Research and Development Analyst

Business Context

The One Unilever markets cluster will have its own, standalone, R&D organisation set up with the category & functional expertise across the markets to enable the deployment of innovation, 5S, UBS and sustainability programs. This role is part of the new APAC 1UL R&D Organisation.

Role Description

As the Product/Packaging Deploy Lead for contact applicators in APAC this role will be predominantly responsible for end to end delivery of contact applicators programme in ANZ, also offering technical support to the APAC cluster. Located in Philippines, a key hub for R&D and manufacturing for PC in the region, it will be co-located with the R&D team in the Philippines and report into the R&D Manager for Deo & HC R&D located in Australia.

This role will cover many aspects R&D delivery, specifically:

• A partner to the PC teams in deploying contact applicator innovation within ANZ, with the claims, science & technology communication to support it.
• Excellent execution including Product & Packaging, delivering unmissable, superior products in close collaboration with manufacturing, act as a key APAC support to manufacturing in The Philippines.
• Other key aspects such as compliance, quality, GM improvement, sustainability, 5S, sustainability programs, compliance, claims, artwork, etc.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a whole new organisation, whole new team, going after a big ambition, working together as an efficient 1UL team with the BG’s to deliver profitable growth.

Main Responsibilities

• Key R&D member of the ANZ PC team to deliver Deo Contact Applicators programme.
• Drive deployment of innovation and optimisation projects on time in full with functional excellence in product & packaging development, delivery of technical solutions, risk assessments and robust validation.
• You will be responsible for relevant data in systems, including PIRDs and input into the artwork development process.
• You will author packaging specifications, request and approve BOM’s, and input into the artwork development process.
• Support Gross margin actions to help deliver PC GM in ANZ, including proposal development and execution.
• No compromise on product safety and compliance, ensuring safe compliant products are landed in markets, always.
• Innovation deployment, deployment of technical solutions in factory settings. Ensure that deployment processes align with both project objectives and factory operational requirements.
• With proximity to key R&D facilities, provide technical support on contact applicators to other countries within the APAC cluster.
• Local Claim support: Ensures claims are compliant to local regulatory requirement with all necessary support documents, maximise use of available information through digital to support.
• Drive packaging sustainability for contact applicators and help deliver ANZ commitments for all aspects of environmental reporting on packaging.
• Accelerate digitally enabled delivery and working practices adoption to ensure the lean, agile organization is set up to deliver the required program, unlock an entrepreneurial growth mind set & agile way of working.
• Stay close to product/packaging development within BG’s to ensure access to unmissable, superior products.
• Always drive simplification, looking for alignment to BG design with a ‘lift and shift’ mentality wherever possible.
• Never lose sight of the importance of consumer.

All About You

To be successful in the role you will ideally need to be experienced in product & packaging development and deployment, ideally in beauty and personal care products.

Have experience in claims and maximising the impact of our science and technology in market, be confident in creating science communications for external use.

The ideal candidate will

• Have experience in product development with a good understanding of processing.
• Have experience in packaging development, important to have a good understanding of the key formats in Deo Contact Applicators.
• Have experience in project leadership, risk management and stakeholder engagement. Effective in managing external partners and working with virtual project teams.
• Have high technical proficiency and insight to provide technical solutions on product development and optimization to business team, with problem solving and strategy building skills.
• Be an excellent advocate and communicator of Science and Technology with the capability to engage with digital tools in this space.
• Have a passion and understanding of using digital tools to apply an entrepreneurial approach in delivering step-change to ways of working.
• Have a Science / Engineering related qualification and/or relevant experience within R&D

Unilever Behaviours

• PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Has an owner’s mindset, using data and insight to make decisions.
• PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.
• CONSUMER LOVE: Whatever their role, always looks for better ways to serve consumers. Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
• PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.

We highly encourage applicants to exclude information on age, gender, and school/s in view of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Unilever assesses candidates based on skills, performance, experience and leadership.

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.