With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.
At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.
CATEGORY/FUNCTION INTRODUCTION
R&D function of Unilever Sri Lanka is responsible to deploy mixes by providing science and technology know-how to the business in line with annual plans. This involves deploying innovations and renovations, leading savings programs, managing sustainability, supporting supply chain, regulatory and legal teams and delivering product / pack superiority.
JOB PURPOSE
Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. If you are an enthusiastic young individual with an innovative mindset then this role is just for you!
WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE
- Carry out product design activities (Innovation, Renovation) for Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Regional Design Center (RDC) and work with the Global Food Design Center to deliver compliance projects.
- Work with marketing teams to develop consumer-compelling concepts and product claims, and gate keeping at claims forums.
- Lead laboratory, pilot, and commercial-scale trials to lock manufacturing design sign off initial commercial batches.
- Ensure compliance of formulations and artworks with country regulations, standards, and Unilever guidelines
- Utilize category-specific digital tools to manage specifications, reports, prototyping and artworks.
- Lead product evaluations and support Market Research (CTI/CMI) activities.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize financial business cases.
- Support savings ideation and lead the execution of identified category product logic savings projects.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to support export business opportunities and ensure product compliance in the lift and shift business model.
- Working with QA teams to carry out Quality Audits of Suppliers/Co-Packing Operations and Unilever Manufacturing plants.
- Supporting the drill down of Root Cause Analysis of consumer complaints and quality incidents.
- Lead technical training sessions for factory, sales, and activation/promotion teams.
- Co-lead supplier development along with procurement teams and ensure RMs sourced as per regulatory/Unilever guidelines at optimum cost.
- Cascade category-specific technology to the supply chain, support the implementation of GMP guidelines in manufacturing operations, and assist in process improvement activities.
- Represent Unilever in key external forums and attend regional/Unilever forums on need basis.
WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED
Experiences & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in science (Chemistry, Food Science, Food Technology) or equivalent.
- 3+ years' experience in FMCG industry is preferred.
Skills
- Agile project management
- Problem solving
- Creativity and innovation
- Bias for Action
- Good inter-personal communication skills
- Data analytics and digital tools
- Strong team playing skills
Leadership
- You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.
- As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.
- Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors
- PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Has an owner’s mindset, using data and insight to make decisions.
- PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.
- CONSUMER LOVE: Whatever their role, always looks for better ways to serve consumers. Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
- PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.
- AGILITY: Explores the world around them, continually learning and developing their skills.
Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life! This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.
Unilever is an organization committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus, if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.