Surf Brand Manager

Unilever; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Surf Global Brand Manager role based in London, UK. Lead end-to-end innovation programmes across core and core-plus, coordinating with R&D, Supply Chain, Finance, and markets to ensure on-time, on-budget launches.

You will develop project scopes, manage risks, and coach a direct report while embedding the BrandVerse strategy to spread joy across Europe.

The role offers high visibility, cross-market impact, and opportunities to grow leadership within Unilever's Fabric Cleaning portfolio.

Qualifications

• Experience leading innovation projects through Unilever's innovation process.
• Proven cross-functional collaboration across markets to deliver OTIF projects.
• Excellent project management and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong stakeholder management across functions, geographies, and seniority.
• Strong accountability, resilience and ownership.
• Experience coaching and developing others.
• Strong communication and ability to influence decisions.
• Collaborative approach across markets.
• Design-focused with eye for packaging aesthetics.

Responsibilities

• Own delivery of core and core-plus innovation projects.
• Develop and manage project scope, timelines, governance, and cross-functional plans.
• Collaborate with R&D, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, CMI and the PMO.
• Manage agencies to deliver high-quality designs.
• Partner with markets to align innovations with needs and deployment.
• Proactively manage risks, dependencies, and decisions.
• Champion Unilever's innovation process and PM standards.
• Line manage an Assistant Brand Manager and develop talent.
• Drive progress and ensure timely delivery within budget.

Skills

Innovation leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Stakeholder management

Prioritisation

Accountability

Coaching

Communication

Collaboration

Design sensibility

Job description

Role Title: Surf Global Marketing Manager | Innovation Location: 100VE, London About the Brand and the Role: Surf is a global power brand, present in 46 markets, reaching over 100 million households and delivering €800 million in turnover. In the UK, Surf is the No.1 fragrance laundry detergent brand. Known for its distinctive fragrances and bold packaging, Surf is an important brand within Unilever's Fabric Cleaning portfolio. The Surf Global Team is responsible for driving the brand agenda across multiple markets, balancing long-term brand development with the delivery of key innovation initiatives. As an ambitious and results orientated, collaborative team, individuals are given significant responsibility, broad exposure, and the opportunity to lead complex programmes with meaningful business impact. Surf now has a new BrandVerse focused on Spreading the Joy and in this role you will help embed this strategy into our innovations. We are a high-performing team that works hard, moves quickly and values bringing energy, positivity and fun to everything we do. Reporting to the Surf Global Senior Brand Manager, this Surf Global Brand Manager is responsible for leading Surf's Innovations, with a focus on Europe, ensuring key innovation projects are delivered on time and in full, on budget, and ready for successful market deployment. In this role you will lead the end-to-end delivery of multiple innovation programmes across core and core-plus tiers, partnering closely with cross-functional teams, markets, and senior stakeholders throughout the innovation process. The successful candidate will be accountable for driving progress, ensuring excellent craft, managing complexity, and ensuring strong execution across a broad portfolio of projects. With three major innovation projects landing next year and two additional innovation projects coming in 2028, this role offers significant ownership, delivery and potential for impact across Surf's innovation agenda. The role also includes line management responsibility for an Assistant Brand Manager, supporting both project delivery and capability development.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the delivery of key innovation projects, including Core Relaunch, Core Plus Relaunch, Future Core Liquids, and Future Quick Wash.
• Develop and manage project scope, timelines, governance, and cross-functional delivery plans.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across R&D, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, CMI and the PMO to ensure successful delivery.
• Manage and work with agencies to deliver beautifully crafted designs.
• Partner with market teams to ensure innovations are aligned to market needs and deployed effectively.
• Proactively manage risks, dependencies, and critical decisions to maintain project momentum and delivery confidence.
• Champion disciplined application of the Unilever innovation process and ensure strong project management standards across all programmes.
• Drive accountability across project teams and create alignment around key priorities and deliverables.
• Line Management and People Development.

Key Skills & Experience

• Strong experience leading innovation projects through the Unilever innovation process.
• Proven track record of working collaboratively with a cross-functional team to deliver complex projects OTIF and with strong business results.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong stakeholder management capabilities with experience influencing across functions, geographies, and levels of seniority.
• Strong prioritisation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and competing demands.
• High levels of accountability, resilience, and personal ownership.
• Experience coaching and developing others, with the ability to build into the positive and high-performing team environment.
• Strong communication skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and drive decisions.
• A collaborative approach and ability to build strong working relationships across markets and functions.
• The ability to craft beautiful mixes and an eye for the beauty of design.

Why This Role?

