Quality Director Africa

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

Quality is a key driver of competitive advantage in Unilever across Markets. The Africa Quality Head plays a crucial role in embedding a strong performance culture of quality within the business unit, ensuring every product delivers the best experience and delights our consumers.

JOB PURPOSE

Find your purpose at Unilever. You will lead innovations, big and small, that will make our business win and grow. You will learn from brilliant business leaders and colleagues in a truly global and diverse culture to ultimately become a better you. If you are  passionate about ensuring every product delivers the best experience and delights our consumers, then this role is just for you. This role champions product safety and superior quality, leading teams with passion and precision to uphold the highest standards.

The SnA & EWA Quality Head will oversee the quality of products in Africa and support the Global 1UL Quality leads to build capability and deliver agenda. The role is responsible for deploying quality strategy, governance, and goals that directly impact marketplace success, customer credibility, consumer safety, and on-shelf quality. This, in turn, enhances Unilever’s reputation and brand equity by ensuring superior quality for making brands unmissable. This role will be part of SnA & EWA SC leadership teams and Quality Leadership team.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

1. Quality Management Systems:

• Execute SnA & EWA quality management policies, systems, and procedures.
• Define and maintain quality objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Ensure the Quality Management System (QMS) is maintained in a state of inspection readiness.

2. Compliance and Audits:

• Ensure compliance with applicable SnA & EWA regulations and standards.
• Lead and coordinate internal and external audit activities.
• Conduct regular audits and inspections to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of quality control procedures.

3. Continuous Improvement:

• Identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to achieve quality targets.
• Implement corrective and preventive action plans.
• Drive and deploy a digital quality transformation program.

4. Leadership and Collaboration:

• Lead and manage the SnA & EWA quality team except HC BU.
• Business partner SnA & EWA leadership teams, and sit in the SC LTs supporting decisions for growth and transformation with new WoW.
• Be the member of QLT and support the overall strategy development and deploy for 1Unilever and lead the 1Unilever quality network.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and internal & external stakeholders to address quality issues and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner with the central expertise team on overall product safety, audit planning, and governance.

5. Consumer Feedback and Superior Quality Program:

• Lead the Consumer Feedback and Superior Quality Program to enable unmissable brand superiority.
• Govern UBS investment and partner with the business to drive market share.
• Work with the innovations and operations team on consumer complaints, insights, and feedback for business UBS conversations.

6. Risk Management:

• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
• Monitor product and process design activities to ensure quality standards are met.
• Maintain an effective Change Management system to ensure business changes are effectively managed.

7. Communication and Reporting:

• Communicate quality objectives, performance metrics, and improvement initiatives to senior management and key stakeholders for 1UL Africa and overall 1UL.

8. Talent Development:

• Partner to lead the 1UL quality team and talent development within the function.
• Mentor and upskill the quality team to ensure continuous professional growth.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

• Relevant degree as minimum in science/engineering and/or technology
• Minimum 15 years of experience. This role requires occasional travel within the assigned region.
• Proven experience in quality management, compliance, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of Africa regulations and quality management principles. Basic appreciation of overall regulations on product and pack.
• Experience in virtual teamwork and developing robust QMS.
• Proactive approach with a commitment to continuous improvement.

Skills

• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a global, multicultural environment.
• Auditing skills with appropriate qualifications as a lead auditor.

Leadership

• You are now a Leader of Change. People look to you to provide safety in a storm, and you also appropriately challenge to get even better results. You role model resilience and care. You navigate these uncertain times by flexing plans and your leadership style, always with authenticity.
• You are still responsible for delivering to the highest standards. You must be resilient so you can lead others to deliver with passion through uncertainty and create opportunities through the core and beyond. You must be able to flex your style and your plans to guide others through difficult times.

• Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors
  • Care Deeply: You care deeply about how consumers experience our brands every day, everywhere; about our people’s growth and development and our impact on the planet. You care about our performance, to a point where it hurts when you don’t win. You apply fairness and transparency in what it takes to succeed and you hold positive tensions for bigger outcomes.
  • Stay Three Steps ahead:  You think boldly and creatively to make breakthroughs in performance. You are always curious and confident ─ anticipating and staying ahead of consumer needs and external trends to beat the competition, leading, shaping and disrupting the market
  • Deliver with Excellence: You deliver everything you do with excellence and pace.  You take personal ownership and hold each other to account. You take pride in execution, developing breakthrough solutions.
  • Focus on what counts: You ruthlessly prioritise what really matters, allowing us to do better on fewer things. You set clear and stretching goals and recognise maximum performance impact. You challenge and debate on the right choices in order to deliver fewer, better things.

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 equal opportunities employer and committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.  We are intentional in employing the best talent that reflects the demographics of our country and which will help build representation of currently under-represented groups. We therefore invite applications from all candidates representing diversity of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. When appointing potential candidates, the South African Employment Equity and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Legislation will be considered. 

We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. If you are applying as a foreign national, please note that you may be requested to provide supporting documents supporting this.

This is an office-based role and requires 100% of time attendance on site.

Unilever is an organisation 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.