Design Team Leader – Experience Design

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: Design Team Leader – Experience Design

Location: Colworth Science Park

Work-Level: 2B

Unilever recognises Design as a critical capability to creating meaningful and relevant brand experiences for our customers any time they interact with touchpoints relating to our portfolio of products. This can be done though exploiting the physical pack - shape, colour, textures and beyond this format, through the creation of a delightful consumer experience of the total product in use that considers cost, manufacturability and environmental impact.

We are looking for a Team leader / Lead Experience Designer to work in The Magnum Ice Cream Company. TMICC is world leader of ice cream with brands including Magnum, Wall’s, Cornetto, Twister, and Ben & Jerry’s to name a few of our Icons.

JOB PURPOSE

As Design Team Leader, you will guide innovation project teams to deliver impactful, consumer-focused products. You’ll foster a strong design culture, inspire creativity, and build team capability through mentorship and collaboration.

You’ll scope and lead projects from early opportunity identification to product launch, ensuring design excellence and alignment with brand intent.

By setting clear goals and encouraging ownership, you’ll drive team performance and innovation. You will foster a collaborative environment, helping design team members grow and develop their skills.

Your role connects cross-functional teams and external partners, amplifying creative impact and contributing to brand and portfolio growth.

DESIGN AT TMICC

In TMICC, we design holistic experiences with consumer obsession and high expertise. We don’t just design products, we create memories.

The Experience Design Team brings together experts in consumer technical insights, culinary innovation, and design. It’s a dedicated and ambitious creative team focused on the development of market making innovations shaping ice cream’s future. Team members are strong and passionate thinkers and doers who are constantly seeking to improve purpose in terms of brand, people, sustainability, technology & business growth.

As design team lead, you will collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams and external partners to create value and meet consumer needs with convincing and meaningful creative solutions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Scope high-growth innovation areas and translate them into clear, actionable design briefs.
• Guide and lead cross-functional project teams through the full design process—from early-stage innovation to manufacturing—using TMICC best practices and design thinking.
• Collaborate across the Amsterdam HQ and UK RD&I centre to connect functions and drive alignment.
• Build and maintain a strong network with technology partners.
• Manage and guide external design partners from briefing through to design handover.
• Support the initiation and coordination of feasibility prototypes.
• Develop, monitor, and ensure adherence to project schedules and roadmaps.
• Communicate creative opportunities and solutions clearly across functions.
• Continuously improve design tools, workflows, and both internal and external collaboration.
• Contribute to the creation of brand books and design guidelines.
• Build a strong network to foster creativity and deliver holistic design solutions.

ALL ABOUT YOU

SKILLS, COMPETENCIES & BEHAVIOUR

The right candidate should demonstrate below skills and competencies with clear examples:

• Comfortable with leading and facilitating others creativity
• Creative thinker and Doer
• Mentoring & progressing team members
• Entrepreneurs Mindset                               
• Accountability & Responsibility   
• Bias for Action
• Attention to detail
• Consumer and Customer Focus
• Agile Mindset
• Strong presentation skills and storytelling

KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• Applied working knowledge of 2D / 3D cad software for design application.
• Applied knowledge of design disciplines, design terminology, ways of working and project management

• Experienced in collaboration with design agencies and suppliers
• Can lead and facilitate design workshops with stakeholders of all levels
• Able to handle multiple projects at the same time while supporting the wider team
• Knowledge in material properties, processing and manufacturing processes an advantage
• Ability to distil consumer understanding and needs into opportunity areas for design
• Understanding and application of Semiotics and market codes to packaging
• Can write and articulate creative briefs to agency partners in English language to good standard
• Knowledge of sustainable / circular design is a clear advantage

EXPERIENCE

9+ years professional experience of design within a corporate or creative agency environment, working as part of cross-functional teams. You should hold a degree or identified qualification within the area of industrial product design or innovation.

NOTES

Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications may not be processed and include your Future Fit Plan if possible.

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.   

Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner Ian Miles on Ian.miles@unilever.com

What we offer

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. 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. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).

Relocation to the UK

Please be aware if you are applying for this role from outside the UK, if successful, your application will be treated as a self-initiated Change Location Outside of Country (CLOC) transfer. This means any relocation costs must be self-funded with the potential to reclaim some specific pre-approved expenses up to £5,000. Please speak to your Talent Partner if you have any questions.