UNILEVER PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS (UPRO) IS LOOKING FOR A RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT MANAGER If you have a passion for developing products, managing projects, enjoying teamwork, and for being creative to bring new ideas for our target audience – this is a role for you! Location: Rotterdam – the Netherlands Local conditions apply Full-time/Part-time 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. Salary: 44-64 K gross per year depending on background and experience. ABOUT UNILEVER 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 UPRO Unilever Professional (UPro) is a new Business-to-Business group within Unilever that has a very ambitious growth and sustainability agenda. Making Clean and Cleaners Matter is at the heart of UPro, and R&D has a pivotal role to play in deploying impactful global innovations and renovations that delight our end users and provide us with a source of competitive advantage. New product development is an integral part of R&D, integrating with the other various R&D functions as well as other functions such as Marketing, Supply Chain and Category Development. We create cleaning products that deliver unique solutions to our operator’s needs, with superior product performance that delight our operators. JOB PURPOSE This role presents an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about deploying new and better cleaning solutions which better meet our operators needs and drive profitable growth for our UPro business. WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE? Own and drive an area of expertise crucial to the team: Product development and deployment is a key capability within Unilever Professional R&D as well as in R&D Unilever as whole. We ensure that products we create are effective to our end-users and safe for the people and for the planet. The job holder is expected to lead the R&D product innovation work stream in a variety of projects such as brand innovation, renovation and sustainability. This comprises a range of activities: + Independently manage projects and time, embracing all technical elements of the project. + Represent UPro R&D in various meetings and forums, such as project meetings, lead technical discussions with R&D teams, collaboration with partners, etc. + Coordinate due diligence R&D activities (safety, regulatory clearances, storage tests, artwork coordination) + Stay in close contact with Supply Chain teams to identify opportunities and threats to the UPro portfolio. + Initiate and coordinate product testing (internal or external) protocols that are relevant for our products. + Adapt plans at a moment’s notice to support urgent demands within the team. + Report results competently with detail and precision. + Prepare technical documents to transfer the product details to other R&D Business Units teams. + Participate in the EU 12-quarter Planning process supporting the EU business plan. In addition to the core role the job holder will occasionally be expected to: + Create and maintain material and product specification which involves being fully operational in the available systems. + Participate in meetings with other functional teams and other regions. + Participate in other activities within the bigger R&D/UPro community. WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL? + Have scientific curiosity with a logical approach to fact finding and problem solving. + Be an Operational Powerhouse – understand & efficiently deliver day-to-day operational activities. + Have Consumer Love – understand our cleaning customers in the different operator groups of Laundrettes, Hospitality, Food Service and Offices and bring the voice of the customer into everything we do. + Have passion for High Performance – have the owner mindset, taking personal accountability for execution and results. + Connectedness - engaging with other teams, understanding what they have to offer, negotiating available time, and developing a collaborative workplan. + Agility and Flexibility in work style and able to manage multiple projects at a time. + Getting things done – the pressure to deliver should come more from within rather than externally. + Prioritisation – able to deal with complex and changing demands. + End to end understanding – Be able to engage with other aspects of the business that are outside your comfort zone to help teams progress. KEY REQUIREMENTS + Qualifications: Relevant academic degree (Chemistry/Chemical Engineering/Business) or relevant on the job experience. + Relevant R&D experience in project management. + Good software skills for data analysis and visualisation + Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams. + Good communication and reporting skills WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?Unilever is the place where you can be yourself and bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. We offer an exciting & dynamic work environment where you can make things happen. Furthermore, we offer some great reward and benefits! + Attractive total remuneration package; excellent company pension, bonus, share scheme, bike-plan. + Flexible cross-disciplinary career opportunities and a wealth of training opportunities & wellbeing resources whenever and wherever. + Plenty of company-paid holidays to further ensure your work-life balance is maintained. + We encourage an inclusive culture, which comes to life with interchangeable public holidays, paid paternity leave of 6 weeks and our transgender policy. + Informal culture and being the first one trying our new products. + My Fitness Plan (reduction on your Fitness Subscription). + Wellbeing weeks. + Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This is a free service for you and your relatives in case you might need help in a wide range of issues, including mental health, childcare, elderly care, legal advice, and more. + Home work allowance. + Company laptop and mobile phone. + Green Mobility Policy. + Under the Hybrid Working principles, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 40%-60% in the office or at customers, suppliers or partners to connect and collaborate. For the time you work from home, we will ensure you are well equipped. When you are at the office , you can enjoy our tasty canteen with prepped food and own products. EXCITED? Join Unilever and our team! To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV and a motivation letter. 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. Looking forward to meeting you! Please note this is a Direct Search led by Unilever. Applications from agencies will not be accepted, nor will fees be paid for unsolicited CVs. Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability, age, parenthood, pregnancy or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against. By highlighting the gender diversity at the workplace, Unilever encourages women equally men to apply. If you look for a job after a long career break or after any type of leave, do not hesitate to apply. Please save a copy of this vacancy for personal use as it will disappear from the website after closing of the role. Job Category: Research & Development Job Type: Full time Industry: