B&W Prospective Innovation - Head of Skin London, Vereinigtes Königreich

Unilever Deutschland Holding GmbH; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic leader for their Beauty & Wellness Prospective Innovation team. In this pivotal role, you will drive innovation in skincare by blending strategic insights with consumer desires. You will lead a talented team, manage multi-stakeholder projects, and craft compelling brand narratives. If you are passionate about beauty trends and eager to make an impact in a fast-paced environment, this opportunity is perfect for you. Join a forward-thinking company and help shape the future of beauty innovation on a global scale.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in brand development with measurable results.
• Strong understanding of the Skin Care category and market dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Set the direction for Big Bold Moves for Skincare brands.
• Lead multi-functional project teams to execute innovations.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

Consumer-Centric Approach

Project Leadership

Effective Communication

Innovation Leadership

Education

University Degree

Job description

JOB TITLE B&W Prospective Innovation - Head of Skin

LOCATION 100VE

JOB PURPOSE

Are you passionate about innovation and eager to shape the future of beauty? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and embrace the challenges of the unknown? Unilever’s newly established Beauty & Wellness (B&W) Prospective Innovation & Sustainable Department is looking for a passionate beauty enthusiast to join our pioneering team and be at the forefront of global beauty innovation.

This multi-disciplinary team is dedicated to crafting and creating sustainable, innovative solutions from inception to execution. Through experimentation, iteration, and deep transformation, we aim to elevate B&W brands by unlocking their purpose, science, and consumer desire to new heights and establishing a new ecosystem of groundbreaking ideas. Our mission is to curate innovations based on strategic B&W priorities and growth spaces with the potential to define the future of beauty. We craft with consumer at the heart: from defining the Trends to landing these as turn-key innovation ideas across our brands globally.

If you’re ready to be part of a cutting-edge team with a startup mindset, this role is made for you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Reporting to the Marketing Director – Skincare, you will be expected to set the direction for the Big Bold Moves (BBMs) for our Skincare brands, creating multi-year branded platforms that will set the leadership of UL B&W on disruptive trends at speed & at scale.
2. Shape the Strategy & Future of Our Core Business: Support the Skin Care Brand Partner & Design Lead by feeding into the growth opportunities, to ensure these help our brands drive their strategy at scale & lead these into brand innovation roadmaps & projects.
3. Refine Beauty Craftsmanship & Storytelling via Science and Desire: Deliver through your team by seamlessly blending scientific & aesthetics/semiotics insights with consumer desires & deep brand understanding, honing your craft in beauty storytelling to help our products stand out in the market.
4. Deliver innovation projects under the BBMs: Use an agile approach to deliver innovation aligned with future market opportunities / future consumer needs. Lead multi-functional project teams (Marketing, CMI, R&D, Supply Chain, Finance, Regulations, Legal), partnering closely with Business Groups & Business Unit teams to execute and bring innovations to market across the full marketing mix.
5. Own budget, recommend investment required for assigned brand category activities.
6. Team management: Lead a team of 3 (1x Marketing Manager, 2x Marketing Assistant Managers).
7. The scope of this role is global, which means partnering with both Global & local teams in our top Business Units and markets (e.g., US, UK, India) & gaining a deep understanding of different consumer trends and market dynamics globally.

KEY BEHAVIOURS REQUIRED:

1. Strategic & fact-informed thinking: Ability to build & assess strategic ambition, connect trends & brand strategy with good judgment to focus on the biggest opportunities. Filter relevant feedback while maintaining a global perspective.
2. Entrepreneurial Drive & Stakeholder Influence: Proactive, accountable, with agility to make things happen. Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, cross-functional partners, and agencies. Eager to learn, resilient, and solution-oriented.
3. Consumer-Centric: Prioritize understanding and addressing consumer needs.
4. Aesthetic Excellence: Keen eye for detail and aesthetics, delivering high-quality work.
5. Learning Orientation: Open to listening, learning, and incorporating others’ expertise.
6. Resilience & Managing Ambiguity: Maintain effectiveness and delivery when managing uncertainty and volatility.
7. Collaborative Team Player: Thrive in team settings, contributing to collective success.
8. Organizational Excellence: Stay focused, push boundaries, and know when to move forward without unnecessary delays.

MUST-HAVE EXPERIENCE:

1. Educational Background: University degree or equivalent professional qualification.
2. Passion for Skincare & Beauty Trends: Curious and engaged with the latest trends, especially in skincare brands and audience engagement.
3. Integrated Marketing Expertise: Proven experience in brand development with measurable results.
4. Innovation Leadership: Experience in a Global/Regional Innovation role, with strong understanding of the Skin Care category.
5. Project Leadership: Ability to lead and deliver complex, multi-stakeholder projects, ideally at portfolio level.
6. Diverse Experience: Background in both smaller, growth-stage companies and larger, established businesses.
7. Effective Communication: Clear, persuasive communication tailored to different audiences.
8. Storytelling & Communication: Ability to articulate ideas across various media effectively.
9. Financial Savvy: Understanding of financial metrics, P&L management, and driving business performance.