R&D Transformation Director

We are thrilled to present an exceptional career opportunity for a visionary leader to join our dynamic R&D team as the R&D Transformation Director, based at our Port Sunlight Research Lab.

In a landscape defined by rapid disruption across consumer behavior, market dynamics, competitive forces, and scientific advancements, Unilever R&D is embarking on an ambitious transformation. Our vision is clear: to achieve winning innovation powered by pioneering science, people, and digital intelligence. This role is central to realizing that ambition, spearheading five interconnected workstreams designed to accelerate change in Digital & AI, Partnerships, Labs, Organization, and Workflows.

This is more than a directorial position; it's a career-defining opportunity to leave an indelible mark on the future of Unilever R&D. You will be instrumental in inspiring teams to push boundaries, transform ambitious ideas into tangible breakthroughs, and cultivate a culture of continuous evolution.

Advantages for Aspiring Candidates:

• Strategic Impact: Directly influence and shape the trajectory of one of the world's leading innovation organizations. You will be at the forefront of embedding digital, partnerships, and science-led innovation at scale.
• Unparalleled Exposure: Gain direct access and build strong relationships with the R&D Leadership Team (RDLT), senior executives across Business Groups, and external partners.
• Career Acceleration: This role provides a platform to build a robust, career-defining track record in delivering large-scale transformation, opening doors to future senior leadership positions within Unilever.
• Holistic Leadership: Lead and integrate five critical workstreams: Data, Technology & Digital Tools; Simplify & Standardize Key Workflows; Organization & Change; Winning Partnerships; and Future-fit Labs & Automation.
• Innovation Ecosystem: Engage with and foster external partnerships, bringing cutting-edge insights and capabilities into our R&D processes.
• Agile Environment: Design and implement pilot projects that foster rapid experimentation, adoption, and learning, driving tangible ROI and embedding best practices.

Key Considerations for Your Career Path:

• Visionary & Resilient Leadership: This role demands a leader who can not only connect and coordinate but also accelerate diverse workstreams into a unified, high-impact movement. Resilience in navigating complexity and driving change is paramount.
• Systems Thinking & Detail Orientation: The ability to grasp the wider strategic context and interconnected systems, while also being capable of delving into the necessary details for effective implementation, is crucial.
• Bold Risk-Taking & Learning Agility: A considered yet bold approach to risk, coupled with a willingness to learn from mistakes, will be essential for driving groundbreaking innovation.
• Inclusivity & Influence: As an inclusive listener, you will synthesize diverse perspectives to define actionable priorities. Your success will hinge on building trust and effectively influencing stakeholders across a global, matrixed organization.
• Digital-First Mindset: A strong understanding of data, digital, and technology-enabled transformation in R&D or adjacent functions is essential. This is an opportunity to champion a digital-first approach to innovation.
• Authentic and Accountable Leadership: Inspiring followership through bold and authentic leadership, while fearlessly holding leaders accountable for outcomes, is a cornerstone of this role.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: We embrace flexible working options and foster a family-friendly, inclusive workplace. This role offers opportunities to thrive in an environment that values diversity and inclusion.

This is a unique chance to be both a visionary architect and a pragmatic driver of change, contributing significantly to Unilever's leadership in pioneering science and digital innovation for years to come.