Business Context and Main Purpose of the Job
The R&D centre of Foods in Shanghai is responsible for product developing and deploying for Unilever Food Solution and Food Retail business of North Asia region.
This individual will be responsible for both savory product development and technology development.
• Product development: Focusing customer needs & understanding their requirement to drive products development and innovation, to support sale volume growth together with business team.
• Technology development&supporting as technology expert: developing innovative ingredients&process related technology to support business needs where needed, e.g. new ingredients that bring benefit for innovation; technical solution that helps problem solving or product improvement.
Main Accountability
Part 1： Product development - lead product development with internal team to ensure product technical readiness for launch.
- Designing and carrying out the practical & lab-based work program linked to assigned projects
- Manage project timelines, risk analysis, resource loading associated with projects assigned.
- Together with Chef, generation of all prototypes to support project requirements including liaison with pilot plant for production of larger scale quantities & provision of key documentation & non -std ingredient ordering for PP scheduling.
- Work on ingredient sourcing including 1ST Point of contact with relevant supplier(s), link in with global partner and have ownership to drive quality integration into UL systems and processes.
- Work on the provision of all related documentation linked to assigned project including documentation for consumer testing, requirements for Registration, Certification, or specific local BU- initiated requests
- Ownership of scale up trials required to confirm viability including ownership of trial briefing, connect with SC for factory trial run execution
- Responsible for ensuring selected formulations are submitted&completed for relevant product performance studies (including tasting & preference assessments, stability & shelf life testing).
- Have awareness of competitor landscape, commercial production, SC model and project management processes
Part 2: Technology development –developing innovative ingredients&process related technology to support business needs where needed; drive technology expertise across R&D team.
- Bring in insights and explore opportunities for ingredient and technology development or upgrade
- Work with both internal and external partners for project execution
- Deliver technical solutions for developed new ingredients/process
- Eusure related documentation (LIMS.etc) and quality delivery during project
- Support and guide formulators for technical solutions to solve technical issues.
- Drive ingredient and process technical expertise across R&D team.
Organizational Structure
Direct Reports：NA
Key Interfaces：
-Within R&D:
Regional Technical project leader, Product development, Packaging, Microbiology, Analytical and Regulation, etc;
Global R&D (S&T,MET, Process.etc)
-Outside R&D:
SC SUIT, Engineering, Finance, Procurement, Planning, Quality Assurance, MKT and etc;
-Outside Unilever:
Supplier, Institution, Regulatory Authority
Critical success Factors for the Job
Key Skills
• Passionate for Food technology
• Good knowledge & skill set of foods ingredients and process
• Deep understanding on foods production related technology
• Strong ownership and ability to fast-learning
• Ability to manage and coordinate multiple tasks
• Strong communication skills
• Good Time management skills
• Ability to manage and coordinate multiple tasks
• Fast action
Relevant Experience
Essential:
• Master or Bachelor (or equivalent) in Food Science, Chemical Science or Engineering
• At least 3-5 years related experience in Foods or FMCG on manufacturing management / product development/process development
• Good understanding on food technology and project management
• Experience in food production or experience in product development with success launch is preferred
Leadership Behaviours
1. Growth Mindset
2. Real Accountability
3. Agility
4. Consumer and customer focus
5. Bias for Actions
