Senior Global Foods Consumer Technical Insight Manager Wageningen • Unilever

UNILEVER IS HIRING FOR SENIOR GLOBAL FOODS – CONSUMER TECHNICAL INSIGHT MANAGER

Location: Global Foods Innovation Centre (Hive), Wageningen, Netherlands 

Local conditions apply

Full Time, 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 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.

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. 

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future. 

We want our business to flourish, and we know that our success depends on others flourishing around us. That's why our purpose is to make sustainable living commonplace, and why sustainable, long-term growth is at the heart of our business model. 

ABOUT UNILEVER FOODS R&D  

Foods Business Group (BG) is home to global multibillion-dollar brands such as Knorr and Hellman’s and many strong regional and local brands. Foods BG’s vision is to Bring the taste everyone loves to brighten every day. Foods R&D develops and delivers unmissably superior products and solutions that are Boldly Healthier for People and Planet, rooted in differentiated science and technology. With our global innovation center Hive, in the heart of the Silicon Valley of Food, in Wageningen, The Netherlands, and our network of R&D teams across the world, we work closely with many internal and external partners to create market-winning innovations. Increasingly, Digital and Data are the currency of how we work in R&D, from discovery through product development and deployment. New developments in AI and Data Science will be the crucial differentiator for us to win.

JOB PURPOSE

We are seeking a highly experienced, creative Senior Consumer Technical Insights Manager to join our dynamic team within our Foods business.

The Consumer Technical Insights (CTI) Manager plays a pivotal role in driving the delivery of a Bigger & Bolder innovation pipeline, rooted in insights, and holistically superior products in the marketplace through qualitative, quantitative consumer and sensory research.

In this role, you will both be responsible to build capability and lead the program to drive strategic business decisions. The CTI Manager will work closely with R&D, Marketing, and other business partners to ensure that consumer insights are effectively integrated into innovation, claims and marketing strategies.

If you have a passion for shaping the strategic program and consumer and sensory research, enjoy team work, and have an ability to translate insights into new business opportunities – this is a role for you!

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE?

• ​​Offer foresight as well as insight, by proactively identifying consumer and market trends, and using these to help identify strategic opportunities.

• Lead Strategic Understanding Program to apply (new) insight approaches, through partnering with agencies, which improve our understanding of the key drivers of preference.

• Design and implement comprehensive research strategies for long term innovation funnel to gather qualitative and quantitative data on consumer behaviors and delivery for benefit-led technology innovation.

• Drive superior product experiences and holistic design thinking in core brand programs, ensuring practical execution, and winning in the market.

• Collaborate with R&D and marketing teams to integrate consumer insights into product development, ensuring our products meet and exceed consumer expectations.

• Leadership of the capability program (qual, quant and sensory): maintaining our high-quality standard, developing/piloting new methods and models enabled by digital and AI for speed and agility.

THE QUALITIES WE LOOK FOR

• ​​Minimum bachelor’s degree in Market Research, Business, Statistics, Psychology, or a related field.

• 7+ years of experience in Consumer Technical Insights. With at least 3 years in a leadership role.

• Proven track record of translating data into strategic business recommendations.

• Digital and sensory thought leader with demonstrated ability to design ‘first time right’ recipes.

• Experience with a variety of research methodologies - including qualitative, quantitative, and sensory - and applications such as benchmarking, preference maps and holistic product design.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex information to non-technical stakeholders.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement.

• Flexible and agile, quickly adopting and engaging in challenging business situations.

• “Can do” mentality, thinking in solutions rather than problems.

• Entrepreneurial spirit, enjoying the learning process it brings.

• Result-oriented with strong analytical skills; data-driven in actions and recommendations.

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, 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%-60% 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).

• Homework 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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