IC Spain - Operations Manager Ice Cream Shops

If you are in the Unilever Ice Cream business or consider choosing to work for the Unilever Ice Cream business, you will work for the Global, leading Ice Cream player with €7.9bn Turn Over in 2023. The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of top 10 selling brands including Wall’s, Magnum, Ben &Jerry’s. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025.

Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure. As Ice Cream company we are committed to developing and nurturing talent within our Ice Cream company. You will have ample options for career growth and exploration, allowing you for you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organisation. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company. We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us.

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of over $8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win.

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As Ice Cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products.

JOB PURPOSE:

To support the continued delivery and development of the company’s FOH strategic plan.  Focusing on year on year growth and profit by way of initiating programmes and measuring the achievement of the business KPI’s for the Spain FOH scooping operation

Be the ‘Go To’ FOH operations support for market leads and operators in terms of business modelling; new store openings; training and development; equipment and operational standards; mobile operations and ‘experiences’; supply chain; and sales channels across the region.

Are you passionate about  excellence, and customer experience?

 Then this role is tailored for you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Grow the premium Scooping business, maintaining a scalable, profitable model for operators and for UL, ensuring the best visibility of the brands in each location
• Leadership of the Area Managers team focused on: Maximizing rotation and ensuring an excellent experience for the end consumer
• Negotiation with external suppliers to standardize complementary offerings and improve points of sale.
• Leadership of the digitalization of ice cream parlors.
• Creation and monitoring of activation levers, standardized and adhoc according to the needs of each of the brands
• Support to expansion teams, Trade sales in the phase of recruiting new ice cream parlors
• Leadership of the process of implementation and opening of new points of sale, being an essential link between agencies and client
• Top person responsible for the operation of the points of sale, ensuring better layout provisions, customer flows, etc.
• Leadership of the training plan for operators, with physical and digital, standardized and adhoc training.
• Responsible for the correct supervision and support of operators, analyzing the main KPI's, P&L, Mystery shopper, and other performance indicators
• Resolution of conflict situations, either with the end client or with operators

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

SKILLS:

• Must be able to leverage the marketing excellence and operational effectiveness that is built by Unilever – while preserving the 3-part mission and community of connectivity within Ben & Jerry’s & Carte D’Or
• Must have demonstrated the right energy and attitude to support the implementation of new programmes to business leaders and teams, whilst exhibiting tenacity to follow up and drive continuous improvement across all parts of our business (in store; delivery; catering and events)
• Demonstrated ability to navigate significant constant changes in a shop environment – brought on by internal or external factors
• Demonstrated ability to set and implement tactical and mid term directions and to realise improved sales or operational performance across sites

EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires 4+ years retail experience managing flagship or multi site operations and leading teams
• 5 - 7 years of retail operations experience
• Demonstrated experience in awesome retail execution, balancing operational needs and desires with brand goals and objectives.
• Bachelors degree preferred but not a requirement
• Fluent English speaking

LEADERSHIP:   

For example:

• You are an inclusive motivator of people. Your team delivers with real passion, growing and learning from each other whilst delivering quick wins.
• You are still responsible for your own results and as a manager, you also need to motivate others to deliver with passion, creating an inclusive and engaging climate around you. You can balance challenge with support and coaching. You understand the wider business context and you are emotionally intelligent enough to motivate people to deliver what is needed.

• Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors
  • PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations, and build empathy for others.
  • PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.
  • 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.
  • PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.
  • CONSUMER LOVE: Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
  • BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change.

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants 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. 

For the recruitment of this position, we would like to emphasize that local conditions apply to the position and for this vacancy in principle we will first consider candidates based in the Netherlands. If you are based outside of the Netherlands and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but we can only take your application on if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the Netherlands.

Please be aware if you are applying for this role from outside the Netherlands, if successful, your internal application will be treated as a self-initiated Change Location Outside of Country (CLOC) transfer.

You will be eligible for relocation support in the form of flights (to NL), immigration and tax support (in the year of move) and a lump sum in cash to be paid out during the first salary payment in the Netherlands. No further relocation support will be provided in a self-initiated CLOC. 

ARE YOU EXCITED TO CRAFT THE ICE CREAM FUTURE?

To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV, latest EoY and a motivation letter.  If you have been informed that you are at risk of redundancy, please make sure to tick this box during your application. Please also attach your letter of redundancy to the application.

Your application will be reviewed against our requirements, and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to apply for other positions.

Disclaimer

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

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.

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