Product Development Manager

Unilever; Maharashtra; On-site; INR 12,00,000 - 16,00,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consumer goods company is looking for a Product Development Manager to lead the Powders Design for key markets. The role involves managing the entire portfolio, driving innovation and collaboration across various functional teams, and ensuring product quality. Ideal candidates should have a postgraduate degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, along with strong business acumen and communication skills. Home care experience is preferred. This is a challenging role requiring excellent leadership and stakeholder management abilities.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualification - Post Graduate in Chemistry or B. Tech (Chemical Engineering).
• Home Care experience will be preferred.
• Strong business acumen to strike the right balance.

Responsibilities

• Lead Powders Design for key global markets and manage end-to-end Portfolio.
• Collaborate closely with Global Procurement and local R&D teams.
• Drive Material resilience and simplification for the assigned market.

Skills

Strong business acumen

Strong communication

Matrix system experience

Cross-functional team leadership

Stakeholder management

Line management

Education

Post Graduate in Chemistry or B. Tech (Chemical Engineering)

Job description

Job Title: Product Development Manager (Laundry Premium Powders)

Team: GDC Powders

Location: Mumbai HURC, India

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. We are more certain than ever that it is the right time to focus our sustainability efforts on the four key priorities where we are best placed to drive impact: climate, nature, plastics and livelihoods.

Business Overview

Home Fabric Cleaning continues to be a key segment and within that Fab Cleaning continues to be a strategic play with globally 7Bn Euros business. Laundry Powders continue to drive strong value creation through superior, sustainable, and affordable product by leveraging breakthrough technologies, deep consumer & market insights underpinned by Bright Future strategy & Digital Capabilities.

Role

The incumbent will lead Powders Design for one of the key global markets with overarching responsibilities of end-to-end Portfolio management for that market working closely with local/BU team. He/she is expected to have deep knowledge of underpinning technologies & consumer needs. The incumbent would be responsible for screening technologies, creating superior and affordable mixes in accordance with HC Bright Future Strategy and renovation/innovation roadmaps to bring sustained and exceptional growth to these brands. He/she is expected to collaborate closely with Global Procurement, Supply Chain, finance, CD, CI, SC, local R&D team and extended cross functional teams within R&D.

Key Skills

• Partner with Technology team and Country team to define and deliver all technical aspects of the projects
• Lead other R&D functions (packaging, CTI, fragrance, processing teams) to ensure delivery on assigned projects
• Lead product development and scale-up activities ensuring robust technology transfer to countries/factories
• Single point of contact for assigned market & extend business support including guidance on ongoing quality, material supply and on-ground challenges.
• Provide formulation inputs for developing claims & demo tool kits for respective brands
• Ensure that local insights and legislative requirements are factored into global innovations
• Drive Material resilience, simplification & saving program for assigned market.
• Extend Support to local team for ensuring 100% compliance to delivered quality
• Continuously track competitors (global and local) with the support of CPA team and generate relevant insights to share with business for meaningful actions.
• Contribute to building a strong formulation team by developing exceptional talents.
• Set stretching targets and ensure appropriate coaching and mentoring is in place to support direct reports.
• Motivate team in highly challenging circumstances.

Educational Qualifications, Experience & Skills

• Minimum Qualification - Post Graduate in Chemistry or B. Tech (Chemical Engineering)
• Home Care experience will be preferred
• Strong business acumen to strike right balance between short term and medium to long term priorities for business growth.
• Strong communication, experience of working in matrix system, ability to lead cross functional teams, stakeholder management and line management are necessary skills for this job.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life! 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.