B&W Prospective Innovation - Head of SC, Hair & Skin Care

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

Job Title: B&W Prospective Innovation - Head of SC, Hair & Skin Care

Location: Port Sunlight (remote EU considered for the right candidate)

Work-Level: WL2 B / WL2C

JOB PURPOSE

Are you passionate about innovation and eager to shape the future of beauty? Do you thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments and embrace the challenges of the unknown? If so, Unilever has an exciting opportunity for you. We have recently established the B&W Prospective Innovation & Sustainable Department-a cutting-edge, multidisciplinary team dedicated to crafting sustainable and groundbreaking solutions from inception to execution. Through experimentation, iteration, and transformative thinking, this team will push the boundaries of what's possible for B&W brands, elevating purpose, science, and consumer desire to the next level.

As a strategic interface between Brands, R&D, and Supply Chain, this team will pioneer a new ecosystem, working ahead of the traditional innovation curve. They will develop solutions aligned with strategic B&W priorities and high-growth spaces that are not only new to Unilever but also new to the world, with the potential to define the future of cosmetics.

Are you the next-generation leader who can scale profitable, sustainable, and desirable beauty at an unprecedented level? If you are ready to contribute to a team with a startup mindset at the forefront of innovation, this role is for you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Director of Operations of the B&W Prospective Innovation Department, you'll lead and manage product innovations in Supply Chain areas like network, sourcing, and financials, emphasizing new models. You'll lead your category's innovation plans, ensuring timely, large-scale new and disruptive technology launches while working efficiently with a cross-functional team. This role involves creating a supply chain strategy that aligns with brand goals, promoting growth in Skin and Hair care categories.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Delivering Innovation Projects:

• Supply Chain Strategy: Develop and implement an overall supply chain strategy aligned with the Prospective Innovation Department goals and objectives (e.g. sourcing, logistics).
• Technology and Innovation: Keep abreast of industry trends, new technologies and supply chain management best practices (internal and external). Integrate technology, product design (including formulation and packaging), and material expertise with financial analysis to uncover opportunities for competitive edge, driving top-line growth and profitability. Create and lead product innovation networks to drive on-time and in-full launches. Recognize and apply pertinent technologies like advanced analytics, automation, and digitalization to enhance visibility, agility, and efficiency in the supply chain.
• Supplier Management: Maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure a reliable and cost-effective supply of raw/pack materials components and finished goods, including quality (together with your Procurement partner).
• Production, Operations and Financial Management: Ensure operational excellence in production and distribution of our innovations by implementing best practices to ensure product delivers to brands, customers and consumer expectations. Accountable for SC Finance Elements required to deliver product mixes. The role brings to the business financial acumen and value to SC decision-making.
• Logistics and Transportation: Identify and quantify elements related to transportation and distribution operations to optimize costs, minimize lead times to product launches.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks in the supply chain, including sourcing, production, quality, etc. Implement contingency plans and develop risk mitigation strategies to minimize the impact of potential issues.
• Team leadership and cross-functional teamwork: Work in a small but highly efficient cross-functional team, across a number of projects. Lead a team that will deliver a complex Innovation programme in countries to drive top line growth. Work with the internal and external Supply Chain teams, as well as the Business teams to develop a feasible launch plan for all innovations. Build and lead a high-performing supply chain team, providing coaching, mentoring, and development opportunities. Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture, set performance goals, and provide regular feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in the supply chain. Monitor SC performance and implement corrective actions to achieve supply chain performance targets.

ALL ABOUT YOU

• Founder's Mindset: Embracing a growth-oriented approach and seeing challenges as opportunities.
• Consumer-Centric: Strong bias towards understanding and prioritizing consumer needs.
• Entrepreneurial Leadership: Lead with an entrepreneurial mindset, embracing challenges as opportunities and driving a high-performance culture.
• Creative Ideation: Exceptional ability to generate and refine innovative ideas.
• Bias for Action & Mastery: As a self-starter, operate effectively in fast-paced environments, adapting quickly and maintaining a proactive attitude.
• Strong Interpersonal Skills: Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships.
• Flexibility: Adapt to changing priorities with ease.
• Collaborative Team Player: Thrive in team settings, contributing to collective success without being territorial.
• Learning Orientation: Eager to listen, learn, and incorporate expertise from others.
• Resilience: Maintain effectiveness in managing uncertainty and volatility.
• Analytical Thinking: Objectively observe, research, and solve problems, making data-driven decisions.
• External Orientation: Maintain an outward focus, building strong external partnerships.
• Judgment and Focus: Quickly identify and prioritize the biggest opportunities.
• Organizational Excellence: Push boundaries, stay focused, and know when to move forward without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

KEY SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Supply Chain expertise: You have relevant years' experience in supply chain management, including procurement, production planning, inventory management, logistics, and distribution. Ability to develop and implement efficient and effective supply chain strategies to optimize costs, streamline processes, and ensure timely delivery of products. Experience in Hair and Skin Care with proven successful delivery is strongly preferred.
• Strategic Planning: Proven delivery of supply chain strategies development and execution aligned with overall business goals and objectives.
• Innovation Management: Proven innovation planning, delivery and execution in one or multiple markets from idea to launch.
• Project Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead, deliver, execute complex projects with multiple stakeholders. Experience in building and leading cross-functional teams, setting performance goals, providing feedback, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Diverse Experience: Experience in both smaller, growth-stage companies and larger, established businesses. Global and local execution preferred.
• Effective Communication: Communicate clearly and persuasively, tailoring your approach to different audiences.
• Financial Savvy: Strong awareness of financial metrics particularly related to Supply chain Innovation execution.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills: to identify areas for improvement, implement changes, and monitor performance.
• Process Improvement: Continuous improvement mindset to identify and eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs, and enhance operational performance.
• Technology and Data Analysis: Ability to leverage data and analytics to make data-driven decisions and optimize supply chain operations/financials.
• Risk Management: Proactive approach to identifying and mitigating supply chain risks, such as disruptions in logistics, transportation, or production.
• International Supply Chain: Experience in managing international supply chains, including import/export, customs clearance, and international logistics.

MUST / Top 3 Behaviours:

• Collaborative Team Player: Thrives in a team setting, avoiding territorial behaviour, and always working towards collective success.
• Growth mindset and founder's mentality: Demonstrates a growth-oriented, bias for action and hands-on approach, embracing challenges as opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Ability to self-motivate and drive change: Maintains composure and effectiveness when faced with uncertainty and volatility, demonstrating strong problem-solving abilities.

MUST / Top 3 Skills:

• Excellent communication: (and listening) and excellent (proven) stakeholder management.
• Innovative Curator: Brings fresh, innovative thinking to the table, consistently pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities.
• Consumer obsession: Absolute commitment (and clear evidence) to building strong external partnerships.

Values:

• Commitment: . click apply for full job details