Senior Manager BU Innovation - Poultry Foodservice

Tyson Foods•Springdale, AR

About The Position

The Senior Manager, BU Innovation sets the innovation direction for assigned brands and categories and is accountable for the quality, balance, and business impact of the innovation pipeline. The role translates category strategy, customer needs, market trends, and business objectives into prioritized innovation platforms and investment recommendations, then leads strategically significant and complex initiatives from concept through in-market performance. The Senior Manager influences leaders and teams across the business unit and corporate functions, develops innovation team members, and delivers profit, volume, and share growth for the business and its customers. The role owns innovation strategy for the Foodservice Value Added Poultry category, aligned with corporate and business unit goals and long-range and annual plans. It defines strategic platforms and white-space opportunities, prioritizes a balanced innovation pipeline, recommends investments, and evaluates performance, return on investment, and portfolio health. The Senior Manager leads complex product, packaging, and go-to-market initiatives; develops executive-level innovation recommendations; advances customer co-innovation and strategic partnerships; and draws on opportunities across retail and foodservice channels. The role also directs innovation and consulting agencies, develops external relationships, coaches and develops Managers and Associate Managers, and advises other Tyson innovators. Cross-functional teams use innovation project management, packaging, and specification systems to move projects forward. A bachelor's degree is required and an MBA is preferred. Candidates need at least six years of experience, deep knowledge of innovation success factors, innovation marketing, consumer insights, brand strategy, and P&L management, along with strong communication, presentation, collaboration, leadership, and project management skills. The role is listed as first shift in the United States. Relocation assistance is eligible. The successful candidate must be able to perform the physical requirements of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
Minimum 6 plus years of experience.
Deep understanding of innovation success factors, innovation marketing, consumer insights, brand strategy, and P&L management.
Forward-thinking problem solver and proven collaborator who challenges the status quo to support strategic decisions.
Ability to develop strong solutions in unstructured situations.
Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to influence senior leaders.
Proven ability to manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment and lead cross-functional teams and direct reports.
Ability to perform the physical requirements of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Resume required to be considered.
Requisition is not taking sponsorships.

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

Own and shape innovation strategy for the Foodservice Value Added Poultry category, aligned with corporate and business unit goals and long-range and annual plans.
Identify strategic innovation platforms, white-space opportunities, and emerging customer and consumer needs using syndicated research, trend data, primary research, and competitive intelligence.
Own and prioritize the innovation pipeline across near-, mid-, and long-term horizons, maintaining a balance of renovation, incremental innovation, and breakthrough or new-to-world opportunities.
Establish innovation priorities and make investment recommendations to senior leadership.
Evaluate innovation performance, ROI, and portfolio health, and adjust the pipeline accordingly.
Lead strategically significant and complex product, packaging, and go-to-market initiatives from concept development and feasibility through proposal, approval, customer sell-in, and in-market performance tracking.
Influence senior leaders and collaborate across Sales, Marketing, R&D, Operations, Finance, Strategy, Channel Marketing, Insights, Culinary, Supply Chain, and other corporate functions.
Develop executive-level innovation narratives and recommendations, including consumer positioning and points of difference versus competitors.
Drive customer co-innovation and strategic partnerships with Sales and Channel Marketing, integrating operator and distributor strategies, improving forecast accuracy, and delivering joint business plan objectives.
Leverage synergies across retail and foodservice channels to maximize the scale of ideas.
Direct innovation and consulting agencies and build relationships with external suppliers and partners.
Lead, coach, and develop Managers and Associate Managers, building innovation capability across the organization.
Oversee direct reports' projects to keep them on time and on track, and resolve issues as they arise.
Serve as an expert and advisor to other Tyson innovators.
Use innovation project management, packaging, and specification systems to advance projects with cross-functional teams.
Demonstrate responsible use of approved AI tools, safeguard sensitive information, follow company policies, and validate AI-generated outputs; as a People Leader, drive responsible AI adoption and accountability for AI-supported outcomes.