Associate Director, Product Management – Animal Nutrition

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc.

Associate Director managing the AjiPro® portfolio and driving growth in animal nutrition solutions. Leading strategic initiatives across North America while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Posted 4/14/2026full-timeItasca • Illinois • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $150,000 - $179,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

ERP

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead product management and commercial strategy for the AjiPro® portfolio, including rumen-protected lysine and amino acid technologies
Develop and execute growth strategies to expand adoption across dairy, beef, and livestock production markets
Drive customer acquisition and expand commercial presence across North America
Partner with Sales and Marketing teams to strengthen customer engagement and market positioning
Support global product strategy execution through knowledge sharing and supply coordination
Develop initiatives to support greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction programs within livestock production systems
Identify and implement opportunities to monetize sustainability-driven nutrition technologies
Support sustainability strategy initiatives aligned with global environmental goals
Collaborate with global teams to scale environmentally responsible feed additive solutions
Develop mid- to long-term product supply strategies for AjiPro® products and key raw materials, including lysine
Support capacity expansion planning and readiness for production growth
Optimize profitability through coordination across Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain teams
Lead development of integrated sales and production planning strategies
Support operational governance and business alignment across AHN CFS operations
Lead budgeting, forecasting, and profitability management activities
Serve as primary liaison between AHN, AJICO, and global stakeholders
Support regulatory compliance and product registration across export markets
Lead commercialization of new and enhanced amino acid product offerings
Develop market strategies for single amino acids, including tryptophan and lysine
Partner with R&D and Innovation teams to support product pipeline development
Evaluate competitive landscape and identify new growth opportunities

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree required in one of the following:
Animal Science
Veterinary Science
Nutrition
Physiology
Pharmacy
Agricultural Science
Food Science
Chemistry
Related Scientific Discipline
Master’s degree, MBA, or advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of experience in product management, business strategy, or commercial leadership within:
Animal Nutrition
Feed Additives
Amino Acids
Livestock Nutrition
Food or Ingredient Manufacturing
Demonstrated experience driving product commercialization and growth strategy
Experience in ruminant nutrition (dairy or beef) strongly preferred
Experience working in global or matrix organizations preferred
Experience managing cross-functional teams and strategic initiatives
Technical Skills
Microsoft Office Suite
SAP
Salesforce
Power BI
CRM and ERP systems
Financial and forecasting tools
Strong knowledge of animal nutrition and feed additive markets
Strategic thinking and long-term planning capability
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams
Experience presenting to senior leadership and external stakeholders
Strong interpersonal and leadership capabilities

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive Pay and Annual Bonus Opportunity
401(k) with Company Contributions
Medical, Dental, and Vision — Effective Day 1
Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, and Floating Holidays
Paid Parental Leave
Wellness Programs and Yearly Wellness Reimbursement
Work Flexibility
Company-Paid Life and Disability Insurance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Tuition Reimbursement Opportunities
Career Growth and Development within a Global Organization
Company-Provided Mental Health and Caregiving support

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

product managementbusiness strategycommercial leadershipproduct commercializationgrowth strategyruminant nutritionanimal nutritionfeed additivesamino acidsfinancial forecasting

Soft Skills

strategic thinkinglong-term planninganalytical skillsproblem-solving skillswritten communicationverbal communicationcollaborationinterpersonal skillsleadership capabilitiesability to manage multiple priorities

Certifications

Bachelor’s degreeMaster’s degreeMBA