Job Title: Unilever Fragrance House Global Program & Operations Director
Location: Port Sunlight R&D
Work Level: 3X
Want to Change The World?
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty, Personal and Home Care products selling in over 190 countries and used by 3.7 billion consumers every day. Unilever has more than 400 brands used in homes around the world, including Dove, Sure, TRESemmé, Sunsilk, Vaseline, Comfort, Persil and Surf. As one of the world’s largest users of fragrances, we recognise that creating exceptional fragrances is at the heart of delivering extraordinary consumer experiences and driving desire at scale.
To achieve our ambition, Unilever Fragrance House (UFH) is undertaking a global fragrance transformation, leveraging expert inhouse fragrance teams to craft unmissably superior fragrances for our Personal Care, Beauty & Wellbeing and Home Care Business Groups.
The Role:
UFH is transforming how fragrance is created, deployed and leveraged across Unilever — turning it into a genuine source of superiority, growth and value. By combining world-class creativity with industrial-scale execution, and a global network of fragrance creation hubs, UFH gives our brands a differentiated edge.
As we scale, we’re looking for an exceptional leader to join our established Leadership Team and run the global operating backbone that lets our creative programme perform at pace, with discipline and with impact. Reporting to the Head of UFH, the Global Program & Operations Director will be a key member of the Leadership Team, with end-to-end accountability for the systems that turn Business Group (BG) priorities into a delivered global fragrance programme.
Core Accountabilities:
- Creative Programme Delivery — Work with the UFH Strategy Lead to translate BG priorities into a focused, deliverable, multi-year agenda that delivers joint value for Unilever. Drive prioritisation, resource transparency and delivery discipline across the network; surface and resolve risks. Manage the interface with external Fragrance House partners to ensure success of co-creation projects. Provide the Leadership Team with clear visibility of program health, value and execution risk, and support the Strategy Lead with all programme-related performance executive reporting.
- Lab Operations & Infrastructure — Set the long-term strategy for our global laboratory facilities. Ensure we build and operate world-class labs that are safe, compliant and at the forefront of digital and AI capabilities; own the infrastructure investment roadmap and work with key partners to execute.
- Hub Strategy, Design & Scale-Up — Lead the work (with the UFH Leadership Team) to define the future global UFH footprint, build the framework for where hubs go next, and lead the design, launch and integration of new hubs — applying learnings each time.
- Palette Management — Work with Creative Fragrance Director and Science & Technology Lead to manage the global ingredients palette so it is resilient, cost-effective and ready to support creative delivery. Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain to ensure reliable ingredient availability across all hubs.
- Organisation & Leadership — Build and develop a world-class, globally distributed Programme & Operations organisation, with strong talent pipelines and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Key Experience/Skills Required:
- An experienced leader with a proven track record of building and running complex global operating models and technical organisations
- Experience leading large-scale programs, operations, infrastructure or enterprise-wide capability transformations
- An understanding of what it takes to operate a fragrance creation facility; ideally gained through direct experience in fragrance, flavours or ingredients, or through relevant adjacent experience in consumer goods innovation, R&D operations or specialist laboratory environments
- A talent for creating scalable governance frameworks and performance systems that stick
- The ability to lead through influence, create engagement and drive collaboration within and across teams and functions
- Strong strategic and commercial judgement, as well as data-driven decision-making
- An entrepreneurial mindset with the resilience to build new capabilities in ambiguity
Why Join
Build the operating engine behind one of Unilever’s most exciting growth capabilities! This is a defining role in one of Unilever’s most strategically important growth engines. You’ll join a high-performing Leadership Team building a truly global fragrance platform — leading the systems, infrastructure and operations that power UFH today, and helping design the hub network that will drive its future. For leaders who love building scalable global capability and creating lasting enterprise value, the scope, visibility and impact are exceptional.
NOTES
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.
Skills Required
- Proven experience building and running complex global operating models and technical organizations
- Experience leading large-scale programs, operations, infrastructure, or enterprise-wide capability transformations
- Understanding of operating a fragrance creation facility or relevant experience in fragrance, flavors, ingredients, consumer goods innovation, R&D operations, or specialist laboratory environments
- Experience creating scalable governance frameworks and performance systems
- Ability to lead through influence and drive collaboration across teams and functions
- Strong strategic and commercial judgment with data-driven decision-making
- Entrepreneurial mindset and resilience to build capabilities in ambiguous environments
Unilever Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Unilever and has not been reviewed or approved by Unilever.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, spanning medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and occupational health support alongside a 24/7 employee assistance program. Wellbeing offerings such as health checks, resilience tools, and counseling support the perceived depth of health-related benefits.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support includes a 401(k) match that reaches up to 5% of base salary, strengthening the overall value of the package. Share and savings options are also referenced as part of longer-term financial support beyond salary.
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Flexible Benefits — Benefits customization is enabled through tools such as a “My Reward” system and a “Benefits Envelope” that allows employees to personalize selections. Flexible working approaches are also associated with improved overall satisfaction, reinforcing perceived choice and adaptability in the total rewards offering.
Unilever Insights
What We Do
Be part of the world’s most successful, purpose-led business. Work with brands that are well-loved around the world, that improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We promote innovation, big and small, to make our business win and grow; and we believe in business as a force for good. Unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes; use your energy to make this happen. Our brilliant business leaders and colleagues provide mentorship and inspiration, so you can be at your best. Our portfolio ranges from nutritionally balanced foods to indulgent ice creams, affordable soaps, luxurious shampoos and everyday household care products. We produce world-leading brands including Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Axe, Hellmann’s and Omo, alongside trusted local names and innovative-forward thinking brands like Ben & Jerry’s, The Dollar Shave Club and Dermalogica. Every individual here can bring their purpose to life through their work. Join us and you’ll be surrounded by inspiring leaders and supportive peers. Among them, you’ll channel your purpose, bring fresh ideas to the table, and simply be you. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we’ll work to help you become a better you.
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