ABOUT ICE CREAM

We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As ice cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products. We are the proof that an unbroken chain of happier people works – for a happy planet and winning smiles. As the largest ice cream company in the world, we have over 100 years of experience in delivering smiles, and we plan to continue this for many more years to come, with our people and planet first.

We have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), in over 60 countries. All driven to spread happiness through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win as world’s leading Ice Cream Company.

JOB PURPOSE

Research, Design and Innovation (RD&I) is a function that is vital in enabling the long-term sustainable growth of the separated 8bln Ice Cream start-up. We design the best portfolios, develop key components of brand experiences and propositions, and enable future-looking technological solutions that guarantee we are market makers across all regions we operate in.

As a member of the Ice Cream RD&I Leadership team, you will connect, inspire, and motivate the RD&I capability worldwide. As Director of RD&I for LATAM, you will lead the design and deploy programme across all brands and countries within South America. You’ll work closely with the central capabilities within the RD&I team to accelerate regional innovations and utilize technological innovations to help increase market share within the region. As a member of Business Unit Leadership Team you will cover an end-to-end scope from food safety, compliance, market making innovations, superiority and value creation programmes and be custodian of knowledge and quality of our products.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

As a headline, your focus will be to drive BU RD&I acceleration through innovation and value creation programmes. This itself is split into three main themes:

Shape and deliver BU Innovation Pipeline

Build innovation pipeline 12 Q plan

Deliver market making innovation through science, technology and design

Drive functional excellence from design/ deploy to commissioning/ factory implementation

Lead Design 4 Impact (Superior Portfolio with Superior Value and Sustainability):

Drive Smart Value Chain agenda to deliver saving and resilience for ingredients and packaging materials. Champion waste reduction through core and innovation.

Deliver the business continuity needs approving alternative suppliers and materials.

Lead sustainability agenda connected with packaging and ingredients initiatives.

Above all drive Superior Quality of our portfolio

Create Value through Market Activation, Consumer Engagement and Compliance

Partner with BU on local market activation with KBS, demos and claims, ensuring technical support for product related comm. and advertising.

Active role in quality improvement initiatives as R2S, consumer complaints reduction, etc

Competitor monitoring/benchmarking and trends evaluation.

Support and collaboration in case of official complaints, legal actions and competitor challenges.

Engage with local authorities with advocacy and drive artwork process excellence

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

Educational background in Science or related fields, minimum bachelor’s degree

Technical experience in Ice Cream products or related areas in Food and Beverage

Project leadership in F&B/FMCG

Broad business understanding

Experienced working in matrixed teams

Skills

Strong team leader, direction with empowerment, passion for action, developing team & impact.

Ability to define clear business direction & priority with track record as a change leader

Leadership

Bias for Action: The ideal candidate should be someone who has a vision and sets the agenda for regional RD&I. They should operate on a pilot, fail-fast learn-fast mindset

Accountability & Responsibility: Be able to take clear responsibility for their own and their team’s actions, as well as being able to divide flows of work in an effective manner so their teams both feel and act with accountability.

Building Talent/ Team: Understand the vital need for robust talent pipelines, preparing successors for roles on a 6-18 month horizon.

Influence: Be able to use emotional intelligence and knowledge of organizational levers to push the RD&I agenda in LATAM, helping the organization grow.

ARE YOU EXCITED TO CRAFT THE ICE CREAM FUTURE?

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life. 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. 

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.