Unilever Future Leadership Programme - Research and Development UK

Our Future Leaders Programme will ignite the leader in you. This unique programme is designed to develop Unilever’s Future Leaders (UFLs) by providing challenging and purposeful opportunities that accelerate their readiness to take on business leadership roles.

The Unilever Future Leaders Program (UFLP) is a global initiative enabling Unilever to build a strong talent pipeline that will support and lead our business growth.  In the UK, our UFLP is a 36-month rotational leadership development program for which we recruit top-performing undergraduate talent who demonstrate the potential to become managers within our business.  It’s designed to grow you into a manager, through hands-on learning alongside world-class experts. You’ll be hired into a function and develop your leadership skills by working on live projects which offer you all the experience you need to become ready for your first management role.  At the heart of it, it’s about developing tomorrow’s leaders, today. 

From Day 1, you will take on real business challenges within your own function and across the organization. Along the way you will develop deep core professional skills and leadership skills, and build a robust support network.  On top of all that, you will have a lot of fun along the journey.

We look for people who want to get to grips with the inner workings of a vast business and a desire to understand how it works. It’s about commitment, real people skills and a deep-seated interest in the business as a whole. You’ll become part of a leading-edge company, where you’ll work with outstanding brands and outstanding people to drive sustainable business growth.

Your Future Employer

Unilever is one of the world's leading FMCG companies, home to iconic brands including Dove, Vaseline, TRESemmé, Lynx, Persil, Domestos, Surf, Radox, Sure and Liquid I.V. Through products used by millions of people every day, we help improve health, wellbeing, confidence and care around the world.

Established over 100 years ago, Unilever has a proud heritage of innovation and a long-standing belief that great brands, great people and responsible business go hand in hand.

Today, we are transforming into a faster, more focused growth company centred on Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care and Home Care. Through world-class brands, cutting-edge science and technology, digital innovation and AI-enabled capabilities, we are building unmissably superior products and experiences for consumers around the world.

A career at Unilever offers the opportunity to work at global scale while helping shape the future of some of the world's most recognised brands. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, bringing curiosity, creativity and passion to solve real business challenges and make a meaningful impact every day.

*As we receive a high volume of applications, please make sure to read the job descriptions on our website carefully and apply for the ONE function you are most interested in. Only your first application will be considered*

What do we look for? 

• For R&D, we require a strong technical qualification in a Chemical, Biological, Physical or Data Science or closely related disciplines. We also accept Material and Engineering-related disciplines.

• Motivated, authentic, and ambitious future leaders who can apply their qualification expertise in a business context.

• A forward-thinking and passionate leader to contribute towards a cleaner, more sustainable future through exciting innovations.

• Visionaries that will fall in love with the problem, not the solution - we need people who are hungry to solve some of the industry’s biggest challenges (sustainability for instance). Impact at this scale takes time! 

• Collaborative & inclusive individuals who are excited to work alongside an international network to create superior products for our consumers.

The role: Research and Development 

For a business whose very purpose is to create a sustainable future, that future begins in Research & Development (R&D). This is the origin of ideas for brands, products, packaging, manufacturing, and technology. Your work could impact millions across the world. Our people make a big impact every day on a local level, across Europe, and the globe.

What will the programme involve?

Over three years and at least four placements, you will be inspired through a world-class development programme packed with a breadth of diverse experiences, challenges, and fun. You will build your leadership skills by working on live projects that offer you all the experience you need to thrive in your first leadership role. You will work with teams from different parts of our business, across our different business groups (Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care & Home Care). 

At Unilever, we believe that first-hand experience is the fastest way to learn. The Unilever culture is inclusive, and collaborative, and encourages innovative thinking. Our high-support, high-challenge environment will support you to achieve your potential, whilst giving you the chance to develop industry-leading skills through shaping your career path according to your interests, strengths, and aspirations. With a strong performance culture, challenging goals, and continuous feedback, we will support you to achieve your potential in an inclusive environment.

During the three-year programme you’ll have the opportunity to work across a range of R&D areas, collaborating with a wide range of experienced leaders and technical experts. You could be unlocking the next generation of blockbuster technologies in Science & Technology, running consumer studies for global scale launches, creating new formulation designs in our advanced labs & Pilot Plants, or working hand-in-hand with our marketers to delight our consumers. The opportunities are endless! 

Creative minds that can balance both deep technical expertise and commercial astuteness. 

What could your day-to-day role include (depending on your role)?

