Head of H&W R&D

Job description

ROLE DESCRIPTION

Head of H&W R&D

Schedule:              Full time

Location:                Shanghai, China

Function:               R&D

WHO ARE WE?

We are the Global Health & Wellbeing (H&W) team at Unilever. We are a start-up (less than 2 years old), focused on one of Unilever’s largest growth opportunities – the €140bn Health & Wellbeing space defined by Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements (VMS).

We work in an agile and entrepreneurial way, collaboratively within the team and with our Unilever colleagues around the world. We work in a project based networked way where everyone needs to be able to take a step back and think strategically as well as rolling up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, to be entrepreneurial and experiment as well as bringing in the best of Unilever and work the structures of a large company, to take charge and lead as well as follow and support others.

OUR BUSINESS

Unilever’s Health & Wellbeing Group holds the company’s functional nutrition brands and the portfolio of brands that includes Equilibra (Italy) and US acquired brands Olly, LiquidIV, SmartyPants, Welly and most recently, Onnit. Each brand is completely unique and focused on giving consumers superior experiences within their respective spaces and target segments. For the acquired businesses, we are committed to continue growing this strategic business for Unilever through international expansion of the acquired brands, utilizing Unilever’s scale and network in the markets.
JOB DESCRIPTION OVERVIEW

The China Head of Health & Wellbeing R&D will be responsible for building and leading the China focused R&D capability to support the growth ambition for our acquired brands – specifically in relation to new product development, new market entry, claims support and the establishment of an external ecosystem of technical partners / capabilities. The role will have heavy cross functional interactions and coordination across Marketing, Supply Chain, Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure timely delivery of the objectives.

This role will also be required to work on related R&D job deliverables – including the establishment of technical processes and procedures to ensure both compliance and product quality, the recruitment and training of a technical R&D team to deliver superior and impactful innovation objectives, development / research agreements, budget management, best practice / cost saving initiatives as well as mediating any quality related issues up to resolution.

Technical Capability Development

Drive R&D 2021+ key thrusts and 5 Growth Fundamentals strategy (Purposeful Brands, Improved Penetration, Impactful Innovation, Design for Channel and Fuel for Growth) and ensure synergy with business vision for China

Build China Health & Wellbeing R&D capability via lean internal team and establishment of an external network of professional service organizations to deliver on business needs

Drive Health & Wellbeing design concept and work seamlessly with local and global partners to deliver business vision for China

Work with Health & Wellbeing acquired businesses to drive innovations and activities for China.

Lead R&D due diligence for China M&A targets; integrate R&D capabilities of locally acquired businesses.

Leverage big data to lead in Health & Wellbeing market trends in China and explore new consumer & technical insights.

Leverage blockbuster new technologies and develop superior & competitive products with strong pipeline and innovating on-trend formats and ingredients for China

Support new model of marketing with digital & content.

Design for ecommerce, including domestic and cross-border, and other specific China channels

Build future-fit scaling up capacity and capability for speed and agility.

Drive local 5S and Sustainability targets for China Health & Wellbeing in line with global plans

Support and proactively identify areas for regulatory compliance and wins. Coordinate with Global/Category/Cluster support functions for Regulatory Affairs, Clinicals, Analytical & Micro

Manage interdependencies, risks and trade-offs across functions/stakeholders.

Drive Health & Wellbeing R&D to key decisions points.

Leading and managing a complex and challenging business environment for the newly created team / business unit

Delivering on a highly challenging agenda for a China growth strategy with a disruptive change for multiple acquired brands with various product formats, regulatory classifications and unique technical needs

Building and retaining key talents in a China H+W R&D

Fast paced and comfortable working in an environment with tight deadlines and significant level of ambiguity and change

Experience working internationally and in virtual teams

Talent Catalyst & Passion for High Performance:

Develop and magnify the power of people & potential and build team & talent

Inspire the energy needed to win and grow as per Health & Wellbeing strategic roadmap

Drive People with Purpose agenda across R&D community

Coach / mentor key R&D team members and work closely with the other R&D Heads to build and retain key talent, including clear succession plans for all WL2 in China

Drive FLEX experiences and variable resource model for the cluster / country

Business Acumen & Consumer Love:

China Health & Wellbeing Business Team representative; partner to Global Marketing and local China marketing

Generate value in channels and customers through local activities, product / pack / claims/ SKU mixes

Create better future for consumers everyday

Key Experience:

VMS Category Design & Deploy (execute) experience

End-to-end (idea to commercialization) R&D experience in China functional foods / dietary supplements

China dietary supplement / VMS R&D leadership experience is strongly preferred

Evidence for programme and portfolio management with an appropriate balance of capability / programme effort and delivering with impact

Clear evidence of leading and driving R&D’s contribution to China’s growth agenda

Evidence for managing and developing diverse and sizable teams

Required Skill Sets:

Leadership of the Future – with a style appropriate to a networked and agile organisation

Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements technology development expertise; experience with probiotic and gummy development / manufacturing preferred

Chemistry or Chemical Engineering background is essential with working knowledge of Processing understanding and expertise

Ability to absorb, analyze and process large quantities of disparate information and synthesize quickly with attention to detail.

Strategic thinking & influencing (building “big relationships”)

Health and Wellbeing Mindset

Communication, mentoring and training skills

Open Innovation and Partnerships

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.