1

Director Innovation Jobs in Arkansas (NOW HIRING)

The Innovation Manager identifies emerging opportunities, translates consumer and marketplace ... Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives and influence without direct authority.

New

The Innovation Manageridentifiesemerging opportunities, translates consumer and marketplace ... Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives and influence without direct authority.

New

The Innovation Manageridentifiesemerging opportunities, translates consumer and marketplace ... Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives and influence without direct authority.

New

next page

Showing results 1-20

Director Innovation information

See Arkansas salary details

$27.7K

$97.1K

$161.7K

How much do director innovation jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for director innovation in Arkansas is $97,145.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,200.00 and $129,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of innovation do?

A Director of Innovation leads an organization's efforts to develop and implement new ideas, technologies, and strategies that drive growth and competitive advantage. They research market trends, foster a culture of innovation, and collaborate with teams to bring new products, services, or processes to life. Their role involves strategic planning, identifying opportunities for innovation, and managing projects that enhance business performance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of innovation?

To thrive as a Director of Innovation, you need expertise in strategic planning, product development, and business analysis, typically supported by a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with project management tools, innovation frameworks, and data analytics platforms is highly beneficial. Strong leadership, creative problem-solving, and excellent interpersonal communication set standout candidates apart in this position. These capabilities are crucial for effectively driving change, fostering a culture of innovation, and ensuring the organization remains competitive in a dynamic marketplace.

What are the main challenges a director of innovation typically faces in this role?

A Director of Innovation often deals with balancing the need for creative, out-of-the-box thinking with the practical requirements of business viability and risk management. Navigating resistance to change and securing stakeholder buy-in across different departments can be significant challenges. The role usually involves managing cross-functional teams and building bridges between R&D, marketing, and operations to drive projects forward. Being able to translate visionary ideas into actionable initiatives, while ensuring alignment with organizational goals, is essential for long-term success in this position.

What are the most commonly searched types of Innovation jobs in Arkansas?

The most popular types of Innovation jobs in Arkansas are:

What are popular job titles related to Director Innovation jobs in Arkansas?

For Director Innovation jobs in Arkansas, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Arkansas are hiring for Director Innovation jobs?

Cities in Arkansas with the most Director Innovation job openings:

Infographic showing various Director Innovation job openings in Arkansas as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $97,145 per year, or $46.7 per hour.

Innovation Manager

Tyson Foods, Inc.

Springdale, AR • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New


Tyson Foods rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 556 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

299th of 445 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

Job Details:
Job Summary
The Innovation Manager drives sustainable business growth by developing and executing a consumer-led innovation pipeline. The Innovation Manager identifies emerging opportunities, translates consumer and marketplace insights into actionable growth strategies, and leads cross-functional teams to bring differentiated products and experiences to market.
Success requires a balance of strategic thinking and execution excellence. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced corporate environment, builds trusted relationships, can influence despite not owning final decision, and turns insights into commercially successful innovation.
This position sits full time onsite in Springdale, Arkansas.
Key Responsibilities
Growth Strategy & Pipeline Development
  • Develop and manage a robust innovation pipeline aligned to brand, category, and business growth objectives.
  • Identify opportunities through consumer insights, trends, competitive intelligence, and analytics.
  • Build short- and long-term strategies that deliver sustainable revenue, profit, and share growth.
  • Prioritize opportunities based on consumer relevance, business impact, and feasibility.

Consumer-Led Innovation
  • Champion the voice of the consumer throughout the innovation process.
  • Partner across Insights, Marketing, R&D, Sales, and various cross-functional teams to translate unmet needs into differentiated solutions.
  • Develop compelling value propositions and positioning that create a meaningful competitive advantage.
  • Lead concept development, validation, optimization, and commercialization.

End-to-End Innovation Execution
  • Lead innovation initiatives from opportunity identification through launch and post-market evaluation.
  • Align cross-functional teams around clear objectives, milestones, and business outcomes.
  • Proactively manage risks, remove barriers, and drive decisions to maintain momentum.
  • Deliver initiatives on time, on budget, and with strong marketplace results.

Leadership & Influence
  • Build trusted relationships across functions and organizational levels to accelerate alignment and decisions.
  • Influence stakeholders through insight-driven storytelling, business acumen, and collaboration.
  • Navigate competing priorities and complex business dynamics with confidence and balanced persistence.

What Success Looks Like
  • Builds a pipeline that fuels future Enterprise growth.
  • Identifies opportunities before competitors.
  • Turns consumer insights into action with winning innovation.
  • Creates alignment across diverse stakeholders.
  • Delivers measurable business impact through strategy and execution.

Requirements:
Education: Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred.
Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in Innovation, Brand Marketing, Product Development, Consumer Insights, Strategy, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated success developing and commercializing innovation pipelines that drive growth.
  • Strong strategic thinking, analytical, problem-solving, and financial acumen, P&L exposure.
  • Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives and influence without direct authority.
  • Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Ability to balance long-term strategic vision with near-term disciplined execution.

Travel: 10-15%
Position Specific Requirements:
  • Applicants should either upload a resume to their application on Workday OR make sure their Career Profile in Workday is up to date and complete.
  • Must reside in the United States to be considered.
  • Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Relocation Assistance Eligible:
Yes
Work Shift:
1ST SHIFT (United States of America)
Certain roles at Tyson require background checks. If you are offered a position that requires a background check you will be provided additional documentation to complete once an offer has been extended.
Hourly Applicants ONLY -You must complete the task after submitting your application to provide additional information to be considered for employment.
The successful candidate(s) must be willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Tyson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, national origin, color, religion, age, genetics, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.
We provide our team members and their families with paid time off; 401(k) plans; affordable health, life, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; and more.
If you would like to learn more about your data privacy rights and how you may use that information, please read our Job Applicant Privacy Notice here
Unsolicited Assistance: Tyson Foods and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for open positions within the United States. Any resumes or candidate profiles submitted by recruitment vendors or headhunters to any employee or applicant tracking system at Tyson Foods or its subsidiaries, without a valid written request and search agreement approved by HR, will be considered the property of Tyson Foods. No fees will be paid if the candidate is hired due to an unsolicited referral.

What Tyson Foods employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom