CTI & Future Portfolio Manager - UFSCTI & Future Portfolio Manager UFS - R&D UFS

Job Title: CTI & Future Portfolio Manager - UFSCTI & Future Portfolio Manager UFS - R&D UFS

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. 

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our, collaborative, and flexible working environment. Our organizational ambition centers around creating workplaces that foster equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging across all aspects of our business. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

ABOUT FOOD SOLUTIONS  (UFS)

Act like a founder, be part of a Winning team, accelerate your growth, stay ahead of the curve, enjoy the journey: JOIN UFS

Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) is the 2nd largest Business Unit of Unilever, is one of the 3 Power brands of the Foods Business Group, and a global market leader in Food Service. We are an independent Global Business Unit that operates in over 76 countries, and employs ~4000 employees. We have a unique B2B business model focused on serving chefs and our purpose is to free them to love what they do.

We at UFS have a bold and clear ambition and strategy in place for 2030 with a bold ambition on turnover and profitability, by being the best solution provider to our growing operator base. We plan to do this via a product first focus on superiority, by becoming the leader in AI powered Customer experience and by nurturing a Winning culture. We have had a history of delivering with excellence and resilient performance in the past few years. We also strive to stay 3 steps ahead in the industry. For example, our Future Menus Report identifies emerging culinary trends, making us a trendsetter for inspiring innovative solutions for chefs worldwide.

We have a culture of caring deeply not just for our business but also for our people. We foster an entrepreneurial culture built on speed, simplicity, trust, and a deep hunger to grow. Our people thrive on their roles being empowered and end to end - across all functions. We also invest heavily in building future skills and leaders. Our People agenda of Accelerate-Grow-Thriveconsistently helps us lead in employee engagement, with scores exceeding Unilever scores across all dimensions and being one of the most engaged teams at Unilever.

Here, you will continuously learn, unlearn, and relearn, challenging yourself to accelerate your development in an end-to-end business and in end-to-end roles.

If you're dreaming of contributing to Unilever’s 2nd largest Business unit, a fast-growing business, where you're empowered so you can play to win and thrive as part of One Team with One Goal, then come and join us!

JOB PURPOSE

We are seeking a creative Consumer Technical Insights (CTI) & Chefmanship Manager to join our dynamic team in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

The CTI & Chefmanship Manager is responsible for leading all CTI activities and advising the team on the best way to win in the market with superior products.

You will also manage the culinary discipline to ensure our products are up to the highest standards for our customers.

In your role, you will work closely with R&D, Marketing, Culinary, and other business partners to ensure that consumer insights are effectively integrated into innovation, claims, and marketing strategies.

WHAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE

• Manage the Chefmanship pillar – building performance testing plans, inputs to product design briefs, and keeping on top of market trends and techniques
• Drive superior product experiences and holistic design thinking in core brand programs, ensuring practical execution and winning in the market
• Design and implement comprehensive research strategies for long-term innovation funnels and strategy
• Collaborate with R&D and marketing teams to integrate consumer insights into product development, ensuring our products meet and exceed consumer expectations

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Market Research, Business, Statistics, Psychology, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience as a consumer insights leader
• Experience with a variety of research methodologies - including qualitative, quantitative, and sensory - and applications such as benchmarking, sensory, etc.
• A proven storyteller – having the ability to turn product advantages into impactful demos

Skills

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex information to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Flexible and agile, quickly adopting and engaging in challenging business situations.
• “Can do” mentality, thinking in solutions rather than problems.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, enjoying the learning process it brings.
• Result-oriented with strong analytical skills; data-driven in actions and recommendations.

Leadership

• You are capable to apply different and context relevant leadership styles
• You are an inclusive motivator of people. Your team delivers with real passion, growing and learning from each other whilst delivering quick wins.
• You understand the wider business context and you are mindful to motivate people to deliver what is needed.
• As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Chef and what they need.

Critical Unilever Behaviors

• CARE DEEPLY: We care about how operators experience our brands, the growth and development of our people, and their impact on the planet. We emphasize the importance of performance and care, moving from ambiguity about success to fairness and transparency.

• FOCUS ON WHAT COUNTS: We prioritize what truly matters, setting clear and stretching goals. We aim to shift from having everything as a priority to focusing on fewer, bigger things that are delivered to conclusions and are being rewarded.

• STAY THREE STEPS AHEAD: We encourage bold and creative thinking to make breakthroughs in performance. We focus on anticipating and staying ahead of operator needs and external trends, shifting from reacting to leading, shaping, and disrupting the market.  

• DELIVER WITH EXCELLENCE: The emphasis is on delivering everything with excellence and pace, taking personal ownership, and holding each other accountable. We aim to shift from pride in thinking to pride in execution, developing breakthrough solutions and ensuring the best in reality.

What We Can Offer You

Culture for Growth | Top Notch Employee Health & Well Being Benefits | Every Voice Matters | Global Reach | Life at Unilever | Careers with Purpose | World Class Career Development Programs | Check Out Our Space | Focus On Sustainability

Pay: The pay range for this position is $99,760 to $149,640. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents

Excited about the role? 

To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV, talent card and a motivation letter.  *how to get your talent card you can find in Una 

If you have been informed that you are at risk of redundancy, please make sure to tick this box during your application. Please also attach your letter of redundancy to the application. 

Your application will be reviewed against our requirements, and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application. 

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to apply for other positions.  

Disclaimer

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.   

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Unilever is an organization committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

For more information about your Federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination isIllegal and Pay Transparency Non discrimination Provision.

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.