Role Title: Beauty & Wellbeing R&D PH Product Deploy & Science Communications Technical Project Lead
Function: Research & Development
Scope:Local - Philippines
Location:Mainly at Unilever Philippines, BGC with potential offsite work at Unilever Philippines – Cavite factories & suppliers. Hybrid working)
Terms & Conditions:Full time
ABOUT UNILEVER
Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. You will work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. You will lead innovations, big and small, that will make our business win and grow. You will learn from brilliant business leaders and colleagues who provide mentorship and inspiration so that you can become a better you.
We believe in Positive Beauty & Healthy Lifestyles – for all our people, and across all our brands. In 2022 we brought Beauty and Wellbeing together as one business group within the Unilever ecosystem. We’re a 12B business with products used by more than 1B people every day. We know we are uniquely positioned to shape a new era of beauty and wellbeing, and our ambition is clear. We're saying no to normal. Through iconic brands, cutting-edge science, and purposeful growth, we are on a mission to make beauty and wellbeing joyful, inclusive, equitable and sustainable.
Within the Beauty & Wellbeing Business Group - PHB&W R&D is committed to driving outstanding innovation and improvement programs, sitting in the Greater Asia B&W Business Unit. Beauty & Wellbeing is all about Purpose, Science and Desire - with R&D being a central function especially in driving science and desire. The Philippines is a key is the biggest B&W country market in SEAwith a portfolio of global Hair Care and Skin Care brands such as Pond’s, Dove, Sunsilk, Vaseline, Clear and local jewels such as Cream Silk.
We aim to transform the beauty industry in the Philippines through superior, sustainable and desirable hair and skin care products at the same time while bringing it to life through beautiful, purposeful product stories in market
JOB PURPOSE
Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. If you are looking to contribute to business growth and gross margin accretion through superior, sustainable and cost-efficient packaging and processing deploymentthen this role is just for you!
WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE
SCOPE
Technical Project Leader (TPL) partnering Brand Demand Creation teams and Customer teams to deploy Beauty (Hair/ Skin) innovations and co-create communications (content, experience, social) in the Philippines
Last mile innovation product workstreams including Product and Processing development – aiming to deliver superior and beautiful Hair & Skin products into our local factories
Product Claims and Science Communications creation – role will heavily require translating technical insights and data into product and marketing communications and activations, PR event science communications skills and content co-creation with marketing teams
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND DELIVERABLES
Technical Project Management – Deployment of Product Innovations & Savings projects
Be first point of contact on assigned Hair/ Skin brand for PH stakeholders and cross functional teams and facilitate necessary meetings and discussions to gather input and feedback, and update progress on brand-relevant projects and R&D concerns
Launch Project Management with global brands in-market: Support local deployment network for innovation and optimization projects, specifically for NRM/ market activity request projects on time in full, liaising with SEA central capability, through functional excellence in product development including delivery of technical solutions, risk assessment and robust validation
Execution of Risk management from identified risks of BG / SEA team into local factory and market
Innovation deployment in Factories: Oversee the deployment of technical solutions in factory settings. Ensure that deployment processes align with both project objectives and factory operational requirements.
Provide technical guidance and leadership to local network and project teams
Support Gross margin actions to deliver brand GM in PH products via proposal development and approvals, and ensuring brand activities are conducted OTIF
Leads execution of formulation compliance, resiliency and savings projects in-factory
Key partner of Demand Creation Brand Leads for Brand Content, Experience and Social
Partner Brand and Customer teams to customize science communications and product assets to local requirements – including adopting to the Social First framework. Work closely with the marketing team to create science content that aligns with marketing strategies – not limited to demos, claims, product stories/ visuals. Ensure that the content is scientifically accurate and engaging for the target audience.
Develop R&D Technical insights on consumer, competitor and market - Be the owner of market product knowledge in PH, and ensure adequate databasing of information to effectively determine new claims, content and communications for Beauty & Wellbeing PH
Develop and Implement Science communications: Create and disseminate clear and effective MTI & science communication materials related to the product. Design and execute comprehensive communication plans that engage various stakeholders and effectively convey complex scientific concepts in an accessible and engaging manner. Oversee the creation of a wide range of communication materials, including press releases, articles, social media posts, videos, and presentations. Ensure that all science content is accurate, engaging, and tailored to the target audience, content space and culture.
Collaborate with Social team on relevant local science engagement plan, working with regional Engagement team and local demand creation teams; co-develop calendar for influencer, community and PR activities annually through content/ events/ community relationship and education - Be the voice and face of ‘product expert’ on Beauty Hair & Skin in the PH market
Local Claim support: Engages with LCF and BG team to ensure claims are compliant to local regulatory requirements and create necessary claim support documents
Own competitor monitoring data generation and analysis for Hair & Skin categories and ensure up to data information and assessment to guide brand plans
Support the Philippines Beauty & Wellbeing R&D Capability building particularly on developing Social First capabilities – merging science communications with culture and consumer cohorts to develop future fit R&D Science communications, relevant to today and tomorrow’s consumers.
OTHER DELIVERABLES
Able to validate and deploy new product specifications in the factory with rigorous functional testing and comprehensive risk assessment
Able to communicate and present technical challenges/ data clearly to cross functional stakeholders
Experiences & Qualifications
Required:
Preferably with 2 – 5 years in product development, product claims and communication, quality or any similar product deployment, R&D – Factory interface workstreams
Experience in product developmentand deployment– particularly personal care & beauty products
Experiences in claims, content and science communications creation
Exposure to global & regional work experience is an advantage
Preferred experience
Experiences in product development
Experiences on packaging development - especially flexibles and rigids
Experiences on processing development – especially with personal care and beauty product liquids/ emulsions
Experiences in design and digital environment/ tools is highly desirable.
Exposure to Beauty and/or Personal Care is an advantage
Exposure to global & regional work experience is an advantage
With experience in project leadership, risk management and stakeholder engagement. Effective in managing external partners and working with virtual project teams
Skills
Strong Technical and Analytical skills – Scientific or Engineering background with high technical proficiency and insight to provide technical solutions on product development and optimization to business team
R&D Business Acumen - Has appreciation of R&D interfaces across the business and rigor in R&D discipline - Knowledge of working with cross-functional team would be a plus, e.g. supply chain (manufacturing), product development, procurement, finance
Independent project management with team influencing and collaboration experience– network management, risk management and stakeholder management skills are an advantage.
Dynamic and agile in leadership skills – able to manage virtual and present teams, able to influence and manage stakeholders, with problem solving and strategy building skills
Data analysis, visualization & communication skills: You can interpret requirements and present data in a clear and compelling way, summarise and present data and conclusions most relevant for users. Experience in digital and data systems is an advantage
Creative Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific information in a clear and engaging manner using communication tools and platforms, including social media. Content creation experience and multimedia production software is an advantage
Socia Savvy:Is strongly in-tune with today’s social media content, platforms and communities - with a strong understanding of how to effectively communicate to audiences. Experience with PR and media presentations/ public speaking is an advantage
Passion for Science Communication: A genuine passion for science and a commitment to promoting scientific literacy and public engagement in science.
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.