R&D Manager Africa Market Cluster Lead-Ekaterra at Unilever

Your Role

The R&D Africa Cluster Lead is responsible for delivering R&D and ekaterra Africa agenda. Accountable for delivery of all R&D elements and managing the programme of technical workstream leaders assigned to the project. The successful candidate will be responsible for South Africa and Nigeria. operations and developing / implementing improvement and efficiency projects

Main Accountabilities;

• To partner Africa business teams to create 12Q plans reflecting Category strategies and Africa growth drivers.
• Lead Smart Product ideas creation and landing for Africa and partner / actively contribute to cross-functional team on holistic 5S programme for Africa
• To lead Africa projects based on brand/cluster priorities and deliver OTIF against milestones
• To partner with broader AMET/Category R&D to leverage broader R&D capabilities for Africa and build long-term R&D strategies relevant for Africa cluster.
• To develop exciting claims and KBS assets for projects in different regions
• Accountable for delivery of all R&D elements and managing the programme of technical workstream leaders assigned to the project.
• To ensure quality in design, compliance and in-market consistent quality delivery. Support any factory related technical issues.
• To influence cluster teams on supporting new technology programme and implementing performance and/or margin accretive new technology-based product mix solutions
• To play a lead role in building and maintaining product development capability (self, direct reports and broader AMET R&D team), through strong interaction with expertise, processing, product community of practice and suppliers, as well as leading relevant cross group activities.
• To comply with the ekaterra Code of Business Principles and all SHE and QA policies, including the support of product claims, risk management and environmental awareness.

Stakeholder Management/Key interface

• GM and Africa LT
• Brand Marketing Director / Brand managers
• R&D Director
• Supply Chain, factory and Procurement Teams
• Supplier/partner organisations (material, component or equipment suppliers)
• Technical specialists in the Category  (RCI, Processing, Packaging, Expertise)
• Specialists in Unilever (Nutritionists, Finance, CMI, QA, SEAC, Patents and Regulatory)
• Category VP

Relevant Skills

• Deep knowledge and passion for creative tea product design and development.
• Strong understanding of business and end-to-end supply chain
• Excellent project management, stakeholder management and communication skills
• Strong influencing skills
• Can-do mindset
• Knowledge and understanding of Africa tea consumers and key markets
• Fluent English
• Ability to speak other African languages will be beneficial to the role

Experience

• A degree or equivalent in sciences, engineering or product development
• 3 year experience of food, preferably tea, product design
• Proven delivery of creative food and/or refreshment product development
• Proven ability to translate consumer habits and needs into in-market product innovation
• Proven Technical Project Leadership experience of leading cross-functional team to deliver projects from ideas to launch
• Project resource and change management
• Professional networking and stakeholder management, external focus
• Experience of managing or coaching people
• Working knowledge of portfolio management