Foods Product Development Lead - ANZ

Unilever; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Unilever ANZ is seeking a Foods Product Development Lead based in North Rocks, Sydney, to lead end-to-end Nutrition R&D for iconic brands. You will collaborate with manufacturing and packaging teams, deploying innovations and ensuring compliance and quality across ANZ markets.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, technical problem solving, and effective science communication to internal and external stakeholders, with close ties to APAC teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in product development with understanding of processing.
• Experience in project leadership, risk management and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to provide technical solutions and problem solving.
• Strong communication of Science and Technology to external audiences.
• Experience with digital tools to support communications.

Responsibilities

• Deliver end-to-end R&D program for ANZ Foods.
• Drive innovation deployment and technical solutions in factory settings.
• Ensure compliance, quality, and sustainability in products.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and APAC teams.
• Support local claims and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Product development

Processing

Project leadership

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

External partners

Digital tools

Science communication

Entrepreneurial mindset

Education

Food Science / Engineering qualification

Job description

JOB TITLE: FOODS PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LEAD - ANZ

FUNCTION: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

LOCATION: NORTH ROCKS, SYDNEY

BUSINESS CONTEXT

The One Unilever markets cluster will have its own, standalone, R&D organisation set up with the category & functional expertise across the markets to enable the deployment of innovation, 5S, UBS and sustainability programs. This role is part of the new APAC 1UL R&D Organisation.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

As an R&D Product Development Lead in Foods ANZ , the roles key responsibility will be end to end delivery of the Nutrition R&D program in ANZ, looking after iconic brands such as Continental, Best foods and Hellmann’s. Located in Sydney, a key hub for R&D and manufacturing for Foods in the region, it will be co-located with the Packaging Development team for Foods in ANZ and report into the Head of R&D Foods.

This role will cover all aspects of R&D delivery, specifically:

• A key member of the ANZ Foods team in deploying innovation, with the claims, science & technology communication to support it.
• Excellent execution including Product & Processing, delivering unmissable, superior products in close collaboration with manufacturing, act as a support function for APAC.
• Other key aspects such as compliance, quality, GM improvement, sustainability, 5S, sustainability programs, compliance, claims, artwork, etc.
  

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a whole new organisation, whole new team, going after a big ambition, working together as an efficient 1UL team with the BG’s to deliver profitable growth.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Key R&D member of the ANZ Foods team to deliver programme.
• Drive deployment of innovation and optimisation projects on time in full with functional excellence in product development, delivery of technical solutions, risk assessments and robust validation.
• Innovation deployment, deployment of technical solutions in factory settings. Ensure that deployment processes align with both project objectives and factory operational requirements.
• With proximity to key R&D facilities, agility to provide technical support to other countries within the APAC cluster.
• You will be responsible for relevant data in systems, including specification development and PIRDs and input into the artwork development process.
• Support Gross margin actions to help deliver Foods GM in ANZ, including proposal development and execution.
• No compromise on product safety and compliance, ensuring safe compliant products are landed in markets, always.
• Be at the forefront of how we engage with consumers and trade partners about our science and technology, driving them to pick us first over competitors.
• Local Claim support: Ensures claims are compliant to local regulatory requirement with all necessary support documents, maximise use of available information through digital to support.
• Accelerate digitally enabled delivery and working practices adoption to ensure the lean, agile organization is set up to deliver the required program, unlock an entrepreneurial growth mind set & agile way of working.
• Stay close to product development within BG’s to ensure access to unmissable, superior products.
• Always drive simplification, looking for alignment to BG design with a ‘lift and shift’ mentality wherever possible.
• Never lose sight of the importance of consumer.

ALL ABOUT YOU

To be successful in the role you will need to be experienced in product development and deployment, ideally in Food products.

Have experience in claims and maximising the impact of our science and technology in market, be confident in creating science communications for external use.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience in product development with a good understanding of processing.
• Have experience in project leadership, risk management and stakeholder engagement. Effective in managing external partners and working with virtual project teams.
• Have high technical proficiency and insight to provide technical solutions on product development and optimization to business team, with problem solving and strategy building skills.
• Be an excellent advocate and communicator of Science and Technology, confidence to engage externally in this space with customers and influencers and the capability to engage with digital tools to enhance efficiency in communications.
• Have a passion and understanding of using digital tools to apply an entrepreneurial approach in delivering step-change to ways of working.
• Have a Food Science / Engineering related qualification and/or relevant experience within R&D

WHAT AWAITS YOU AT UNILEVER?

The core of Unilever’s culture is captured as Human, Purposeful, Accountable. You will be joining a dynamic, flexible, and inspiring work environment that truly cares about your wellbeing, values what you do and celebrates your success.This is your opportunity to be part of a purpose-led business and a global community where you can progress your career both locally and internationally. You will also benefit from amazing discounts on external company products, attractive employee referral reward program amongst other benefits.

This is a great opportunity to work within an iconic and global organization. We have gained our reputation as one of the world's most admired employers by providing an environment where individuals can achieve their goals, both professionally and personally.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment journey. Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact **********@unilever.com.

Unilever is an organization 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.

This means we encourage people with all backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities. Interested in learning more, check out our Reconciliation Action Plan and Workplace Adjustment Policy on the Unilever webpage

At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! We encourage you to advise us at the time of your application if you require any reasonable adjustment so that we can support you through your recruitment journey

Unilever is an organization 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.

This means we encourage people with all backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities.

At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! We encourage you to advise us at the time of your application if you require any reasonable adjustment so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.