If you are in the Unilever Ice Cream business or consider choosing to work for the Unilever Ice Cream business, you will work for the Global, leading Ice Cream player with €7.9bn Turn Over in 2023. The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of top 10 selling brands including Wall’s, Magnum, Ben &Jerry’s. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025.

Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure. As Ice Cream company we are committed to developing and nurturing talent within our Ice Cream company. You will have ample options for career growth and exploration, allowing you for you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organization. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company. We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us.

ABOUT ICE CREAM: Life Tastes Better With Ice Cream

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of over $8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories 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.

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. 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.

JOB PURPOSE:

As part of our growth strategy, we are seeking a highly skilled IT AI, Automation and Innovation Lead to join our dynamic team.

The role is part of the IT Strategy and Portfolio team.

The newly created Ice Cream Technology function will drive the technology set-up, standalone design and implementation of all required technology capabilities to enable Unilever’s Ice Cream business to become a fully functioning standalone company, separate from Unilever.

The IT AI and Innovation Lead is responsible for driving the adoption and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies within the organization. This role focuses on identifying opportunities for innovation, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing business processes through the use of AI and automation and emerging technologies. The IT AI and Innovation/Automation Lead collaborates with various stakeholders to develop and execute a strategic roadmap for AI and automation initiatives.

The successful candidate will be one that has significant IT expertise with a proven record of leading large-scale transformations and has a passion for building world class IT innovations/AI solutions that make a meaningful impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Planning: Develop and execute a strategic roadmap for AI and automation initiatives as well as other emerging tech solution, aligning with business goals and objectives.

Innovation: Identify and evaluate emerging AI and automation technologies, assessing their potential impact on the organization.

Implementation: Lead the design and implementation of AI and automation solutions, ensuring they meet business and technical requirements.

Collaboration: Work closely with stakeholders, including business units, IT teams, and external partners, to gather requirements and ensure successful project delivery.

Process Improvement: Analyze existing business processes and identify opportunities for automation and optimization.

Performance Monitoring: Monitor and evaluate the performance of AI and automation solutions, making adjustments as needed to ensure optimal results.

Documentation: Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for all AI and automation projects and solutions.

Technical Leadership: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to development teams, promoting best practices and standards.

Training and Development: Develop and deliver training programs to educate employees on AI and automation technologies and their applications.

Compliance: Ensure that all AI and automation solutions adhere to relevant regulatory and compliance requirements.

Skills and Experience Required:

Education: degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

Experience: Minimum of 7 years of experience in AI, automation, or related fields, with a proven track record of leading successful AI and automation projects.

Technical Skills:

Proficiency in AI and machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.

Strong understanding of automation tools and platforms such as UiPath, Blue Prism, or Automation Anywhere.

Experience with data analysis and visualization tools such as Python, R, or Tableau.

Knowledge of cloud platforms and services, such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

Familiarity with software development methodologies, including Agile and DevOps.

Soft Skills:

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.

Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Leadership and mentoring skills.

Certifications: Relevant certifications such as Certified AI Professional, Certified Automation Professional, or AWS Certified Machine Learning are highly desirable.

LEADERSHIP:

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors

PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations, and build empathy for others.

PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.

CONSUMER LOVE: Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.

BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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. 

For the recruitment of this position, we would like to emphasize that local conditions apply to the position and for this vacancy in principle we will first consider candidates based in the Netherlands. If you are based outside of the Netherlands and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but we can only take your application on if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the Netherlands.

Disclaimer

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

We take pleasure seriously. Join the Ice Cream team now!

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.