This role offers the opportunity to play a major role in Surf's innovation projects, with accountability across the full project lifecycle from scope development through to launch. The successful candidate will gain experience leading complex projects, partnering with markets, and managing multiple business-critical initiatives simultaneously. The role provides exposure across Fabric Cleaning and Home Care with regular interaction with senior stakeholders and visibility to leadership. With the fantastic opportunity to build people leadership experience through the management of a direct report. This will be an exciting role for a candidate looking to deepen their innovation leadership experience, take on end-to-end project ownership, and play a visible role in delivering key priorities for a global brand, this role offers a strong platform for development and impact.

Surf is a global power brand, present in 46 markets, reaching over 100 million households and delivering €800 million in turnover. In the UK, Surf is the No.1 fragrance laundry detergent brand. Known for its distinctive fragrances and bold packaging, Surf is an important brand within Unilever's Fabric Cleaning portfolio. The Surf Global Team is responsible for driving the brand agenda across multiple markets, balancing long-term brand development with the delivery of key innovation initiatives. As an ambitious and results orientated, collaborative team, individuals are given significant responsibility, broad exposure, and the opportunity to lead complex programmes with meaningful business impact. Surf now has a new BrandVerse focused on Spreading the Joy and in this role you will help embed this strategy into our innovations. We are a high-performing team that works hard, moves quickly and values bringing energy, positivity and fun to everything we do. Reporting to the Surf Global Senior Brand Manager, this Surf Global Brand Manager is responsible for leading Surf's Innovations, with a focus on Europe, ensuring key innovation projects are delivered on time and in full, on budget, and ready for successful market deployment. In this role you will lead the end-to-end delivery of multiple innovation programmes across core and core-plus tiers, partnering closely with cross-functional teams, markets, and senior stakeholders throughout the innovation process. The successful candidate will be accountable for driving progress, ensuring excellent craft, managing complexity, and ensuring strong execution across a broad portfolio of projects. With three major innovation projects landing next year and two additional innovation projects coming in 2028, this role offers significant ownership, delivery and potential for impact across Surf's innovation agenda. The role also includes line management responsibility for an Assistant Brand Manager, supporting both project delivery and capability development.

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.

• Strong experience leading innovation projects through the Unilever innovation process.
• Proven track record of working collaboratively with a cross-functional team to deliver complex projects OTIF and with strong business results.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong stakeholder management capabilities with experience influencing across functions, geographies, and levels of seniority.
• Strong prioritisation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and competing demands.
• High levels of accountability, resilience, and personal ownership.
• Experience coaching and developing others, with the ability to build into the positive and high-performing team environment.
• Strong communication skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and drive decisions.
• A collaborative approach and ability to build strong working relationships across markets and functions.
• The ability to craft beautiful mixes and an eye for the beauty of design.

Why This Role?

This role offers the opportunity to play a major role in Surf's innovation projects, with accountability across the full project lifecycle from scope development through to launch. The successful candidate will gain experience leading complex projects, partnering with markets, and managing multiple business-critical initiatives simultaneously. The role provides exposure across Fabric Cleaning and Home Care with regular interaction with senior stakeholders and visibility to leadership. With the fantastic opportunity to build people leadership experience through the management of a direct report. This will be an exciting role for a candidate looking to deepen their innovation leadership experience, take on end-to-end project ownership, and play a visible role in delivering key priorities for a global brand, this role offers a strong platform for development and impact.

Surf is a global power brand, present in 46 markets, reaching over 100 million households and delivering €800 million in turnover. In the UK, Surf is the No.1 fragrance laundry detergent brand. Known for its distinctive fragrances and bold packaging, Surf is an important brand within Unilever's Fabric Cleaning portfolio. The Surf Global Team is responsible for driving the brand agenda across multiple markets, balancing long-term brand development with the delivery of key innovation initiatives. As an ambitious and results orientated, collaborative team, individuals are given significant responsibility, broad exposure, and the opportunity to lead complex programmes with meaningful business impact. Surf now has a new BrandVerse focused on Spreading the Joy and in this role you will help embed this strategy into our innovations. We are a high-performing team that works hard, moves quickly and values bringing energy, positivity and fun to everything we do. Reporting to the Surf Global Senior Brand Manager, this Surf Global Brand Manager is responsible for leading Surf's Innovations, with a focus on Europe, ensuring key innovation projects are delivered on time and in full, on budget, and ready for successful market deployment. In this role you will lead the end-to-end delivery of multiple innovation programmes across core and core-plus tiers, partnering closely with cross-functional teams, markets, and senior stakeholders throughout the innovation process. The successful candidate will be accountable for driving progress, ensuring excellent craft, managing complexity, and ensuring strong execution across a broad portfolio of projects. With three major innovation projects landing next year and two additional innovation projects coming in 2028, this role offers significant ownership, delivery and potential for impact across Surf's innovation agenda. The role also includes line management responsibility for an Assistant Brand Manager, supporting both project delivery and capability development.

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.