Senior Innovation Manager in Belfast

Dale Farm Cooperative is a UK dairy farmer co-operative owned by over 1200 dairy farmers who supply us with fresh milk. Dale Farm has operations throughout the UK and Ireland producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries worldwide.

At Dale Farm, virtually every career discipline is represented in our workforce, from production, engineering and distribution, to sales & marketing and food technology/quality assurance, to Finance, HR and IT through to general management. Our standards are high and when we recruit we are looking for those with energy and drive, who are keen for responsibility and motivated to succeed with a record of achievement and with the potential to develop as the company grows.

Culture

Our culture is based on setting best in class standards, working towards and delivering on committed objectives, striving for constant improvement and involving everyone in the company. We strive to develop our people and harness everyone's contribution to deliver a winning team. The company is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to a safe, inclusive and relationship-based workspace.

In return, we offer a high degree of responsibility, plenty of challenge, good opportunities for learning and personal development and rewarding benefit packages, all within a fast-moving and results-oriented environment.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Head of Innovation, the Senior Innovation Manager will lead and manage innovation activity in new and emerging technical spaces, with a particular focus on milk-derived proteins such as MPI and WPI and associated by-products. The postholder will identify and execute projects that maximise value from Dale Farm’s expanding milk pool, while building commercial opportunities across clinical nutrition and food ingredient markets. The role requires strong scientific understanding of dairy products and processes, proven commercial acumen, and the leadership capability to drive cross-functional innovation programmes across multiple sites. Travel across the UK and EU will be required.

Main Responsibilities

• Drive the development and execution of key innovation projects in line with the commercial strategy for Dale Farm’s added-value dairy portfolio.
• Develop business plans to maximise returns from the milk pool by identifying the most commercially and technologically attractive opportunities.
• Lead innovation and R&D activity focused on proteins, notably milk protein ingredients such as MPI and WPI, together with associated by-products.
• Build differentiation for Dale Farm through product and process innovation in clinical nutrition and food ingredient markets.
• Develop relationships with new and existing customers to deliver commercially attractive innovation opportunities.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to deliver optimised, profitable technical solutions and commercially successful projects.
• Work closely with NPD and site teams to ensure effective handover and implementation of projects, while providing ongoing technical support as required.
• Monitor global dairy trends, customer needs, and competitor activity to inform decision-making and identify emerging market opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional projects across operations, supply chain, production, technical, quality, finance, and commercial teams to ensure seamless delivery.
• Represent Dale Farm at trade events and industry forums, particularly within the clinical nutrition and food ingredient sectors.
• Deliver agreed annual targets relating to innovation income, process savings, project milestones, funding, and RDEC activity.
• Build, lead, motivate, and manage innovation capability across the function, directly and indirectly through existing teams.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years’ technical, R&D, or innovation experience within the dairy industry.
• Strong dairy processing and scientific knowledge, with a proven track record in product and process introductions.
• Significant experience across proteins, cheese, powders, whey, milk powder products, and associated dairy processes.
• Strong commercial acumen, with evidence of successful income generation and the ability to identify market opportunities.
• Experience within clinical nutrition and food ingredient sectors, with the ability to build and develop strong customer relationships.
• Proven leadership track record, including the ability to lead teams and deliver cross-functional projects in demanding environments.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly and concisely.
• PhD or MSc in Food Science or a related discipline, with a minimum of a BSc qualification.
• A strategic, commercially minded, and solutions-focused approach, with strong problem-solving and decision-making capability.
• Willingness and ability to travel across the UK and EU as required.
• Experience working with international dairy markets and emerging global dairy opportunities.
• Additional commercial or business qualifications.
• Experience of securing funding support for innovation activities, including RDEC or other funding routes.
• Experience representing a business at industry forums, trade events, or customer-facing technical engagements.

Why Dale Farm?

Dale Farm offers a competitive salary commensurate with the responsibilities of the role, together with a comprehensive benefits package. This includes 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, a contributory company pension, Life Assurance, access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme, and enhanced maternity and paternity leave. We are also committed to supporting the learning and development of our employees throughout their careers.

We are proud to promote an open and supportive culture which is based on our core values: Teamwork | Positivity | Resolve | Ambition | Curiosity | Accountability.

The closing date for applications will be confirmed.