East Africa Homecare R&D Manager at Unilever

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 serving the African consumer by delivering tailored fit-for-purpose products, while making a positive impact to the planet, then this role is for you.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

You will be responsible for:

BUSINESS

• Landing the R&D program for East Africa for all formats (Powder, Liquids, Home and Hygiene, bars) – Product and packaging design & Processing
• Business partnering with Marketing, Supply Chain and other R&D groups and suppliers to shape, influence and land the HC EA R&D program, in line with Clean Future (Homecare’s expression of sustainability).
• Understanding East Africa regulations and advocating with Regulatory teams to influence as needed.
• Approve process and product specifications.
• Troubleshoot where needed with factory teams when there is cost, time, quality or supply related constraints.
• Product and Process qualification including signing off on all validation testing and safety in conjunction with cluster and global R&D teams.
• Accountable for Maintaining safety and GLP for HC R&D lab and pilot plant.
• Produce product prototypes for consumer testing and for stability studies.
• Lead large, technically complex projects (innovations, localization and savings initiatives).
•  Work with consumer insights partners to ensure that product technologies are showcased in an impactful way relevant for EA.
• Develop and maintain relationships with existing and potential raw and pack material suppliers.

TEAM & SELF

• Leading a team in Kenya and Ethiopia to deliver the objectives for East Africa R&D
• Growing future talent - Managing people’s development, career plans and coaching. Includes succession planning, ensuring organization is fit to win both in the short and long term.
• Commit to personal development and professional growth by actively participating in personal development initiatives and applying developmental thinking within the context of planning and executing work.  

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

• Technical education: Preferably Chemical Engineering, but may consider any of the following Science degrees (Industrial Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology)
• 5years experience in R&D and/or Unilever Supply Chain with experience in Homecare FMCG being preferable.
• Experience of complex Project management
• Evidence of connecting with cross functional and cross geographical partners to deliver a program/project.
• evidence of building external partnership to deliver strategic projects.
• Evidence of stakeholder management, including ability to prioritize the program.
• Evidence of Risk Management and mitigation
• Consistent performance and demonstrated R&D expertise.
• Strong business acumen
• Strong problem solving and organizational skills and proven ability to work in a fast-paced work environment.
• Demonstration of holding people accountable

Skills

• Translation of consumer insights into mix design and impactful innovation
• Cost saving expertise (leading technical projects)
• Business partnering stakeholders and influencing.
• Digital tool proficiency and leadership
• Agile delivery
• Commercial acumen for R&D
• Coaching
• Product/Pack/Process design skills preferably in Homecare products (Powders/ soap bars/ Liquids)

Leadership

• You are an inclusive motivator of people. Your team deliver with real passion, growing and learning from each other whilst delivering quick wins.
• You are still responsible for your own results and as a manager, you also need to motivate others to deliver with passion, creating an inclusive and engaging climate around you. You can balance challenge with support and coaching. You understand the wider business context and you are emotionally intelligent enough to motivate people to deliver what is needed.

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors.

• PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.
• CONSUMER LOVE: Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
• BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change.