Global CMI Portfolio & Strategy Assistant Manager

Location: Rotterdam – the Netherlands

Local conditions apply

Full-time

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.

About Unilever

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 inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. 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.

We want our business to flourish, and we know that our success depends on others flourishing around us. That's why our purpose is to make sustainable living commonplace, and why sustainable, long-term growth is at the heart of our business model.

The mission of the Consumer & Market Insights (CMI) function is to inspire, challenge, and drive transformative growth. We are seeking a motivated, forward-thinking, and passionate Assistant CMI Manager who embodies this mission. In this role, you will lead innovation and portfolio strategy projects within the Condiments category, crafting consumer-centric strategies that fuel breakthrough innovation across Unilever’s global Condiments portfolio. Collaborating closely with regional and cross-functional teams, you will translate deep consumer understanding, trend intelligence, and market data into actionable insights that shape and energise our innovation agenda.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE?

This role partners with the Global Hellmann’s team to drive brand and portfolio growth worldwide. It translates consumer and customer insights into impactful strategies across brand performance, innovation, communication, and activation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Shaping a strategic agenda for distinctive, insight-driven portfolio innovation that addresses real consumer tensions.

• Turning trends and insights into culturally relevant actions across product, packaging, communication, and experiences.

• Supporting global innovation rollout through occasion mapping, trend scouting, whitespace identification, mix testing, and Innovation performance tracking.

• Leveraging diverse data sources—syndicated data, consumer panels, brand tracking, and custom research—to uncover growth-driving insights.

• Monitoring innovation performance and recommending actions to amplify, pivot, or discontinue based on impact.

• Collaborating with internal teams and external agencies to deliver actionable innovation projects from brief to execution.

• Driving brand growth through UBS, mental availability, core renovation, innovation, and high-quality consumer experiences.

• Working with agility to balance strategic depth and speed in a fast-paced market.

Skills We Are Looking For

• Minimum 3  years of experience in Marketing, Market Research, or Consumer & Market Insights, with at least 2 years in FMCG or a related consumer goods sector (e.g., food, beverage, retail, personal care).

• Proven experience working with both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including syndicated data (e.g., Nielsen, IRI, Kantar), consumer panels, brand tracking, U&A, concept tests, and ad-hoc qualitative research, with practical experience to turn the data points into strategic narratives and  clear, actionable insights.

• End to end business partnering experience and good stakeholder communications skills, to present clearly, simplify complex topics and influence decision making;

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to cross-functional projects (e.g., innovation/market performance analyses, workshop plannings, portfolio strategy sessions) that result in measurable business outcomes.

• Storyteller- has ability to craft cause-effect relationship on the data and able to present those with simple compelling storyline to create actionable recommendations.

• Strong capability to co-create and shape ideas, using a mix of creativity, trend intelligence, and outside-in inspiration techniques to spark innovation ideas

• Familiarity with digital insight and analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Meta Audience Insights, Google Trends. Experience with Gen AI tools for faster, smarter insight generation is a plus.

• A naturally consumer-obsessed mindset, with a strong ability to empathize with consumer behaviours, emotional needs, and daily lives

• A team player: accountable, open minded who likes to work in a rapid and agile way
  

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. You will be core crafter one of the biggest brand in Unilever. You’ll gain exposure to global platforms, accelerate your analytic and strategic thinking, and grow into a pivotal role within CMI and Innovation teams. Unilever also offers 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, 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%-60% 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).

• Homework allowance

• Company laptop and mobile phone

• Green Mobility Policy.