Fabric Enhancer Measurement Specialist

Job Title: Fabric Enhancer Measurement Specialist

Location: Port Sunlight, UK

Fabric Care is one of the biggest categories in Unilever and the largest category in Home Care. Consisting of Fabric Cleaning (brands such as Dirt 4 Good and Surf) and Fabric Enhancers (brands such as Comfort and Snuggle). 

This position offers a unique opportunity within the Global Fabric Enhancers R&D Design team at Port Sunlight, UK, where you'll work with cutting-edge technology and be part of the fast-paced category, driving transformative growth on a global scale. The Fabric Enhancers R&D team is at the forefront of developing highly desirable product innovations. We're committed to delighting consumers with differentiated mixes, driven by cutting-edge technology to offer a superior experience aligned with our Bright Future strategy.

This is an excellent opportunity to join an exciting team and develop your skills and career working on one of the world’s biggest Laundry brands in Comfort & Snuggle.

Understanding and meeting the needs of our consumers is at the heart of Fabric Enhancers product development. The Home Care category relies on the functionality of its products to delight consumers. Exciting and powerful claims and creative benefit demonstrations are key part of getting consumers to choose any specific brand.

As part of the formulation team, you will work in a multi-disciplinary business environment ensuring the development of new technologies and formulations to support our Global Innovation Portfolio. This predominately laboratory-based role will play an important part in delivering and demonstrating new benefits that will support the fabric conditioner & liquid booster project pipeline.

In Homecare R&D we adopt a digital first approach in designing and executing performance tests therefore we also expect the data capture as an outcome of all laboratory experiments using tools like LIMS, ELN & SDC.  

MAIN JOB PURPOSE

You will be involved in driving the development of new technologies and formulations for our global fabric enhancers category. You will work together with a cross-functional/technical team to develop new superior and more sustainable products for our core global portfolio.

You will be responsible for delivering high-quality measurement data to support our Global Innovation Portfolio. The methodologies and data you create will be used to support new technology/benefit testing, claim development and KBS activities.

Mainly lab-based job, requiring 4-5 days working on site in Port Sunlight.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Identify and translate business needs into technical hypotheses/opportunities and integrate into the Fabric Enhancer Innovation program (New Technologies/Benefit Spaces, Future Textile Trends, Claims Support)
• Shape and deliver work programs according to agreed timelines and in compliance with all safety and operational protocols, to evaluate technologies that change fabric properties and deliver consumer benefits.
• Development of Fabric measurement tools/methods and associated data analysis.
• Ensure critical measurement equipment remains operational by following SOPs, troubleshooting issues, and engaging with instrument suppliers and engineers.
• Coordinate work with external partners and agencies when appropriate.
• Keep accurate records of samples, experimental progress, and data.
• Analyse data and communicate results, utilising digital tools to maximize the impact of datasets
• Interpret outcomes and relate them to desired benefit, making recommendations to support technology development.
• Deliver verbal and written communication of results, key insights, developments, and observations to project teams and stakeholders.

KEY SKILLS

• Strong evidence of experience in developing new methodologies to support emerging scientific or business areas. Experience in developing novel methodologies and applying them to generate new business insights.
• Good communication written and oral to convey information effectively and to influence outcomes.
• Working knowledge of good experimental design (including DoE) approaches is preferable, as well as the ability to extract insights and conclusions from results.
• Experience in coaching or mentoring others.
• Laboratory formulation experience and expertise
• Good organisation and time-management
• Interact effectively within project team or natural working group to achieve common objectives and goals
• Ability to use digital tools like MS Excel, Power Point, LIMS, ELN & SDC and report the outcome of an experiment in a clear concise way

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• BSc, MSc or PhD in a relevant science area (physical sciences, materials science, polymer physics or biophysics).

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Knowledge and experience of textiles and how to measure different properties.
• An understanding of Homecare formulations.
• Previous experience in Claim support and technical Substantiation.

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. We want to push boundaries, and have the flexibility needed to keep adapting in an ever-changing, more dynamic world. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. 

As part of your hiring journey, we are happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments, to improve your recruitment experience.

To find out more, including more information about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here.

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