Every day you will be understanding what consumers want and need, developing the science and technology to bring new innovations to life. You’ll be helping to make our products more desirable, more inclusive, more efficacious, and kinder to the planet.

Some of the R&D areas that you could be allocated to working in include:

• Technical Project Leadership

• Future Formulation Design

• Packaging

• Consumer Technical Insights

• Science & Technology

• Out-of-function roles in Marketing (e.g. brand manager or supply chain)

Skills required include:

• Technical Communication

• Critical Thinking

• Agile Delivery

• Data Analytics

• Organisational Awareness

• Personal & professional digital skills inc.  Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Co-pilot)

Please note, that at Unilever, we have development programmes, the skills below are skills that would be good to have at the beginning however you will develop them throughout the programme.

Our application process involves:

Step 1: Online Application

Complete the online application form. It is a simple and easy application process with the option of filling out your details using your LinkedIn profile. You may apply to one function in your application.  

Step 2: Profile Assessment 

Complete two stages of profile assessment; a portrait personality test and an online assessment. These are designed to look at different elements of your cognitive, emotional, and social traits. You will receive personalised feedback after completing each stage.

Step 3: Digital Interview

The digital interview will consist of 3 short questions followed by a business case. You will be asked to solve real-world problems using Unilever scenarios. You’ll be able to record and complete your interview anytime and anywhere.

*Please note, we do not use AI as a screening tool in our recruitment process therefore, your digital interview submission will be reviewed by a real person*

Step 4: Discovery Centre

You will be invited to a ‘day in the life’ of a Future Leader at Unilever. You will get to experience a face-to-face day filled with several exciting activities including project meetings, business challenges, a team meeting with Unilever colleagues, and an interview.

What Can Unilever offer YOU?

• A Competitive Salary of £35,000

• A Benefits Envelope which has a notional value of 25% of your pensionable earnings. Use it to save for your pension, get extra taxable pay or both.

• A pension Scheme

• Annual Bonus

• A discounted staff shop

• Subsidised Gym Memberships - availability varies by site

• Shares

• Relocation support through a £5000 tax free loan

• 25 days of holiday allowance

To find out more about Future Careers at Unilever UK, check out our Instagram page!

Diversity at Unilever is about championing inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. To celebrate this, we have internal networks and communities created to raise awareness for a cause, which work to create change within the business. These networks include Proud, Empower, Enable and Unity and our communities include Thriving Parents, Carers, and All Inclusion Club.

We give 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. 

We are a key advocate of well-being 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.

What support will you receive? 

• A dedicated buddy to help you onboard and learn about the business.

• A dedicated Career Sponsor, who will coach you with your growth & development throughout the total duration of your programme.

• An experienced Line Manager for each of your functional rotations, allowing you to gain a breadth of experience.

• Access to Senior R&D leaders to help shape your career path planning.

• A bespoke Learning & Development Plan, designed to help you build your leadership skills.

• Opportunities to gain leadership experience outside of your functional rotations.

Do you require any adjustments in the application or assessment process?

If you do need any adjustments, please inform the Talent Acquisition team who will contact you to discuss the accessibility options available. E.g., If required extending time spent in any ‘timebound’ assessments/interviews.

*We also provide accessibility options such as magnifying glass, decrease/increase the font size, change font & colour, screen ruler, and screen mask for everyone who would require support.

Please contact the Talent Acquisition team at futurecareers.recruitment@unilever.com

Location: 

Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days required weekly at our Port Sunlight (Wirral) or Leeds offices.

Travel Required:

Approximately 10-25% of your time, depending on your functional rotation.

Discovery Centre:

TBC

Closing date:

This is a rolling deadline, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment in case applications close early.

Start date:

September 2027

Recruitment Fraud

Cyber-criminals advertise fake job adverts with prestigious employers as a way of stealing information or even defrauding individuals out of money. In the most sophisticated cases, they will set up fake websites, which have a similar address to companies like Unilever. They even conduct fake telephone interviews and then offer candidates a role with the proviso they pay a fee for background checks or to cover work visa costs. These types of attacks are becoming more common as more people are looking for employment in the economic climate.

How is Unilever tackling this?

Many of Unilever’s recruitment sites publish a warning to candidates about recruitment fraud. The Cyber Security team also proactively scans for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and acts to close them down.

What can I do?

If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat.

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. Your vigilance is key!   

Unilever is an organisation committed to diversity and inclusion 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 and the talent they can bring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

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