Note: Deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the Job Posting End Date.
UNILEVER IS LOOKING FOR AN Innovation Planner - Ice Cream Europe & ANZ
Location: The Bloomhouse, Ice-Cream Headquarters, Amsterdam
Full-time: Yes
Local conditions apply
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 consider candidates based in the set locations. If you are based outside of these locations and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but at this stage we will not take your application forward. We will only consider your application if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the set locations.
The Ice Cream division at Unilever is preparing to stand on its own, aiming to become an independent, EUR 8.3 billion publicly listed company by the end of 2025. We’re on a mission to create the ultimate snacking company. A place where growth, innovation, founder and ownership mentality, and performance are cultivated and rewarded. And where we craft extraordinary ice cream experiences - transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories. Because we know, life tastes better with ice cream.
ABOUT ICE CREAM: Life Tastes Better with Ice Cream
The Magnum Ice Cream Company 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 Confidential 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 description
As the Innovation Planner for Ice Cream Europe & ANZ, you’ll be responsible for all portfolio & innovation within one of the ice-cream pillars (e.g. moulded sticks, cones, extruded sticks, tubs). You as lead of that pillar, will be the main SC stakeholder for all projects and portfolio changes. The largest scope of projects is innovation, also known as new product development. In these projects, you will be responsible for activities like, business case validation, scoping of manufacturing capability, sourcing of ingredients and cost-price. Moreover, you will be participating in factory trials and keeping track of critical path, to ensure on-time, in-full stock in warehouse. Likewise, you will directly partner with planning to ensure capacity and set the correct stock-build strategy. Once the innovation has launched, you will be tracking its performance, to ensure the innovation gets all support needed to grow, or alternatively to flag underperformance with key stakeholders, to avoid business waste.
Next to new product developments, you will be the SC business partner within that platform for savings opportunities. You will do feasibility and scoping to shape the Ice Cream portfolio and ensure the SC capabilities are in place to support the business plan, current and future. In like manner, you will be overseeing all product changes and rollouts. You will coordinate those with marketing & SC stakeholders to ensure flawless execution. As a SC business partner, you are expected to flag risks and be able to explain those well. Finally, unlocking solutions or guiding the business to alternative options is a critical part of the job.
In this role, you can expect to develop a wide array of capabilities, both hard and soft, from which you will benefit for the rest of your career. Think of skills like, project management, network capabilities, ice cream technology, project feasibility, business case judgement, costing, negotiation, planning, among many others. Also, you will get the opportunity to visit multiple factories in our network to scope technical feasibility on the line, and to support on factory trial execution. Our Planning & Innovation team as well as the full EU IC family is a diverse team in many aspects, originating from all over the world and based all over Europe. In line with the values of our Ice Cream business, we are a fun, energized and supportive team that always aims to put a smile on our consumers faces by bringing them the tastiest ice creams whilst delivering value for the company.
Key Responsibilities:
On-time in-full project delivery: Act as the SC business partner within project teams responsible for delivering value within our Ice Cream business. You’re in charge from a SC perspective for all activities from initial project scoping to 1st production & stock in warehouse.
Innovation Performance Tracking: After stock in warehouse, you will be closely monitoring the performance of innovations. You will be in charge to flag over- or underperformance and ensure that the reactive actions are taken to avoid business waste of service loss.
Platform governance: You will be overseeing all product changes within your platform, as well as rollouts of existing products to markets. Here you will ensure perfect execution.
Risk management: Identify key SC risks and impacts for innovation projects in the process leading up to the launch of the new products. Ensure they are adequately managed and mitigated.
SC business partner: Guide the project team on limitations and support in finding optimal solutions for innovation projects in our supply chain network.
Savings: Identify, initiate, and execute opportunities related to cost savings, supply chain resilience, complexity reduction or other initiatives that improve our business.
Business Waste: For every project identify business waste risks and develop plans to mitigate.
Analytical: Use data to find trends on growth, profitability, cost structures and other indicators to ensure the right decisions are taken in shaping our Ice Cream portfolio. In addition, support the development of the available tools to manage this process as efficiently as possible.
Key requirements
Project Management Skills: You have excellent project management and communication skills. You can coordinate actions across multiple teams, keeping an overview of the critical timelines that need to be met in the project.
Self-starting: You’re self-starting and forward-planning, ensuring that potential hurdles are identified early and addressed adequately. To achieve this, you are fast in bringing different experts together to identify and solve challenges and keep your projects on track.
You have an analytical mindset: you’re able to process information and structure it in a way that enables efficient decision-making. You tend to think further: how do the implications of your projects impact the business as a whole?
Team player: you can collaborate with different functions, even under time pressure. In like manner, you can influence and bring difficult messages across well.
Digital skills: you can work flawlessly in Excel, Teams and have intention to learn.
Passion for ice-cream and you’re excited about working in a diverse, cross-functional team.
Experience in one or more of the following functions or domains is a plus (but not required!):
Ice Cream
Manufacturing (any type)
Food Technology / Quality
Innovation Management or Product Development (any type)
Planning
Travel Requirements
Approx. 5-10% of the time.
Languages
English. Any other language is a pre
WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?
Unilever is the place where you can be yourself and bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. We offer an exciting & dynamic work environment where you can make things happen. Furthermore, we offer some great reward and benefits!
Attractive total remuneration package; excellent company pension, bonus and share scheme.
Flexible cross-disciplinary career opportunities and a wealth of training opportunities & wellbeing resources whenever and wherever.
Plenty of company-paid holidays to further ensure your work-life balance is maintained.
We encourage an inclusive culture, which comes to life with interchangeable public holidays, paid paternity leave of 6 weeks and our transgender policy.
Under the Hybrid Working principles, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 40% in the office or at customers, suppliers or partners to connect and collaborate. For the time you work from home, we will ensure you are well equipped. When you are at the office, you can enjoy our tasty canteen with prepped food and own products.
Informal culture and being the first one trying our new products.
My Fitness Plan (reduction on your Fitness Subscription).
Home work allowance
Company laptop and mobile phone
Green Mobility Policy
EXCITED?
Join Unilever and our team! To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV and a motivation letter. Your application will be reviewed against our requirements, and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.
Looking forward to meeting you!
Please note this is a Direct Search led by Unilever. Applications from agencies will not be accepted, nor will fees be paid for unsolicited CVs.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability, age, parenthood, pregnancy or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against.
By highlighting the gender diversity at the workplace, Unilever encourages women equally men to apply. If you look for a job after a long career break or after any type of leave, do not hesitate to apply.
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