Job description – Head of Ice Cream Procurement Asia

Work Level: WL3X

Scope: Regional, Full-time

Reports to: Chief Procurement Officer Ice Cream

Location: China – Shanghai

Terms & Conditions:

If you are in the Unilever Ice Cream business or consider choosing to work for the Unilever Ice Cream business, you will work for the Global, leading Ice Cream player with €7.9bn Turn Over in 2023. The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of top 10 selling brands including Wall’s, Magnum, Ben &Jerry’s. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025.

Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure. As Ice Cream company we are committed to developing and nurturing talent within our Ice Cream company. You will have ample options for career growth and exploration, allowing you for you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organisation. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company. We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us.

ABOUT ICE CREAM: Life Tastes Better with Ice Cream

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of over $8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win.

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As Ice Cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products.

JOB PURPOSE

Are you willing to join a strong creative multicultural team and experience operating like a CPO? Then this is the job for you. The Head of Ice Cream Procurement Asia leads the procurement function in partnering Asia business unit.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Business partner Asia Ice Cream leadership in product logic value creation and category P&L deliveryLead the talent development, workload and priority management of the Asia teamSupport the Development relationship with strategic suppliers in support of the MET marketLead cross category initiatives and pillars as a member of the Global Procurement leadership teamsDeliver Material NMI, Service, QualityAccountable for forecast of savings, inflation and net impact in the P&LInterface with local suppliers and the market on behalf of UnileverLead continuous F4G pipeline plan for re-investment in our brandsBuild strong global Procurement networks to deliver fast and brilliant saving / innovation projectsConnect the business strategy and category priorities with the procurement strategy developed by the portfolio groups, engaging with the global procurement organization

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

SKILLS:

Drive Change Management initiatives, intelligent risk taking while managing risk, managerial courage and willing to make hard, fact-based decisions - comfortable with ambiguityMaintain, build, and grow supplier relationships, cultural sensitivity/communication/global thinkingExcellent leadership, interpersonal, team building, delegation, and communication skillsManaging change - Develops a shared vision and strategy for change. Delivers change whilst managing the interface between “day to day” and improvement projects. Tenacious in the pursuit of change goalsProblem solving & decision making - Defines problems, systematically gathers and analyses data, identifies cause & effects and establishes root causes & achievable solutions. Makes good and timely decisionsPassion for High Performance: Drive for results - Is passionate about and perseveres in the pursuit of challenging stretch goals. Demonstrates energy, drive and enthusiasm when striving to accomplish and improve resultsExcellent business acumen - analytical and quantitative skillsInterpersonal effectiveness - Flexible use of accomplished interpersonal behaviors that facilitate in building trust and engagement amongst others whilst reducing the opportunity for conflict

EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS:   

A minimum of 12 years of experience requiredProcurement experience will be a key differentiator on selection process

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. 

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 China. If you are based outside of China 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 China.

Please be aware if you are applying for this role from outside China, if successful, your internal application will be treated as a self-initiated Change Location Outside of Country (CLOC) transfer.

You will be eligible for relocation support in the form of flights (to China), immigration and tax support (in the year of move) and a lump sum in cash to be paid out during the first salary payment in China. No further relocation support will be provided in a self-initiated CLOC. 

ARE YOU EXCITED TO CRAFT THE ICE CREAM FUTURE?

To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV, latest EoY and a motivation letter.  If you have been informed that you are at risk of redundancy, please make sure to tick this box during your application. Please also attach your letter of redundancy to the application.

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.

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to apply for other positions.

Disclaimer 

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

We take pleasure seriously. Join the Ice Cream team now!

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.