Associate Manager Innovation

Tyson Foods•Springdale, AR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Manager Innovation is a key contributor to the Innovation Team, leading cross-functional teams through the planning, development, execution, and commercialization of innovation and renovation initiatives. The role supports RVAP (Retail Value Added Poultry) Innovation, RVAP Innovation Project Management, or Retail Fresh and Frozen Poultry Innovation. It helps build and execute the innovation pipeline by identifying consumer, customer, and market opportunities and translating insights into commercially viable products and packaging solutions. The position drives projects from concept to launch and requires strategic thinking, business acumen, and the ability to navigate change in a fast-paced environment. The role also provides project management for assigned initiatives that contribute to business growth and efficiencies. It involves coordinating internal and external resources, influencing across business units, addressing roadblocks, and delivering large, complex projects. The position is full-time and onsite at Tyson's World Headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas. Applicants must reside in the United States; local candidates receive priority, and relocation assistance and sponsorship are not available.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 2 years of relevant experience.
Strong communication and presentation skills.
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
Ability to collaborate and lead cross-functional teams.
Ability to manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment.
Results-oriented mindset with a focus on execution excellence and ownership.
Ability to identify opportunities, solve complex problems, and drive initiatives from ideation through commercialization.
Customer-focused mindset and understanding of retail and consumer trends within the protein category.
Must reside in the United States.
Must be willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

MBA or BBA.
Formal project management certification from PMI or an equivalent Project Management Association.
Marketing, Sales, or product development experience.
Demonstrated ability to use approved AI tools responsibly, safeguard sensitive information, follow company policies, critically validate AI-generated outputs, and apply professional judgment.

Responsibilities

Support the manager in developing innovation pipelines and strategies for assigned brand categories, channels, and customers in alignment with corporate and business unit goals.
Build, lead, and influence cross-functional partnerships across R&D, Packaging, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance, Marketing, Insights, Engineering, Regulatory, and Procurement to bring innovation initiatives to market.
Analyze consumer, operator, and market data and trends to identify insights and translate them into innovation initiatives.
Manage strategic customer and category-specific initiatives, emphasizing agility, speed to market, and execution excellence.
Lead innovation and renovation projects across retail poultry categories, aligning them with customer needs, business objectives, and operational capabilities.
Lead and participate in product and packaging innovation projects, including concept development, feasibility, validation, R&D business proposals and approvals, project execution, operator and distributor sell-in, and tracking in-market performance.
Manage innovation projects through launch, including sales-channel forecasting, initial production coordination, test markets, inventory builds, and initial shipments.
Use innovation project management, packaging, and specification systems to advance projects with cross-functional teams.
Collaborate with Insights, R&D, Channel Marketing, and business units to identify ideas, develop research and development plans, screen and optimize concepts, and differentiate offerings from competitors.
Work with Sales and Channel Marketing to understand and integrate operator and distributor strategies into the innovation pipeline.
Work with partners to improve forecast accuracy, maximize opportunities, and develop plans that deliver against JBP objectives.
Lead private-label innovation and renovation projects from customer specifications through commercialization and help shape long-range and annual plans for assigned categories.
Apply fundamental project management techniques and workflow processes to assigned projects.
Build project plans that clearly outline objectives, timing, and risks.
Manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize work, and execute in a fast-paced environment.
Communicate and align key resources at all organizational levels on assigned projects.
Serve as a project management example and subject matter expert, and mentor others seeking project management assistance or information.
Report key project management updates to various functions and organizational levels.