Senior Manager BU Innovation - Poultry Foodservice

Tyson Foods•Springdale, AR

About The Position

The Senior Manager, BU Innovation sets innovation direction for assigned brands and categories and is accountable for the quality, balance, and business impact of the innovation pipeline. The role turns category strategy, customer needs, market trends, and business objectives into prioritized innovation platforms and investment recommendations, then leads the most strategically significant and complex initiatives from concept through in-market performance. It influences senior leaders and cross-functional teams, develops innovation team members, and delivers profit, volume, and share growth for the business and its customers. The position owns and shapes 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 the pipeline across near-, mid-, and long-term horizons; recommends investments; and evaluates innovation performance, ROI, and portfolio health. The Senior Manager leads major product, packaging, and go-to-market initiatives through concept development, feasibility, business proposal, approval, customer sell-in, and in-market performance tracking. The role works with senior leaders and corporate functions, develops executive-level innovation narratives and recommendations, drives customer co-innovation and partnerships, connects operator and distributor strategies to the pipeline, and leverages opportunities across retail and foodservice channels. It also directs innovation and consulting agencies and builds relationships with external suppliers and partners. The position leads, coaches, and develops Managers and Associate Managers, oversees their projects, and advises other Tyson innovators. It uses innovation project management, packaging, and specification systems to advance projects with cross-functional teams. A bachelor's degree is required and an MBA is preferred; at least six years of experience is required. The role requires deep knowledge of innovation success factors, innovation marketing, consumer insights, brand strategy, and P&L management, along with communication, project management, collaboration, and leadership capabilities. Relocation assistance is eligible. The work shift is first shift.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
Minimum of 6 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 able to challenge the status quo and support strategic decisions.
Ability to devise 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.
Resume required for consideration.
Must be willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Professional team members are expected to use approved AI tools responsibly, safeguard sensitive information, adhere to company policies, and validate AI-generated outputs. People leaders are expected to drive responsible AI adoption and ensure accountability for the quality and accuracy of AI-supported outcomes.

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.
Define strategic innovation platforms and identify white-space opportunities and emerging customer and consumer needs using research, trend data, and competitive intelligence.
Own and prioritize the innovation pipeline across near-, mid-, and long-term horizons, balancing 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 and feasibility through business proposal, approval, customer sell-in, and in-market performance tracking.
Influence senior leaders across Sales, Marketing, R&D, Operations, Finance, and Strategy, and liaise with corporate functions to support innovation initiatives.
Develop executive-level innovation narratives and recommendations, including consumer positioning and differentiation from competitors.
Drive customer co-innovation and strategic partnerships with Sales and Channel Marketing; integrate operator and distributor strategies into the pipeline, improve forecast accuracy, and deliver against joint business plan objectives.
Leverage synergies across retail and foodservice channels to maximize idea scale.
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.