Job Title: Senior Product Developer
Location: Colworth Science Park
Work-Level: 1D
The Ice Cream division at Unilever is preparing to stand on its own, aiming to become an independent, EUR 8.3 billion publicly listed company by the end of 2025. We’re on a mission to create the ultimate snacking company. A place where growth, innovation, founder and ownership mentality, and performance are cultivated and rewarded. And where we craft extraordinary ice cream experiences – transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories. Because we know, life tastes better with ice cream.
MAGNUM ICE CREAM COMPANY – a global icon with 19,000 ice cream colleagues and beloved brands such as Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s. A world leader in the ice cream industry, we serve happiness in 76 countries and are investing to unlock full growth potential as we separate from Unilever before the end of 2025.
JOB PURPOSE
The UK Ice Cream Research Development and Innovation (RD&I) team is the driving force behind the creation and delivery of benefit‑led, innovative ice cream products across our global, premium and regional brands. We embrace agile innovation and work closely with countries and markets to land global, regional and local projects. In this role you will be the RD&I first point of contact for a portfolio area. You will lead projects in close partnership across functions such as Marketing, Supply Chain and Procurement, and with key external partners and suppliers. You will manage a portfolio of projects covering innovation, quality, complexity and cost reduction, shaping and delivering brilliant, sustainable product experiences by understanding consumer and customer needs.
RESPONSIBILITIES
* Plan, organise and execute a variety of project types as assigned under guidance from line manager, working closely with RD&I experts from a variety of fields.
* Work closely with marketing teams in global, European and local country teams to define project scope at the start of projects.
* Use your creative talents to develop great products.
* Lead technical delivery of projects, including product concept development, formulation design, lab and pilot plant prototypes, cost calculation, specifications, quality assessments, legislation compliance checks and claims assessments.
* Manage supplier relationships working closely with other functions such as Procurement.
* Lead and manage pilot plant and factory trials for prototype/product development.
* Write and manage specifications and systems data for the products you work on.
* Provide key updates for our Innovation Process Management and other relevant systems.
* Develop selling stories and support Customer Development teams with sell‑in meetings.
* Provide support and training for more junior members of the team.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
* European & local country Marketing Team
* Global & European Supply Chain (factories, planning, quality, etc.) and Procurement Teams
* Supplier/partner organisations
* Technical RD&I specialists (CTI, Processing, Packaging, Formulation, Nutritionist, Digital & Data)
* Other functional representatives including Finance, Legal, CMI and Quality
ALL ABOUT YOU
* Degree level qualification (or equivalent) and / or relevant experience in a technical discipline preferably in food technology or development.
* Experience of working cross‑functionally and with third parties.
* Experience of leading projects from brief to delivering in‑market.
* Passion for creative food product design and development.
* Excellent communication and project management skills.
* Attention to detail especially with experimentation, data recording and analysis.
* Time management and priority setting.
* Health & Safety.
* European language skills are highly desirable.
LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOURS
* Purposeful impact
* Personal mastery
* Consumer love
* Agility
* Passion for high performance
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
* Occasional short business‑trips within Europe may be required.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As publicly announced, Unilever will separate its Ice Cream business which is expected by the end of 2025. This role will transfer to the new Ice Cream company.
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.
ARE YOU EXCITED TO CRAFT THE ICE CREAM FUTURE?
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, you must submit your CV and a motivation letter online. 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.
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.
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