Director Communications & Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Ice Cream MET and South Asia

Unilever is currently hiring for Director Communications & Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Ice Cream MET and South Asia

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 ICE CREAM: Life Tastes Better With Ice Cream

Unilever Ice Cream is the world’s leading ice cream company, home to a portfolio of iconic brands like Magnum, Calippo, Solero, Festini, Talenti, and Yasso. We're committed to creating innovative products that bring unforgettable moments to our consumers—because, after all, “Life tastes better with ice cream.” 

The Ice Cream division at Unilever is preparing to stand on its own, becoming an independent, EUR 8 billion single-category focused company by the end of 2025. This move reflects our belief in the power of our unique frozen footprint, which we see as having huge potential for growth as a pure-play business. Our focus is all about unlocking that potential, driving value for our consumers, customers, employees, and shareholders

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

This role business partners the BU GM MET & South Asia and sits within the Global Ice Cream Communications & Corporate Affairs team. Main responsibilities are: 

• Define and lead local delivery of the Ice Cream C&CA strategy in the BU MET and South Asia, in support of the Ice Cream local vision, strategy and annual priorities and in alignment and support of the global C&CA strategy.
• In (some of) the other countries of this BU, resources will be recruited and these will report into this new role.
• Shape Ice Cream’s reputation in the BU and protect the reputation externally, in support of Unilever’s corporate reputation and aligned to the Ice Cream narrative.
• Focus on external communications, including media and government relations locally.
• Lead issues management for Ice Cream in the BU.
• Business partner and act as a trusted advisor to Ice Cream BU leadership team on 360 communications and engagement, and to Ice Cream brand teams on reputation matters.
• Lead external affairs (public affairs) in the BU, with a focus on Turkey. Organize engagement moments or events as required.
• Lead an Ice Cream BU C&CA team as an effective leader, line manager, mentor, and coach (2-5 direct reports in the BU).
• Business partner the BU GM and work daily on strategic sustainability and communications topics.
• Lead and implement the sustainability work in the BU, aligned with the global strategy. With a focus on plastics and carbon (cabinet efficiency/ grid energy).
• Work on specific advocacy and targeted external outreach (social) media, media and external speaking opportunities) regarding the sustainability focus areas in the BU.
• Drive Ice Cream’s leadership communications and engagement internally, building employee engagement around the BU’s vision and strategy, inspiring performance and commitment towards delivering strategy into action at all levels. 
• Operate in a cross-functional manner to ensure that communications are integrated, coordinated and managed across the business.

Collaborate effectively and productively with colleagues from across the business.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

• 10+ years of rounded communications and corporate affairs experience
• C-Suite business partnering and Leadership Team experience
• Experience in managing large media (platforms)
• Track record of delivering impactful and integrated communications externally
• Experience of leading advocacy programs and execution in markets
• Sustainability catalyst and owner
• Experienced in issues management
• Strong judgement, experience and management on reputation matters
• Digital and technology savvy and minded
• Highly organised and able to handle multiple tasks at once, balancing long-term strategic planning, and short-term changing priorities
• Confidence, drive and initiative: self-starter who can work independently and deliver in fast-paced environment
• Line management experience, leading a team, budget management
• Food, Ice Cream or Snacking industry  experience is preferred
• Fluent in English and in Turkish
• Excellent and flexible writing skills; experience in writing speeches, narratives, strategic briefings for senior management

KEY INTERFACES:

• Ice Cream MET & South Asia Business Unit General Manager and Leadership Team
• Ice Cream Global Head of C&CA (Line Manager to this role)
• Ice Cream employees in the BU
• Global Sustainability Team
• Subject matter experts across the business on key reputation issues
• Agencies and suppliers
• External stakeholders i.e. media, partners, NGO’s

Leadership

• You are now a Leader of Change. People look to you to provide safety in a storm, and you also appropriately challenge to get even better results. You role model resilience and care. You navigate these uncertain times by flexing plans and your leadership style, always with authenticity.
• You are still responsible for delivering to the highest standards. You must be resilient so you can lead others to deliver with passion through uncertainty and create opportunities through the core and beyond. You must be able to flex your style and your plans to guide others through difficult times.

• Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors
  • PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed.
  • PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.
  • TALENT CATALYST: Invests in people – coaches individuals and teams to realize their full potential. Creates an inclusive climate, empowering everyone to be at their best. Inspires powerful teamwork and collaboration, connecting people for better results.
  • CONSUMER LOVE: Brings the voice of the consumer into everything we do, always.
  • BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates opportunities for profitable growth through the core and beyond.

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicates from all walks of life! This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. 

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.