Customer Manager, Foods

Unilever; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on Unilever products

Employee referral rewards

Job summary

Unilever in Auckland, New Zealand, seeks a Customer Manager, Foods to manage external customer relationships and deliver the P&L for their category, including turnover, profitability, trade spend, and market share, while leading the joint business plan with the customer.

The role requires FMCG account management experience, strong networking and commercial acumen, and collaboration with Category, Customer and Field teams to drive NPD and promotions, building ANZ relationships.

Qualifications

• Experience in FMCG account management with strong commercial acumen.
• Proven ability to solve problems and generate sustainable value.
• Excellent networking and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical mindset with ability to mine market data.

Responsibilities

• Manage the customer agenda and deliver the joint business plan with the customer.
• Oversee NPD plan execution across channels, on time and in full.
• Develop tools to support the customer in selling in innovations.
• Lead category reviews and performance analysis with internal teams.
• Build ANZ relationships to prioritise NZ requirements and drive growth.

Skills

Selling & Negotiation

Relationship building

Market data analysis

Presentation skills

Leadership

Bias for action

Tools

Nielsen Homescan

Job description

JOB TITLE: CUSTOMER MANAGER, FOODS LOCATION: AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

WHO WE ARE? On any given day, 2.5 billion people globally use Unilever products to feel good, look good and get more out of life. Many of our brands are well-known, household staples and old-time favourites including Dove, Rexona, Lynx, Vaseline, OMO/Persil, Surf, TRESemmé and Continental We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today. A job at Unilever is a career made by you, with development opportunities, benefits and a working culture that embraces diversity and is pioneering flexibility. There’s no better time to join our team!

JOB SUMMARY:

Externally facing, the role needs to manage the customer by developing strong working relationships with key contacts, as well as leading the customer agenda internally within Unilever. The Customer Manager - Foods is responsible for delivering the P&L for their category, including turnover, profitability, trade spend, and market share delivery, while building, negotiating, and executing the commercial joint business plan with the customer.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Innovation & Activation Management
• Manage execution of the NPD plan to ensure all NPD can be effectively executed across all channels
• Own and manage all NPD into market on time & in full, taking ownership across the total 26 week pre and post launch period.
• Creating tools for the Customer Teams to successfully sell in innovation to each retailer
• Be the lead and expert in Customer Marketing tools to effectively manage ROIs (POS, Path to Purchase)
• Be the key link between Category, Customer & Field, delivering relevant tools to ensure innovation objectives are achieved.
• Build strong ANZ relationships to ensure NZ requirements are being prioritised
• Category Operations Working closely with the Home Care & Deodorants Category Managers - support the day to day operational requirements of Home Care & Deodorants categories
• Ownership of the Slow Moving & Obsolete product process to ensure right sized inventory
• Assist Cat Man’s with the Brand/Customer interface
• Supporting the Cat Man’s in Development & evaluation of Category tactics (ie. Promo, shelf, assortment, pricing)
• Category Reviews and Performance Analysis
• Assist the Category leads with development of customer shopper-based insights to deliver winning Category Reviews
• Review category data (both UL & competitive), looking for opportunities to drive category growth and optimise UL’s internal & external results.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

• All NPD to be delivered on time and in full to customer and field teams
• Execution plans created for key brands/NPD launches aligned with the Category and Customer teams – delivered on time and in full
• Execution plans to be delivered within assigned budgets
• Tracking of NPD/execution performance and learnings to be captured for all execution
• Constant drive for process improvement across key processes

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications Experience in FMCG Account Management. Great Networking abilities. Business Development experience. Excellent commercial acumen with proven ability to solve problems and create sustainable value. Skills Selling & Negotiation skills Relationship building Bias for action, attention to detail Ability to “mine” market data including Nielsen, Homescan Good presentation skills Leadership: You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way. As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.

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. Make no mistake we expect a lot from our people as they do of us.

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. 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 [e-mail].

Earlier this year (March 2026), Unilever announced an agreement to separate our Foods business. Our Foods business, including brands such as Hellmann's and Knorr, will join forces with McCormick to become a global flavour leader, with leading positions across spices, seasonings, condiments and complementary food categories, supported by a strong retail and foodservice platform. McCormick has 135+ years of heritage, a presence in 150+ countries and territories, and a portfolio of trusted brands. The transaction remains subject to consultation, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions with a targeted deal close of mid-2027.

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.

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