Digital Packaging Lead

Shape the Future of Ice Cream Packaging: A Digital Innovation Opportunity

Are you a visionary leader passionate about the intersection of digital technology and sustainable packaging? The Ice Cream division of Unilever is embarking on an exciting journey to become an independent, publicly listed company by the end of 2025, and we are seeking a talented Digital Packaging Lead to be at the forefront of this transformation. This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic, growth-oriented organization focused on creating extraordinary ice cream experiences.

The newly independent entity, envisioned as the ultimate snacking company, prioritizes growth, innovation, and a founder’s mentality. With iconic brands like Magnum, Walls, Cornetto, and Ben & Jerry's enjoyed in 76 countries, we are a global leader dedicated to making life taste better with ice cream. This role offers the chance to significantly impact our strategic packaging ambitions and contribute to a sustainable and innovative future for the industry.

The Opportunity: Digital Packaging Lead

As the Digital Packaging Lead, you will be instrumental in revolutionizing how we design, test, and validate packaging materials. Working within the Digital & Data Team and in close collaboration with the Packaging Expertise Team, you will leverage data, modeling, and AI to drive innovation and efficiency. Your core responsibilities will include:

• Spearheading the development of digital sustainability tools to quantify and visualize environmental impact, recyclability, and compliance with evolving legislation.
• Defining and implementing data capture standards for packaging trials and simulations, ensuring data is structured and accessible for advanced analysis.
• Designing and deploying digital decision tools that integrate technical and business data, such as tools to analyze country-specific taxes based on packaging attributes.
• Building comparative tools to evaluate current versus proposed packaging formats based on cost, sustainability, and recyclability.
• Co-developing hybrid digital-physical testing workflows with automation experts, integrating simulations, robotics, and lab analytics.
• Creating virtual testing tools to minimize the need for physical trials and developing packaging simulation models for performance prediction (mechanical, barrier, shelf-life, recyclability).
• Building digital twins for packaging manufacturing and e-commerce transit trials to enable virtual performance assessment.

Key Advantages for Candidates:

This role presents a compelling set of advantages for career-driven professionals:

• Pioneering Innovation: Be at the cutting edge of digital transformation in packaging, utilizing AI, data modeling, and simulation to drive groundbreaking solutions.
• Strategic Impact: Directly influence the future of packaging for a global ice cream leader, contributing to sustainability goals and cost efficiencies.
• Growth and Development: Join a company that fosters a culture of growth, empowering individuals to be innovative, responsible entrepreneurs and develop their careers.
• Independence and Agility: Be part of a newly independent company that dreams big but acts fast, offering a dynamic and agile working environment.
• Global Reach: Work with iconic brands loved by consumers worldwide, making a tangible impact on a global scale.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Engage with diverse teams, including packaging experts and data scientists, fostering a rich learning and collaborative environment.

Key Considerations for Your Career Path:

To thrive in this role and maximize your career trajectory, consider the following:

• Data Science & AI Acumen: A strong understanding of data science principles, AI/ML applications, and their practical implementation in product development is crucial.
• Packaging Expertise: While the focus is digital, a foundational understanding of packaging materials, their performance characteristics, and sustainability aspects will be highly beneficial.
• Digital Tool Development: Experience in designing, building, and deploying digital tools and simulations is essential. Familiarity with relevant software and platforms will be an asset.
• Change Management: As a lead, you will be instrumental in driving adoption of new digital processes. Experience in managing change and influencing stakeholders is key.
• Sustainability Focus: A genuine passion for sustainable practices and a deep understanding of environmental impact assessment for packaging are vital.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: The organization values an ownership mentality. Demonstrating initiative, problem-solving skills, and a proactive approach will be highly regarded.

This is more than just a job; it's an opportunity to shape the future of an iconic industry. If you are excited by innovation, driven by impact, and ready to craft the ice cream future, we encourage you to apply.