UI R&D - Digital Transformation - Assistant Manager

UI Role Job Description

Job Title: R&D Digital Transformation Lead, Unilever International

Location: Mumbai, Unilever House

Function: Unilever International - R&D

Work Level: Assistant Manager

Geographic Scope: Global

Preferred Candidate: No

Travel Requirement: <10%

Business Context:

Unilever International (UI) is White Space Arm of Unilever and a decacorn in-making. UI has scaled 10x since its launch in 2012. Apart from being fastest growing, it is one of the most profitable BU for Unilever, catering to the last billion consumers in underserved markets, formats, consumer segments, & channels across 130+ countries and all Unilever categories. UI deploys an agile innovation model that enables more than 1 launch per day.

About the Role:

This exciting role offers opportunity to make significant impact in embedding Digital Mindset and Digital Initiatives to meet fast track requirements from R&D in UI. Data is/will be the lifeline of UI to drive its ambition in FAST paced environment, and there is a need to adopt digital in routine and cut down on nonvalue adding activities.

What You’ll Do

• Digital Tools relevant to R&D UI – The Roadmap:

First task is to know what we don’t know before solving anything bespoke. You will be responsible to create a typical user journey, or “day in a life” of a R&D professional in UI (E.g.: Conduct user/stakeholder interviews, map day in life of key personals, pain points, what’s working and what’s not, what is needed in future etc.). Once done, engage with Digital Intelligence team in UI & Digital Partners in global Unilever team (mothership) to understand what’s existing that can be adopted and what new needs to be built etc to fill-in the gaps. This roadmap with timings is the crux of how digital ways of working will evolve within UI.

• Data Capture and Quality – The Bedrock for everything digital:

Right data collected in a right way is the bedrock to build any successful digital tool, and is one of the most underrated, least understood aspect of digital transformation. In general, a data scientist spends 70 – 75% of its time on just data cleaning and making it fit for model building! At UI, the fast-track nature of job may lead to loss of critical data. Your key job would be to Identify data capture needs for UI R&D processes (the WHAT), engage various digital teams to understand HOW can it be captured automatically, and propose relevant digital tools (WHERE) to record UI data. Propose the ways of working (as needed) to capture minimum / core / good to have in relevant tools, and how that information will be exploited.  Ensure data quality checks and balances followed by Digital Data Quality Teams with KPI’s and bring them inside UI (improve as needed). Explore how data capture tools can be added as a part of project approval process before final launches happen, so that critical information is not lost.

• Digital Tools Integration outside R&D, but relevant to R&D – The Efficiency:

One of the most exciting and quick wins is to leverage existing tool not well known across Unilever functions and bring information at fingertips for quick decision making. You will be responsible for identifying areas to cut down information availability for R&D, especially from other functions such as marketing (sales for eg.) or supply chain (such as raw material pricing, volume, location used etc) or how relevant info can be extracted from existing data capture system with ease (eg. PLM, AWS, SDC etc.). This also involves creating simple power BI dashboard, integrating existing disjoint systems for data flow, while protecting data privacy (eg. Access based on role and requirement).

• Success Stories, Adoption KPI, Stakeholder and Digital Transformation the Present and Future:

Nothing drives success like success stories! Engaging 100% UI R&D team for digital adoption, sharing best practices, solving pain points through digital, cutting time spent of non-value adding activities, engaging last user and senior stakeholder together, and having a sense of success through clear KPI’s is critical to keep digital transformation on track. You are expected to share success stories from UI (to UI from R&D etc), carrying out regular feedback survey (such as Net Promotor Score survey), connect with digital leader across R&D to bring ‘whats-new’ and solve real pain points. Building futuristic road map on digital revolution in UI on “Digital Normal” will work in UI, will help you bring futuristic digital tool (such as AI bots, first product design in 24-hours etc., data driven quick decisions etc) to meet UI ambitions.

Apart from above core responsibilities, you will be engaging various digital leads across R&D, be UI representative in relevant R&D forums for digital, engage external (non-UI) stakeholder as relevant to bring “Digital IN” for UI.

What We’re Looking For

• Digital first Mindset: MUST be confident and knowledgeable in use of digital tools and challenge the status quo as “Why NOT” use the digital tool.
• Effective Storyteller: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, enjoys storytelling, with ability to convey complex (even scientific) information in a simple and engaging manner. Adapts communication style to different people and settings.
• Team Player: Role demands working together with diverse set of teams spread across multi-cultural / geographical / functional etc. You are expected to be able to work in such diverse settings and get moving.
• Problem Solver and Analytical: MUST think on solutions and approaches to overcome any issues faced in day to day working and influence right people to get the job done.
• Engage Stakeholders: Right message to stakeholder and get buy-in is critical to digital transformation, and the skill to influence stakeholders in right direction will be key to get buy-in and embed digital in UI ways of working.

Experience & Education:

• Bachelors/Masters in any STEM is a must. Formal qualification in Data science is highly desirable.
• Experience in data sciences, big data or use/implementation of digital tools with be a BIG Advantage,
• Experience is digital transformation roles, and/or project leader experience is also a PLUS for this role,
• MUST have a minimum work experience of 3 – 4 years in any role in relevant field.

Why Join Us?

Unilever International is a unique place to work in bringing together Power Brands & might of Unilever, with an entrepreneurial culture of a purpose driven startup with high growth trajectory and a truly global footprint spanning 130+ countries. This is a unique opportunity to shape how billions of consumers experience our products—by blending science, creativity, and deep consumer insight. Are you ready for an adventure of lifetime?