Ice Cream - Global Share Plans Manager

Note: Deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the Job Posting End Date.

UNILEVER IS LOOKING FOR AN Ice Cream - Global Share Plans Manager

Location: The Netherlands (Amsterdam)

Full-time: Yes

Local conditions apply  

For the recruitment of this position, we would like to emphasize that local conditions apply to the position and for this vacancy in principle we will consider candidates based in the set locations. If you are based outside of these locations and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but at this stage we will not take your application forward. We will only consider your application if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the set locations.

In this role, you will work for a global, leading ice cream company with €8.3bn turnover in 2024. The business is operating in a highly attractive category, the €1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry which is growing consistently at a high pace. We have strong brand equity: 5 of the top 10 selling ice cream brands including Wall’s, Magnum, and Ben & Jerry’s.

Once we separate from Unilever, (planned for November 2025), we will unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity. This new entity is called The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC).

TMICC has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of the company will be better delivered under a different ownership structure.

As a separate entity we are committed to developing and nurturing talent. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your personal growth journey.

We are the world’s leading ice cream company, home to a portfolio of iconic brands like Magnum, Cornetto, Ben & Jerry’s, Calippo, Solero, Festini, Talenti, and Yasso. We're committed to creating innovative products that bring unforgettable moments to our consumers—because, after all, “Life tastes better with ice cream.”

TMICC is preparing to stand on its own, becoming an independent, EUR 8 billion+ single-category focused company by the end of 2025. This move reflects our belief in the power of our unique frozen footprint, which we see as having huge potential for growth as a pure-play business. Our focus is all about unlocking that potential, driving value for our consumers, customers, employees, and shareholders.

JOB PURPOSE:

We’re looking for a Global Share Plans Manager to join our Global Reward team. We will operate a number of discretionary and all-employee programs in a number of countries globally. This is a new role at TMICC, and you will lead the development, oversight and day to day management of our share plan programs.

This is an exciting time to join as we transition from Unilever’s global share plans to plans which are appropriate and fit for purpose for our new global Ice Cream company.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Establishment of Share Plans for The Magnum Ice Cream Company

• Lead on the transitioning of Unilever share plans and related processes, as part of establishing a new standalone company.

• Set up new share plans and related processes for The Magnum Ice Cream Company.

• Establish new vendor relationships including with the share plan administrators, tax and legal advisors and others.

• Upskill HR and Finance teams to be able to understand, explain and where relevant administer share plan processes.

• Set up communications to explain the new company’s share plans more generally to eligible employees.

Policies & Processes

• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of our share plan programs (“Share Plans”).

• Manage the share plan lifecycles including the granting and vesting processes across our global population.

• Liaise with external advisers to ensure compliance with specific country tax and regulatory requirements, and individual employee tax matters.

• Stakeholder management of our external vendors including internal management of our share plans portal alongside our share plans administrators and trustee.

• Liaise with team members and other internal stakeholders in relation to Annual Report and subsidiary company Share Plan related disclosures and quarterly and year-end financial/IFRS reporting.

• Liaise with team members in relation to regulatory announcements as appropriate.

• Assist as required with ad-hoc projects related to shares and Share Plans.

• Assist in the training and development of our Executive Reward and Share Plans Analyst.

• Work on additional projects within Global Reward as needed on an agile basis, for skills development and building cross-functional talent and coverage.

Executing Processes

• Manage the day-to-day operations of our Share Plans.

• Manage and maintain the service delivery model to ensure excellent service delivery with a user-centric mind set from all key partners in the end-to-end processes.

• Approve release of share awards as applicable and ensure that tax withholding processes in respect of participants’ withholdings are correctly managed.

• Manage compliance with internal share ownership guidelines for senior colleagues.

• Preparation and submission of related tax returns, working with Finance and external vendors as needed.

• Review of headroom calculations as required.

Communications

• Manage communications related to all aspects of share programs including internal and external communications plans; documentation; websites & training programmes and ensure that it is issued in a timely manner.

• Assist senior management with understanding and processing of Share Plan transactions.

• Point of escalation for issue resolution.

• Work closely with key global stakeholders - Global Reward, Region Reward Teams, Finance/Treasury teams, Payroll, Company Secretariat/Legal and others.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES QUALIFICATIONS:

• Share Plan Expertise: Extensive knowledge of employee Share Plans and how they operate in practice, including dividend management, nominee services and tax withholding as appropriate.

• Third party engagement: Experience of working with third party vendors such as share plan administrators and lawyers. In particular, Computershare, Fidelity and Deloitte.

• Regulatory and tax knowledge: Understanding of regulations and global equity tax issues.

• Communication skills: Experience building employee share incentive education programs and communication materials.

• Digital Literacy: IT proficient, highly numerate and competent in wording with Microsoft Excel and other relevant software as applicable.

• Stakeholder Management: Able to collaborate effectively with a range of individuals within the organisation including working with senior management.

• Confidentiality: Confident in handling highly confidential data and working with discretion.

• Industry experience: Proven experience of working within a listed company environment.

• Continuous Improvement: Drive for continuous improvements to support efficiency, enhance employee satisfaction, and align with business objectives. 

• Personal attributes:

  • Good inter-personal, organisational and problem solving skills.

  • Ability to work well as part of a team and to use own initiative.

  • Flexible with the ability to prioritise work from multiple sources and work well under pressure.

  • Strong attention to detail and accuracy.

  • Sense of humour.

  • Mindset for continuous learning and personal development to evolve personal skills and develop knowledge of the discipline.

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?

Unilever is the place where you can be yourself and bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. We offer an exciting & dynamic work environment where you can make things happen. Furthermore, we offer some great reward and benefits!   

• Attractive total remuneration package; excellent company pension, bonus and share scheme.  

• Flexible cross-disciplinary career opportunities and a wealth of training opportunities & wellbeing resources whenever and wherever.   

• Plenty of company-paid holidays to further ensure your work-life balance is maintained.   

• We encourage an inclusive culture, which comes to life with interchangeable public holidays, paid paternity leave of 6 weeks and our transgender policy.   

• Under the Hybrid Working principles, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 40% in the office or at customers, suppliers or partners to connect and collaborate.  For the time you work from home, we will ensure you are well equipped. When you are at the office, you can enjoy our tasty canteen with prepped food and own products. 

• Informal culture and being the first one trying our new products.    

• My Fitness Plan (reduction on your Fitness Subscription).  

• Home work allowance 

• Company laptop and mobile phone 

• Green Mobility Policy 

EXCITED?

Join Unilever and our team! To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV and a motivation letter.  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.  

Looking forward to meeting you!    

Please note this is a Direct Search led by Unilever. Applications from agencies will not be accepted, nor will fees be paid for unsolicited CVs.   

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

By highlighting the gender diversity at the workplace, Unilever encourages women equally men to apply. If you look for a job after a long career break or after any type of leave, do not hesitate to apply.

NOTE: Please save a copy of this vacancy for personal use as it will disappear from the website after closing of the role.