As Associate Director, you will be the general manager for select key technology initiatives in NA. As the lead for a market data foundation transformation, you will own end-to-end delivery of the program for North America, including aligning business priorities, defining the roadmap, and ensuring consistent execution across workstreams. You will translate business outcomes into a clear plan, coordinate cross-functional teams, and drive governance, risk management, and change management to ensure adoption and measurable value. You will be accountable for on-time, on-budget delivery; and transparent stakeholder communication.
Main Areas of Responsibilities
Program strategy & planning: Define program scope, outcomes, milestones, dependencies, and delivery approach across Cortex workstreams; maintain an integrated program plan and delivery cadence.
Stakeholder leadership: Partner with senior business and technology leaders to align priorities, set expectations, and communicate progress, decisions, and trade-offs.
Governance & decisioning: Establish and run governance forums (SteerCo, working groups), manage RAID (risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies), and ensure timely decisions and clear accountability.
Product interdependency management: Coordinate planning and dependencies with other products consuming the data foundation, Track delivery health, manage scope changes, and remove blockers to keep teams moving.
Benefits & adoption: Define success metrics, drive change management and training plans, and partner with business owners to measure adoption and realized benefits.
Cross-team alignment: Ensure alignment between North America needs and global product/data platform capabilities; translate local requirements into clear epics/stories and ensure fit-for-market delivery.
Vendor & partner management: Manage third-party delivery partners (as applicable), including scope, deliverables, timelines, and performance; ensure smooth handoffs and quality outcomes.
Skills
Proven experience driving complex, cross-functional programs end-to-end (planning, execution, governance, and benefits realization)
Data & digital fluency – strong understanding of data platforms, analytics/AI products, and modern delivery methods (Agile/iterative delivery). Experience with analytics, insights, marketing technology, or measurement products
Experience working closely with senior stakeholders and executive level communications
Stakeholder management – ability to influence across business and technology leadership; strong facilitation and decision-making support
Ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues
Excellent communication, collaboration and interpersonal skills. High emotional intelligence
Track record of developing exceptional talent and teams
Data & digital fluency – strong understanding of data platforms, analytics/AI products, and modern delivery methods (Agile/iterative delivery)
Structured problem solving – ability to synthesize ambiguity into clear plans, risks, and actionable next steps
Change management – experience driving communications, training, and adoption across diverse user groups
Communication – crisp executive-ready written and verbal communication; strong storytelling with data
Preferred qualifications
7+ years of experience in product management, management consulting, or technology transformation/strategy
Hands-on experience coordinating delivery across data engineering, product, and business teams; familiarity with Agile and release management
Experience leading executive-level communications, steering committees, and decision forums
Strong cross-functional leadership with the ability to drive alignment across competing priorities and ambiguous problem spaces
Experience building and managing RAID logs, dependency maps, and integrated plans for complex programs
High EQ and strong collaboration skills; able to motivate teams without direct authority
Track record of improving delivery operations (cadence, reporting, rituals) and scaling repeatable ways of working
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in business, computer science, engineering, or related field preferred
Experience in FMCG/CPG/retail and/or enterprise-scale data programs is a plus
Pay: The pay range for this position is $146,200 to $219,400. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.
Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.
Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.
Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
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