Director, Open Innovation & Digital Acceleration

Glanbia•Downers Grove, IL

20d•Hybrid

About The Position

As Director of Open Innovation & Digital Acceleration for GPN Americas, you’ll lead the charge in building and scaling our digital ecosystem, driving innovation, and transforming how we work. Reporting to the VP of Innovation & DTC, you’ll shape strategy, implement cutting-edge digital initiatives, and foster a culture of efficiency and growth. This is a high-impact role for a strategic leader passionate about unlocking new capabilities and delivering smarter, faster ways of working.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Technology, Digital Marketing, or a related field; MBA preferred.
8+ years of experience in digital innovation/consulting, technology strategy, or digital transformation within a global consumer goods company.
Proven track record of building and scaling digital platforms and ecosystems that drive business growth.
Strong experience in leading cross-functional teams to develop and implement digital solutions.
Deep understanding of digital trends, emerging technologies, and customer behavior.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into actionable business insights.
Experience working in a matrixed organization, managing multiple stakeholders, and balancing competing priorities.
Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to drive alignment and decision-making across the organization.
Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term vision with short-term execution.
Experience in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and ensuring delivery on time and within budget.

Responsibilities

Digital Acceleration Leadership
Serve as the GPN Americas’ Digital Acceleration Lead, partnering closely with global and cross-functional teams to define and execute the digital transformation agenda.
Establish a strong partnership with the global Glanbia Enterprise Solutions (GES) team to align on priorities and drive execution of key GPN Americas initiatives over the next 12–18 months.
Identify and champion digital tools, platforms, and data-driven approaches that unlock new efficiencies, capabilities, and consumer engagement models.
Foster a culture of digital fluency, experimentation, and knowledge-sharing across the organization.
Ensure alignment between global initiatives and local needs + execution to maximize impact with a structured feedback loop across key stakeholder.
Provide regular reports to senior leadership on the performance of digital solutions and business impact.
Open Innovation & Licensing Program Development
Design and launch a new Open Innovation program that connects the company with start-ups, universities, incubators, and strategic partners to create a new pathway to innovation & discovery.
Build and manage an external innovation network to source new technologies, ingredients, processes, and business models.
Build licensing partnerships with key external partners—identifying, negotiating, and executing agreements that unlock new technologies, ingredients, and brand opportunities while driving commercial growth and expanding the company’s innovation pipeline.
Partner with R&D, Marketing, and Supply Chain to translate external opportunities into scalable business solutions.
Establish governance, success metrics, and communication channels for Open Innovation initiatives.
Identify emerging technologies and trends to incorporate into the Digital Acceleration road map, ensuring the company remains competitive and innovative.
Business Transformation & Smart Spend Program
Act as a key contributor to the company’s Smart Spend program leading Marketing as the “Voice of the Consumer” (VoC)—driving cost savings, operational efficiencies, and reinvestment opportunities that fund innovation and growth.
Partner with Finance, Procurement, and Operations to identify, prioritize, and deliver transformation initiatives with measurable business value.
Build a culture of continuous improvement and accountability through transparency and data-driven decision-making.
Develop and lead the organization’s AI strategy, including training programs, adoption frameworks, and tool implementation to enhance overall effectiveness and accelerate decision-making