Sr. R&D Associate

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We are looking to hire a Packaging Associate / Sr. Packaging Associate for Unilever International based in Mumbai:

Job Purpose:

Unilever International is Unilever’s White Space arm. It has a business TO of around 1.5 Billion Euro (exit 2021), growing at healthy double digit with an ambition to be a 5Bn E business by 2025.  On one hand UI is completely responsible for building all of Unilever’s brands in white space geographies like Korea, Pacific Islands, Mongolia and on the other leading the launches of big brands like Dove, Lifebuoy, Sunlight, Tresemme, BRU, Taj Mahal, Red Label and Knorr into big whitespace markets (for these brands) like the US, China, Western Europe, SAME&A and SEAA.

As Unilever’s growth engine, UI is responsible for creating a global white space business in alternate channels like Duty Free, Discounter Channels, E Commerce Seeding in many markets, marketing to Institutional partners like the United Nations/Hospitality & Airline Industry and seeding Unilever brands to overseas diaspora who miss their home brands.

Singapore is UI’s global hub which leads strategy, marketing thinking, seeding plans, alignment with the global categories and supply chain whereas the R&D is led mainly from India (GTEC-UI).

Working closely with other Unilever International functions as part of a cross-functional team, the Packaging Associate will support Packaging Manager with the co-ordination of packaging development projects and can lead assigned projects as packaging work stream leader by developing and executing testing plans for primary and secondary packaging, ensuring packaging is “fit for purpose” compatible with SC, Formulation, Unilever Policy, Consumer and Brand needs and legislation. Testing plans can include laboratory tests (at Unilever, at our convertors, and at 3rd party labs), factory trials, and distribution trials. The jobholder is expected to maximise the use of design tools and deliver projects using Unilever project tools. In addition to planning and executing a range of comprehensive technical validation tests, the jobholder is expected to interpret results, prepare reports and communicate results/recommendations to the multifunctional project team to deliver the packaging activities.

This position will be reporting to the Packaging development manager of GTEC – UI R&D.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Deliver packaging which not only meets the required quality and technical standards, but also delights the consumer, and sustainable packaging.
• Liaise with packaging converters and material suppliers in the development of packaging components /flexible structures.
• Manage assigned primary and secondary packaging projects, with minimal guidance, working with marketing and the cross-functional project team, ensuring packaging is fit for purpose to meet the packaging brief, and delivered on time, in full
• To manage good technical data records – project data, specifications, test results
• Where relevant, to deliver, as a member of a cross-functional project team, solutions to agreed projects, on time in full
• Identify and implement potential cost saving activities across the packaging portfolio
• Prepare and develop supplier technical briefs where required, working closely with suppliers
• To interface with other functions in support of project delivery (e.g., marketing, supply chain, procurement)

Skills:

The candidate should have working knowledge of key packaging technology areas, development processes, functional specification management with decent knowledge of the manufacturing processes, packaging machinery interface, understanding supplier capability.

Experience

1-3+ years of experience in Rigid & Flexible Packaging for FMCG.

Qualification
Post-Graduation in Packaging Technology, BTech/MTech in Packaging Technology

Key Competencies:

• Personal Mastery
• Passion for High Performance
• Agility
• Business Acumen
• Eye for details

Key Skills:

• Basic awareness to working knowledge and expertise of a range of packaging materials
• Ideally, working knowledge of the key packaging materials for the category
• Technical specification & supply chain support. Project management experience         
• Deep understanding of flexibles, plastics and moulding techniques
• Basic awareness on global regulations related to packaging.
• Basic awareness of containerization techniques (CAPE software)

Relevant Experience:

With 2-3+ years’ experience in a Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company, ideally with some packaging experience. Added advantage – experience in home care/ F&R or in exports packaging.

• Candidate should be creative in personal care characteristics, have design mindset, external orientation, appetite to explore new ideas across format like rigids and flexibles etc and ability to work with diverse people/functions across geographies.

• Able to work effectively in multi-disciplinary & multi-cultural teams.   
• Willingness to support global WoW with time zone differences.
• Flexibility in work style to be able to manage several projects simultaneously.
• Intermediate to Advanced Intermediate Level English (person must be able to write emails and reports in English, which can be easily understood, and can actively participate at English-speaking business meetings).
• Must effectively communicate on technical issues with other technical personnel and non-technical personnel and management orally and in writing
• Excellent influencing ability, both internal as well as external
• Good communication skills
• Occasional travel: ~5 days / month (Domestic and sometime International)