Innovation PMO Strategy Manager and PMO Product Owner

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.

About Global Marketing Services (GMS)
Global Marketing Services (GMS) is a dynamic, collaborative team that partners with Unilever’s brand teams across the globe to deliver high-impact marketing services. Our mission is to drive speed, consistency, and operational excellence at scale, empowering brands to connect with consumers more effectively. 

 GMS brings together deep expertise across several key domains: 

• Artwork Excellence: Our specialists lead the creation of mechanical artworks for both physical and digital packs, ensuring flawless execution and seamless collaboration. 

• UARM (Unilever Artwork & Records Management): The custodians of Unilever’s corporate memory, UARM protects trademarks and records, offering brand teams historical insights and safeguarding intellectual property. 

• Consumer Engagement Centres (CEC): These frontline teams engage directly with consumers across digital and traditional channels, responding to queries and feedback with empathy and precision. 

• Innovation Project Management Office (PMO): A team of expert project managers accelerating innovation speed to market across Unilever’s Business Groups, Business Units and 1 UL 

• Marketing Digital Solutions: Designers and architects of scalable marketing technology platforms, like Asset Bank, which houses over 2 million advertising assets. 

About the Role

The Strategic & PMO Product Owner is responsible for owning and evolving the design of the Project Management Office (PMO) to ensure it remains future-fit, scalable, and aligned with the overall Unilever and Business Group strategy. This role acts as the decision authority for PMO design, ensuring that any changes are evaluated for impact, approved, and implemented effectively across all delivery hubs. The position requires strategic oversight, governance alignment, and cross-functional collaboration with the Artwork Excellence (AWE) team and the Product Data Orchestration (PDO) team to maintain consistency and drive transformation.

Job Title: PMO Strategy Manager & Product Owner

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary owner of PMO design, ensuring it reflects best practices, organisational and business group priorities, and future business needs. 

• Lead and oversee the design, enhancement, and continuous improvement of the Marvel PMO design.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional Product Owners across AW, PDO, and DAM to align on requirements, ensure seamless integration, and drive consistent PMO standards. 

• Support PMO Director to shape, design, and support the strategic expansion of the PMO scope.  

• Contribute to defining future-state processes, capabilities, and governance needed to scale PMO value across the organization. 

• Continuously assess PMO frameworks, processes, and tools to maintain relevance and efficiency. 

• Act as the decision-maker for all design changes, balancing innovation with operational stability. 

• Partner with the Artwork PMO (AW) team and the Data Management (PDO) team to evaluate proposed design changes and their impact on PMO operations. 

• Lead impact assessments for design modifications, ensuring alignment with governance standards and delivery capabilities. 

• Oversee PMO change management processes, ensuring smooth adoption across hubs and minimising disruption. 

• Work closely with the PDO Governance team to ensure PMO design adheres to compliance, and reporting standards. 

• Ensure that all changes within the Artwork Project Management Office (AW) team and the Data Management (PDO) team are thoroughly assessed, aligned, and implemented in the context of the overall PMO framework. This includes evaluating the impact of proposed changes, maintaining governance standards, and driving seamless integration to support organizational objectives. 

• Assist in design clear governance structures for decision-making and accountability within PMO operations. 

• Provide strategic direction to delivery hubs, ensuring consistent execution of PMO standards. 

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives based on data-driven insights. 

• Act as the key liaison between governance bodies, delivery hubs, AW team, and PDO team, ensuring transparency and alignment. 

• Communicate PMO design updates, changes, and strategic priorities to all stakeholders effectively. 

Geographical scope:

Global

Qualifications and Experience

• Project management certification
• 5 years’ experience as project Manager

​Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to anticipate future trends and design PMO frameworks that enable agility and scalability. 
• Change Management Expertise: Skilled in leading organizational change and driving adoption of new processes. 

• Governance & Compliance Knowledge: Strong understanding of PMO governance, risk, and regulatory requirements. 

• Collaboration & Influence: Proven ability to work across multiple teams and influence senior stakeholders. 

• Analytical & Decision-Making: Ability to assess complex impacts and make informed design decisions. 

• Strong NPD and innovation process knowledge
• Proven knowledge and experience of  project delivery within fast paced business.
• Proven experience in managing innovation and development projects to achieve successful project outcomes
• Project Management: External certification (e.g. APM, PMI, Prince2)
• Strong experience and skilled in MS Project
• Strong relationship building and interpersonal skills
• Effective communicator at all levels, with the ability to impact and influence.
• Able to demonstrate good capability in problem solving, decision making and making sound judgement in time pressured situations
• Ability to hold teams accountable for delivering against OKRs

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.