Prospect Innovation Skincare (or Haircare) Marketing Manager

Job Title: B&W Prospective Innovation - Skincare, Marketing Manager
Location: London

JOB PURPOSE

Are you passionate about innovation and eager to shape the future of beauty? Do you thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments and embrace the challenges of the unknown? If so, Unilever has an exciting opportunity for you. We have recently established the B&W Prospective Innovation & Sustainable Department —a cutting-edge, multidisciplinary team dedicated to crafting sustainable and groundbreaking solutions from inception to execution. Through experimentation, iteration, and transformative thinking, this team will push the boundaries of what’s possible for B&W brands, elevating purpose, science, and consumer desire to the next level.

As a strategic interface between Brands, R&D, and Supply Chain, this team will pioneer a new ecosystem, working ahead of the traditional innovation curve. They will develop solutions aligned with strategic B&W priorities and high-growth spaces that are not only new to Unilever but also new to the world, with the potential to define the future of cosmetics.

Are you the next-generation leader who can champion profitable, sustainable, and desirable beauty at an unprecedented level? If you are ready to contribute to a team with a startup mindset at the forefront of innovation, this role is for you.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting directly to the Head of Skin Care Marketing Innovation, you will support and/or lead the execution of product innovations and disruptive business models. You will take a proactive responsibility for your category’s innovation roadmap, collaborating with a cross-functional team to bring the plans to market. This role allows you to curate an innovation strategy that aligns with the purpose of the brands you work on, driving growth within the Skin Care category.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering Innovation Projects: Utilize agile methodologies to develop innovations aligned with future market opportunities and consumer needs.
• Anticipating and Acting on Insights: Convert future insights—whether in science, trends, or consumer behaviour—into tangible, market-ready solutions.
• Leading Cross-Functional Teams: Align and engage cross-functional teams and partners, both internal and external, to deliver projects on time and in full.
• Sustainable Packaging Solutions: Scope and introduce desirable and sustainable packaging solutions, such as plastic reduction and refill options.
• Budget Ownership: Manage budgets and recommend necessary investments for your assigned brand categories.
This global role requires close collaboration with global and local teams in our top business units and markets (e.g., US, UK, Latam, India) as you move from strategy to execution. You’ll gain deep insights into diverse consumer trends and market dynamics across the world.

ALL ABOUT YOU

• Founder’s Mindset: Embrace a growth-oriented approach, seeing challenges as opportunities.
• Consumer-Centric: Strong bias towards understanding and prioritizing consumer needs.
• Creative Ideation: Exceptional ability to generate and refine innovative ideas.
• Bias for Action & Mastery: Operate effectively in fast-paced environments, adapting quickly and maintaining a proactive attitude.
• Strong Interpersonal Skills: Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships.
• Flexibility: Adapt to changing priorities with ease.
• Collaborative Team Player: Thrive in team settings, contributing to collective success without being territorial.
• Learning Orientation: Eager to listen, learn, and incorporate expertise from others.
• Resilience: Maintain effectiveness in managing uncertainty and volatility.
• Analytical Thinking: Objectively observe, research, and solve problems, making data-driven decisions.
• External Orientation: Maintain an outward focus, building strong external partnerships.
• Judgment and Focus: Quickly identify and prioritize the biggest opportunities.
• Organizational Excellence: Push boundaries, stay focused, and know when to move forward without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

KEY SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Integrated Marketing Expertise: Proven experience in brand development with a focus on delivering bottom-line results.
• Innovation Leadership: Previous experience in a Global/Regional Innovation role is essential, with a strong understanding of the Hair Care category.
• Project Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and deliver complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Beauty Category Experience: Prior experience in a beauty category, particularly Skincare, is preferred.
• Diverse Experience: Experience in both smaller, growth-stage companies and larger, established businesses.
• Effective Communication: Communicate clearly and persuasively, tailoring your approach to different audiences.
• Storytelling & Communication: Articulate ideas compellingly across various media, from websites to social platforms.
• Financial Savvy: Strong awareness of financial metrics, with experience managing P&Ls and driving business performance.

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. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).

Location

In June 2020 we announced our plan to consolidate a number of Unilever’s offices across the South East of England into a new Unilever campus in Kingston-upon-Thames in or around early 2025. However, on the 08 August 2024 we announced to our existing staff our proposal to retain our central Head Office in London, 100 Victoria Embankment (“100VE”) until our lease expires in 2027. As a result of this new proposal, we will be consulting with our existing staff, and new joiners who join during this period of consultation at 100VE, on the proposal made in August 2024. During consultation we will clarify the future location of each team and function. This means your role will either be based in 100VE until 2027 or in Kingston-Upon-Thames from early 2025. As we are yet to commence consultation on the proposal you agree, until such a time when consultation has concluded, your normal place of work as set out in the enclosed Statement of Terms & Conditions will be 100VE. You agree that on the conclusion of the consultation your place of work will be 100VE or 100VE until early 2025 and then Kingston-upon-Thames ("the locations") and you will be notified of which of the locations will be your place of work after that consultation ends.