Contract & Commercial Assistant Manager

Job Title: VMO People Experience Assistant Manager
Location: UniOps Bangalore

ABOUT UNILEVER:

Be part of the world’s most successful, purpose-led business. Work with brands that are well-loved around the world, that improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We promote innovation, big and small, to make our business win and grow; and we believe in business as a force for good. Unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes; use your energy to make this happen. Our brilliant business leaders and colleagues provide mentorship and inspiration, so you can be at your best. Every day, nine out of ten Indian households use our products to feel good, look good and get more out of life – giving us a unique opportunity to build a brighter future.

 Every individual here can bring their purpose to life through their work. Join us and you’ll be surrounded by inspiring leaders and supportive peers. Among them, you’ll channel your purpose, bring fresh ideas to the table, and simply be you. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we’ll work to help you become a better you.

Purpose of the Role

The VMO People Experience (PEX) Assistant Manager supports the WPS/PEX VMO Lead in delivering effective contract, commercial, and supplier performance management. The role strengthens Unilever’s ability to drive value from third party services by ensuring consistent governance, optimised commercial outcomes, and strong stakeholder collaboration across Service Lines, Procurement, and Finance.

You will act as a subject matter expert for PEX-related contracts, providing operational and commercial oversight, managing escalations, and ensuring a consistent Unilever way of working. The role interacts with a wide network of business and supplier stakeholders and plays a critical part in driving performance and value across the PEX supplier ecosystem.

About MBS and the Vendor Management Office (VMO)

MBS Procurement manages spends more than €11B each year with external vendors, and the quality and value of vendor services are critical to the success of Unilever.

The VMO is an agile, cross-functional organisation within MBS, transforming how Unilever GDT and GBS manages suppliers and the value we gain from our supplier spend.

The Vendor Management Office:

• Enables a proactive, collaborative operating model across functions.

• Ensures supplier performance, compliance, and continuous improvement.

• Provides end-to-end orchestration and governance across all vendor management activities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Pre‑Contract Activities

• Support GBS Service Lines and Procurement in shaping requirements for new or amended services.

• Contribute to supplier identification, assessment, and selection processes.

2. Contract Negotiation Support

• Partner with Procurement to ensure commercial, performance, and governance requirements are captured in contracts or contract changes.

• Ensure contractual consequences for non-performance are clearly defined.

3. Supplier Governance

• Operate the governance model for PEX suppliers, ensuring clear command structures and escalation pathways.

• Coordinate the processes, tools, and procedures required to maintain effective supplier operations.

• Monitor service delivery at the aggregated level and drive corrective actions, including enforcing penalties where necessary.

• Lead and follow through on supplier service improvement plans and initiatives.

4. Supplier Performance & Obligation Management

• Oversee supplier performance across services, ensuring accountability for resolving commercial and performance issues.

• Lead or support Contract Compliance Reviews and Commercial Review meetings.

• Ensure performance data (quantitative & qualitative) is collected, analysed, and actioned, including publishing insights and governance outputs.

• Review SLAs and support service providers and customers in driving SLA improvements.

• Conduct qualitative assessments of service quality and identify opportunities for greater cost-effectiveness.

5. Commercial & Financial Governance

• Monitor supplier spend across the portfolio.

• Contractual consumption tracking of variances and reconciliations.

• Variance Analysis  (Contractual vs Actuals)

• Execute Billing Validation: verify accuracy across scope, rates, volumes, FX adjustments, penalties, rebates, etc.

• Drive compliance with No PO No Pay and Payment on Time (POT) targets.

• Own the contract change management process, ensuring timely and accurate changes.

6. Data, Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Perform consumption analytics to identify cost drivers, trends, and optimisation opportunities.

• Drive continuous improvement and innovation initiatives with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

• Lead digital agenda for VMO - PEX team. Embraces new technology, seeks to understand how it works in depth and leads for the use of standardised tools within their team.

• Contribute to Supplier Strategy Board discussions and commercial improvement initiatives.

7. Additional Responsibilities

Process ownership for:

• Supplier Governance

• Service Performance Management

• Risk & Compliance tracking

• Dispute Management

• Continuous Improvement

• Governance Reporting & Review

Interfaces

This role will report to the VMO WPS/PEX Lead and will interface with the below partners:

• Service Lines

• Global Procurement

• Supplier Operations

• Finance

• Legal

• Global Vendors

About You

Required Experience & Skills

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in contract, vendor, or commercial management within a global organisation.

• Hands-on experience managing outsourced or third‑party services.

• Strong commercial and analytical skills, including Excel proficiency.

• Solid appreciation of governance processes and service delivery models.

• High attention to detail with the ability to balance operational and strategic considerations.

• Ability to build strong relationships across complex stakeholder landscapes.

• Ability to work under pressure and in a complex global environment.

• Passion for continuous improvement

• Excellent communication skills (written & verbal).

• Strong financial and forecasting understanding.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.

Preferred

• Master’s degree, advanced business qualifications, or finance certifications.

• Contract Management/Supplier Relationship Management certifications.

• Proven negotiation skills.

• Confident influencing style with the ability to engage suppliers and senior stakeholders.

• Strong IT and reporting tool proficiency.

Culture Behaviours Required

• Care Deeply: care about our Brands, people & performance.

• Focus on what Counts: balance & prioritise several simultaneous activities, deliver to conclusion, hold others to account, lean into challenge on the right choices.

• Stay three steps Ahead: be curious and confident, build for the future and deliver today, simplify & make it happen.

• Deliver with Excellence: personal ownership, flawless, agile execution, creative problem solving to get to breakthrough solutions.

Application Notes

Please apply online and upload your Talent Profile (updated résumé and Talent Card). Applications will be reviewed in line with eligibility requirements, including residency rules. For additional information, please contact your Talent Advisor.

Note: All official offers from Unilever are issued only via our Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Offers from individuals or unofficial sources may be fraudulent—please verify before proceeding.