Associate Director, Product Management – Animal Nutrition

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America•Itasca, IL

About The Position

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America is seeking a highly strategic and commercially driven Associate Director, Product Management – Animal Nutrition to lead growth initiatives within the AjiPro® portfolio, including rumen-protected amino acids and livestock nutrition solutions. This role plays a critical leadership function in executing the CFS Business 2030 Roadmap, driving product strategy, commercial expansion, operational governance, and sustainability initiatives across North America. The Associate Director will serve as a key interface between North American operations and global stakeholders, supporting cross-functional collaboration across Product Management, Sales, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Finance, and Manufacturing. This position is ideal for a senior-level professional with strong experience in animal nutrition, feed additives, amino acids, ruminant nutrition, livestock production, and product commercialization, combined with the ability to drive strategic growth in complex global organizations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required in one of the following:
Animal Science
Veterinary Science
Nutrition
Physiology
Pharmacy
Agricultural Science
Food Science
Chemistry
Related Scientific Discipline
10+ years of experience in product management, business strategy, or commercial leadership within:
Animal Nutrition
Feed Additives
Amino Acids
Livestock Nutrition
Food or Ingredient Manufacturing
Demonstrated experience driving product commercialization and growth strategy
Strong knowledge of animal nutrition and feed additive markets
Strategic thinking and long-term planning capability
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams
Experience presenting to senior leadership and external stakeholders
Strong interpersonal and leadership capabilities
Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments
Use of required personal protective equipment (PPE) when visiting production facilities
Travel required: Approximately 15%
Occasional use of personal or rental vehicle
Ability to work at a computer for extended periods

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree, MBA, or advanced degree preferred.
Experience in ruminant nutrition (dairy or beef) strongly preferred
Experience working in global or matrix organizations preferred
Experience managing cross-functional teams and strategic initiatives
Microsoft Office Suite
SAP
Salesforce
Power BI
CRM and ERP systems
Financial and forecasting tools

Responsibilities

Lead product management and commercial strategy for the AjiPro® portfolio, including rumen-protected lysine and amino acid technologies
Develop and execute growth strategies to expand adoption across dairy, beef, and livestock production markets
Drive customer acquisition and expand commercial presence across North America
Partner with Sales and Marketing teams to strengthen customer engagement and market positioning
Support global product strategy execution through knowledge sharing and supply coordination
Develop initiatives to support greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction programs within livestock production systems
Identify and implement opportunities to monetize sustainability-driven nutrition technologies
Support sustainability strategy initiatives aligned with global environmental goals
Collaborate with global teams to scale environmentally responsible feed additive solutions
Develop mid- to long-term product supply strategies for AjiPro® products and key raw materials, including lysine
Support capacity expansion planning and readiness for production growth
Optimize profitability through coordination across Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain teams
Lead development of integrated sales and production planning strategies
Support operational governance and business alignment across AHN CFS operations
Lead budgeting, forecasting, and profitability management activities
Serve as primary liaison between AHN, AJICO, and global stakeholders
Support regulatory compliance and product registration across export markets
Contribute to organizational restructuring and operational optimization initiatives
Lead commercialization of new and enhanced amino acid product offerings
Develop market strategies for single amino acids, including tryptophan and lysine
Partner with R&D and Innovation teams to support product pipeline development
Evaluate competitive landscape and identify new growth opportunities