Head of R&D Digital Capabilities

Job Title: Head of R&D Digital Capabilities

Work Level: WL3X

Function: Global R&D, Digital R&D

Location: R&D Port Sunlight or Unilever R&D Bangalore

Reports to: Head of R&D Transformation, Packaging & Digital

About Unilever

Established over 100 years ago, we are one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies. We are known for our great brands and our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. We believe that the winning businesses of tomorrow will be those which anticipate and respond to the huge changes shaping people’s lives across the world. Unilever’s global R&D spans six innovation centres and twelve regional hubs, employing over 5,000 experts, including 500+ PhDs. It drives breakthrough science in microbiome research, biotechnology, and sustainable packaging. With 20,000+ patents, Unilever transforms cutting-edge discoveries into scalable innovations that enhance lives and protect the planet

Background & Purpose of the Role

The role sits within the Digital R&D. Our mission is to enable the transformation of Unilever R&D using digital technology. This will be achieved by:

• Acceleration of market-making discoveries
• Increased speed innovation with higher business impact
• Increased operational efficiency

The key accountabilities are to agree digital R&D investment priorities, develop the strategy and plans for cross-BG R&D digital capabilities, deliver these in partnership with R&D IT and drive adoption and value realisation with R&D BG teams. The role is central to the success of R&D’s transformation and is a critical contributor to Unilever’s wider business ambitions.

The preferred candidate must have a good understanding of R&D E2E business processes: from insight-to-shelf innovation, including technology discovery, product design and deployment/activation in the markets.  

The R&D Digital Capabilities Team is responsible for all the cross-business group digital systems that power R&D and the business.

The scope of the role can be clustered into 4 areas:

• AI for Science: the application of AI for agentic, dynamic orchestration of R&D workflows.  The flagship application being the R&D Assistant.
• DataLab: driving R&D towards a future where 80% of the experiments will be executed using data-driven digital tools, models and simulations. This means a comprehensive R&D Data Platform, a fit-for-purpose Data Science, Modelling and Simulation Suite and a rich inventory of R& Digital tools/ methods.
• Experimental Data Capture: ensuring that 100% of the data generated through physical experimentation is captured, discoverable and exploitable for digital method development (insights, analytics, and modelling).
• R&D Product Data Management: ensuring that the systems and processes for R&D product data are efficient to use by R&D personnel and are tightly integrated with Unilever’s business operations (procurement, manufacturing, planning, quality, artwork, customer development, master data management etc)

In addition, all the capabilities above must be aligned and connected to the Safety, Environmental and Regulatory Science (SERS) managed digital estate.

Key Accountabilities

• Digital Strategy & Roadmap: define the R&D digital capability strategy and execute the multi-year digital roadmap that deliver this – aligned to R&D BG priorities and R&D’s wider Transformation agenda. Develop the business cases for the xBG R&D digital ITIB programme.
• Partner with Head of R&D IT in Global Digital and Technology (GDT) to ensure that the Digital R&D capability programme delivers OTIF.
• Partner with Head of R&D Modelling & Simulation in Digital R&D to ensure that DataLab and related simulation capabilities are future-fit.
• Partner with R&D Business Groups and Business Units and x-Functional Teams to ensure aligned priorities, integrated processes and rapid adoption and roll-out of new/existing R&D digital capabilities.
• Promote a digital/data-first culture with a clear framework for simplification and standardisation of core R&D data processes and workflows.
• Partner with the Head of R&D Digital Strategy, Ops & Change to align programme with BG priorities, drive adoption, support the change management and training programme, and track usage and ROI of R&D digital capabilities.
• Lead, manage and inspire a diverse R&D Digital team of process/product owners across multiple geographies, instilling a culture of high-performance and collaboration.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience (5+ years) in digital transformation, product management, or IT leadership roles, preferably in R&D or adjacent function and an FMCG environment.
• A good understanding of R&D E2E innovation processes
• A good understanding of how digital technologies (incl. AI) can be leveraged in an R&D context to unlock capacity, speed and high impact innovation.
• A track record of delivering complex projects underpinned by Digital Technology and an ability to talk confidently with IT and delivery partners.
• A good understanding of how R&D Product Data is used in downstream business operations for value creation.
• Working knowledge of the end-to-end innovation business process for FMCG
• Working knowledge of the fundamentals of data modelling, analytics and simulation
• Working knowledge of delivery through partner ecosystems

Education & Qualifications

Degree in Science, Engineering or Computing

Critical Competencies

Strategic Thinking: Sees the big picture and connects digital initiatives to long-term business goals.

Collaboration: Builds strong relationships across functions and geographies.

Bias for Action: Drives progress with urgency and resilience. Devising solutions with creativity, courage and pragmatism

Behaviours

Care Deeply - Has emotional intelligence to generate positive, creative tension, openness to take feedback, and drive performance with care.   Creating an atmosphere of psychological safety for team, partners and collaborators is key.  Understand the expectations of R&D user community whilst ensuring that the business objectives remain in sharp focus.

Focus on What Counts – Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver fewer, bigger things to conclusion with speed and agility. Prioritize ruthlessly. Ensure Programme Delivery Leads speak with same voice and are empowered to make choices.

Stay Three Steps Ahead – Think Big, simplify and commit to making it happen and leading, shaping and disruptive thinking. 

Deliver with Excellence – Takes personal responsibility and accountability for developing high-quality, breakthrough digital solutions and pride in execution

NOTES 

Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications may not be processed and include your talent card if completed. 

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 be applying for other positions.    

Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner listed at the right hand side of this vacancy.  

What we offer 

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.  

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. 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. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com). 

Location   

In September 2020, Unilever announced the intention to build a new sustainable campus site in Kingston, London.  This site will house some employees who currently work in 100 Victoria Embankment in Blackfriars together with colleagues who are currently located in Lever House in Kingston. We are excited to be creating our own Unilever sustainable, agile work environment. The campus is due to be completed in 2026. 

Relocation to the UK  

Please be aware if you are applying for this role from outside the UK, if successful, your application will be treated as a self-initiated Change Location Outside of Country (CLOC) transfer. This means any relocation costs must be self-funded with the potential to reclaim some specific pre-approved expenses up to £5,000. Please speak to your Talent Partner if you have any questions.