• Ensure that company compliance to policies and processes/procedures are in place,
  understood and adopted, e.g., natural guidelines/working with QHES
• Working closely together with category, brand and NPD colleagues in our 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 may be an experienced people manager already, or this may be your first people manager role – regardless, 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,  excellent in building strong relationships and able to influence others.
Moreover you are an excellent communicator, with a clear vision, skills and personality to rally customers, consumers and the Arla organization.

 

Furthermore, you bring

• Expertise in consumer and shopper insights and translating that into actional propositions
• Strong project management skills enabling you to drive excellent execution
• A Digital Native or experienced digital operator that can leverage digital platforms to fuel our innovation pipeline
• 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 Ann-Camilla Kjæmpe on ann-camilla.kjaempe@arlafoods.com