Ufs R&d Savoury

**Unilever is currently hiring for R&D Manager - Savory & Plant-based**

**Business Title: UFS SEASA R&D Savory & Plant-Based Lead**

**Alterative In-market Title: R&D Manager - Savory & Plant-based**

**Function**:Unilever Food Solutions R&D

**Scope**: South East Asia& South Asia

**Location**: Minburi Factory, Bangkok, Thailand

**ABOUT UNILEVER**

Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do - creating a better business and a better world. You will work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. You will lead innovations, big and small, that will make our business win and grow. You will learn from brilliant business leaders and colleagues who provide mentorship and inspiration so that you can become a better you.

**JOB PURPOSE**

Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) is one of the world’s leading global foodservice businesses and UFS South East Asia (SEA) is one of regions possess strong growth over past few years in core categories of savory and dressings and determined to strengthen plant-based platform to continue our leadership in food service market.

We are searching for an experienced R&D Manager who is self-starter with strong leadership and business acumen to lead the biggest growth driver category of savory and plant-based for SEA. The job holds role along two routes: partnership with key Stakeholders in delivering sustainable & profitable category growth and functional excellence roles.

**WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE**
- Build savory & plant-based R&D strategy in SEA region while providing expertise and capability support for other relevant R&D Teams in South Asia, Africa, Middle East, Turkey and Israel
- Plan, execute and monitor technical deliverables of innovation & renovation projects on-time in-full across R&D functions (formulation, packaging, processing, CTI-claims, regulatory), implement project management best practices in agile ways to drive efficient project execution and ensuring adherence to budget and quality standards.
- Co-develop strategic initiatives with relevant Stakeholders to identify growth and improvement opportunities within SEA savory and plant-based category aligning with business objectives, which include building category roadmaps, define projects scope and manage projects execution.
- Build long term technology capability roadmap within savory and plant-based category in SEA to drive strong product competitiveness in the market.
- Work closely with the RDC Retail co-locating in the same location to ensure the savory and plant-based capability in R&D is built and deliverables in the key sourcing units within SEA are aligned, optimized and quality is uncompromised while delivering the UFS ambition of growth and margin.
- Lead the R&D elements in Unilever Sustainability Living Plan agenda.
- Manage risks and ensure compliance with mandatory Unilever policies, country legislations within SEA and intellectual property rights.
- Build and maintain strong Stakeholders management of cross-functional Teams and multiple countries to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing while partnering with business in strategic planning and ensure effective transfer of R&D outcomes into commercial products or services.
- Develop future fit UFS R&D team and talents within RDC savory, build agile resourcing of category experts, Workstream Leaders (WSL) and Technical Project Leaders (TPL) and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence to support category growth agenda.
- Represent the Team in regional/global Communities of Practice (CoP) for savory UFS R&D.
- Prepare and manage R&D budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and cost control.
- Stay up to date with the latest industry trends, emerging technologies, and scientific advancement relevant to product category.
- Build next-generation capabilities with ecosystem of partners (external research organizations, universities and industry experts), suppliers and in close coordination with global Hive and wider Nutrition R&D teams.
- Needs to be attuned to customers’ insights in delivery of solutions that is most relevant to the needs.
- As an employee, he/she is expected to work safely and in a responsible manner, by following company established guidelines and rules in occupational health, safety and environmental care. This is a condition of employment.

**WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED**

**Experiences & Qualifications**
- Above 8 years working experience within R&D, Supply Chain or other technical functions.
- Proven track record in managing projects and delivery with speed, agility and consistently high standards of work and results. Experience in leading end-to-end innovation management will be preferred
- Innovative mindset on getting things done with a balance capabilities of food technology, theoretical scientific understanding,
- engineering knowledge along with commercial awareness with broad range of R&D