Nutrition S&T Plant Biotechnology Manager

UNILEVER IN THE NETHERLANDS IS LOOKING FOR A PLANT​ BIOTECHNOLOGY MANAGER​ 

Location: ​Wageningen, Hive, The Netherlands​

Full-time

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 first consider candidates based in the Netherlands. If you are based outside of the Netherlands and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but we can only take your application on if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the Netherlands. 

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. 

​​ABOUT NUTRITION R&D​ 

​​Nutrition is the largest Business Group (BG) in Unilever with global multibillion-dollar brands such as Knorr and Hellman’s and many strong regional and local brands. Nutrition BG’s vision is to be a Force for Good in Foods. Nutrition R&D develops and delivers unmissably superior products and solutions that are Boldly Healthier for People and Planet, rooted in differentiated science and technology. With our global innovation centre Hive, in the heart of the Silicon Valley of Food, in Wageningen, The Netherlands, and our network of R&D teams across the world, we work closely with many internal and external partners to create market-winning innovations. Increasingly, Digital and Data are the currency of how we work in R&D, from discovery through product development and deployment. New developments in AI and Data Science will be the crucial differentiator for us to win.​ 

JOB PURPOSE

Find your purpose at Unilever. You will lead innovations, big and small, that will make our business win and grow. You will learn from brilliant business leaders and colleagues in a truly global and diverse culture to ultimately become a better you. If you are passionate about plant biotechnology and want to drive and execute research programs to deliver novel plant-based and resilient functional ingredients/materials of strategic interest to the Unilever Nutrition Portfolio, then this role is just for you.  

In this role, you’ll not only investigate existing plant breeding and plant biotechnology routes, but also keep a watching brief on advances in technologies, which would allow more resilient and/or efficient production routes for existing ingredients.   

This role is part of a small internal team that works primarily through external collaborations with suppliers and academic groups to deliver internal innovation.  

Together with the team, you will be able to shape Nutrition’s Plant Biotech Strategy for the Future.  

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE:

• ​​Lead the development of proposals to source new functional ingredients/materials and develop novel routes to produce existing materials with a major impact on sustainability and cost effectiveness.  

• ​Ensure effective alignment with the existing product development programmes and drive delivery using an outside-in approach. 

• ​work with colleagues to identify the standards required for new ingredients and in securing intellectual property protection for their application. 

• ​work with the Unilever Safety and Environmental Assessment Centre, regulatory, consumer insight & procurement teams as needed to ensure successful leads could be exploited commercially, how they would be claimed and declared on pack, and their consumer perception.  

• ​Create an ecosystem strategy with increased leverage of external funding.  

• ​Provide expertise in Plant Biotechnology/Breeding across the Nutrition program for relevant ingredients. 

• ​Manage external relationships and identify new opportunities for the programme. 

• ​Collaborate closely across Science and Technology teams and, jointly with the team, drive our digital agenda. 

• ​Lead and execute programme and train colleagues in relevant techniques, if necessary. 

• ​Network effectively with internal colleagues in the other Unilever Divisions to ensure internal plant biotechnology capability and related external relationships are effectively leveraged. 

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WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED?

Experiences & Qualifications

• ​​MSc or PhD in plant biotechnology / breeding / Food Biotechnology / Bioengineering or similar subject matters.

• ​Proven experience (i.e. >5 years) of leading research programmes in plant biotechnology / plant-based approaches for novel ingredients. 

• ​Experience in leading external partnerships and working effectively in complex and diverse ecosystems​. 

Skills

• Understanding of plant biotechnology routes to source novel ingredients 

• Solution oriented mindset and good communication skills. 

• Intellectual property awareness and ability to manage strategy. 

• Good influencing and communication skills; ability to convince and defend own agenda in front of internal stakeholders (within R&D). 

• Ability to use technical judgment to guide team activities and program direction.

• Ability to work in cross-disciplinary teams and in multi-cultural environments, utilising an established network.  

• Ability to keep abreast of new developments and opportunities within own programme area – and able to harness in business-relevant ways. 

Preferred

• Knowledge of computational tools supporting Techno Economic Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment or Systems Biology.   

• Ability to use storytelling for education and advocacy around the opportunities of Plant Biotechnology in Nutrition. 

Leadership

• You are an inclusive motivator of people. Your team delivers with real passion, growing and learning from each other whilst delivering quick wins. 

• You are still responsible for your own results and as a manager, you also need to motivate others to deliver with passion, creating an inclusive and engaging climate around you. You can balance challenge with support and coaching. You understand the wider business context and you are emotionally intelligent enough to motivate people to deliver what is needed. 

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors

• AGILITY: Explores the world around them, continually learning and developing their skills. 

• CONSUMER LOVE:   Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers. 

• BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change. 

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, 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.

• 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.

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