Cooking Aids & Condiments Lead SEA

Unilever is currently hiring for Cooking Aids & Condiments Lead SEA

Scope: SEA (Southeast Asia)

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Terms & Conditions: Full Time, travel 20%, local conditions apply

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.

Unilever Food Solutions

Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) is a significant player in the global foodservice market, with world-class power brands, such as the Unilever Food Solutions brand, Knorr Professional and Hellmann’s. UFS ambition is to reach €5bn by 2030, establishing the largest global platform for professional chefs in the Foodservice industry.  UFS mission is to be a world class force for good in foodservice, by leading in AI-powered customer experience, being the best solution provider in the industry, and a winning talent engine. Our purpose is to “free you to love what you do”.  UFS leads the way in culinary trends and inspirational recipes, offers professional support and training to chefs around the world, and creates products that stand out in taste, convenience, and health and continuously meet the very high standard of professional chefs. This all can only be achieved through impactful innovations, superior products and technology, and a strong focus on developing future-fit talent.

JOB PURPOSE

The UFS Cooking Aids & Condiments R&D Lead in SEA is a critical role responsible for driving innovation, product superiority, business continuity and execution excellence in the top two categories of the UFS business. As a business partner, you will shape and execute the strategy, ensuring the development and deployment of R&D capabilities and resources in line with business priorities. This role is crucial in building the future of the categories and UFS business through innovation and technological superiority. You will represent R&D in internal and external forums and work closely with the UFS Head of R&D SEASA-META to maintain a future-fit R&D team.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

• Lead the R&D team to develop and deliver the Cooking Aids & Condiments solutions; formulating products that meet superiority standards and are delivered on time, in full and within business case parameters while meeting all consumer and technical objectives.

• Ensure current and future products meet performance, quality, and regulatory standards on key consumer, brand, nutrition, and sustainability requirements at all times.

• Own the T10 superiority of the Cooking Aids & Condiments T10 portfolio, delivering claims and selling stories to support communications.

• Partner with CD and marketing teams to develop activation campaigns with strong product and technology stories and demos versus the competition.

• Approve and sign off on product quality, validation testing, specifications, artworks, factory trials, first production, and technical risk assessments.

• Collaborate with project leads to take projects to local IBs, upholding discipline in the Innoflex system, R&D resource allocation with a sharp focus on fewer, bigger initiatives.

• Contribute to GM improvement programs in identified cells, delivering technology-led product-pack savings and process improvement initiatives while maintaining superiority.

• Lead troubleshooting and crisis management activities in partnership with key interfaces, keeping business protection and maintaining service delivery as top priorities.

• Contribute to sourcing strategies and SU change management, including facilities and capabilities assessment and development, to ensure quality and service delivery.

• Work with consumer insights partners to build future innovation pipelines with strong linkage to operator pains and technology solutions to deliver superior benefits.

• Partner with Global & Local Marketing, CMI, CTI, CD, SC, R&D teams, and PTW suppliers to shape and implement the Cooking Aids & Condiments future program for SEA.

• Stay updated on regulatory changes in the foods category for all markets in SEA and proactively lead the impact management of such changes on the portfolio.

• Participate in internal or industry-led advocacy forums impacting cooking aids and condiments categories. Identify IP opportunities and protect Unilever IP.

• Lead capability development of the team in formulation, technologies, digital tools, data analytics, project management, product safety, IP, GMPs, GLPs, and more.

• Commit to continuous personal development and professional growth through active participation in development initiatives.

• Demonstrate the ability to build and lead high-performing teams, grow future talent by managing people's development, career plans, and coaching.

• Ensure compliance with the Unilever Code of Business Principles and all SHE and QA policies, risk management, and environmental awareness and legislation. 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Education:

Master’s degree in food technology, Food Science, Food Engineering, or related fields.

Experience:

At least 5 years as an R&D Product Manager or Platform lead in a regional or global role. Previous experience in cooking aids and, or condiments R&D is preferred.

Skills:

• Product development, scale-up, and project management.

• Stakeholder management and leading non-reporting teams.

• Working with diverse, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary teams.

• Strong communication and presentation abilities.

• Growth mindset, externally oriented and collaborative thinking.

• Problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset.

• Adaptability and agility in challenging situations.

• Entrepreneurial, positive, solution-oriented mindset.

• Results-driven with strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.

Leadership

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors

• PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed.

• PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.

• TALENT CATALYST: Invests in people – coaches individuals and teams to realize their full potential. Creates an inclusive climate, empowering everyone to be at their best. Inspires powerful teamwork and collaboration, connecting people for better results.

• CONSUMER LOVE: Brings the voice of the consumer into everything we do, always.

• BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates opportunities for profitable growth through the core and beyond.

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. 

ARE YOU INTERESTED?

Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications will not be processed. By applying to this role, you are confirming that you have informed your Line Manager and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.  

Unilever es una organización comprometida con la equidad, la inclusión y la diversidad para impulsar los resultados de nuestro negocio y crear un futuro mejor, cada día, para nuestros diversos empleados, consumidores globales, socios y comunidades. Creemos que una fuerza laboral diversa nos permite igualar nuestras ambiciones de crecimiento e impulsar la inclusión en todo el negocio. ¡En Unilever estamos interesados en que cada individuo traiga su 'Whole Self' al trabajo y esto te incluye a ti! Por lo tanto, si necesita algún requisito de soporte o acceso, le recomendamos que nos avise en el momento de su solicitud para que podamos apoyarle a través de su viaje de reclutamiento.