Ornua · 9 hours ago
Senior Project Manager, Innovation
Evanston, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
10+ years expOrnua is a dairy co-operative that exports dairy products worldwide, and they are seeking a Senior Project Manager, Innovation to enhance the Kerrygold Brand through innovative and operational growth initiatives. The role involves leading high-impact projects, driving cross-functional teams, and ensuring alignment with brand strategy and consumer trends.
AgricultureDairyFarmingFood DeliveryLogisticsSupply Chain Management
Responsibilities
Lead end-to-end delivery of high-impact innovation and operational projects, from concept through launch, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and consumer trends
Drive cross-functional project teams (R&D, Marketing, Supply Chain, Commercial, etc.) to deliver new products and process innovations at pace, balancing speed-to-market with quality and compliance
Develop robust project plans, timelines, and budgets using best-in-class CPG project management methodologies and tools
Champion agile ways of working, fostering a culture of experimentation, rapid learning, and continuous improvement
Engage and influence senior stakeholders, translating strategic objectives into actionable project plans and clear deliverables
Oversee risk management, proactively identifying and mitigating barriers to successful innovation delivery
Ensure effective communication and stakeholder engagement, tailoring messaging for diverse audiences from factory floor to executive leadership
Support and coach team members and people managers through change, building capability for innovation and resilience
Share best practices and drive standardization of innovation processes across the business
Provide governance, reporting, and coaching for innovation projects as required by the business
Qualification
Required
10+ years' experience in Project Management (PMP), ideally within CPG or a fast-paced consumer brand environment, with a strong track record in innovation delivery
Demonstrated leadership of large-scale transformation, new product development, or change management programs
Proven ability to build relationships and influence at all levels, quickly interpreting stakeholder needs and converting them into timely, actionable plans
Highly collaborative, with a passion for bringing cross-functional teams on the innovation journey
Strong problem-solving skills, comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving solutions that require cross-functional alignment
Expert communicator, able to craft and deliver compelling messages tailored to diverse audiences
Comfortable with both hands-on project execution (e.g., leading workshops, developing plans, tracking progress) and strategic leadership (e.g., presenting to senior teams, influencing key decisions)
Positive, entrepreneurial outlook, passionate about delivering business value through customer-centric innovation
Willingness to travel as needed to support project delivery and stakeholder engagement
RIGOUR: Demonstrates excellence in project execution, analysis, decision-making, and continuous improvement
FORWARD LOOKING: Leads teams through change, anticipates market trends, and contributes to competitive strategy
OWNERSHIP: Takes accountability for sustainable growth, quality, and delivery of results; recognizes and rewards success
WORKING TOGETHER: Fosters a collaborative, innovative culture across the business
Preferred
PMP or other comparable Project Management certification preferred
Bachelor's degree preferred
Company
Ornua
Ornua is a cooperative that connects dairy farmers with customers, producers, and consumers around the world.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.29B2017-12-19Debt Financing· $722.07M
2017-06-08Acquired
2014-02-01Debt Financing· $566.52M
Leadership Team
Shane Barry
HR Business Partner
Recent News
2026-01-09
2025-11-25
2025-11-05
Company data provided by crunchbase