About this role
ROLE: Beauty & Wellbeing Global Innovation & Business Planning Lead LOCATION: 100VE, London
ABOUT THE TEAM
The B&W Global Strategy, Planning & Analytics team enables Beauty & Wellbeing to translate strategy into execution through three core capabilities:
• Strategy & Business Planning – from 3-5 year portfolio strategy to leading the annual Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process and activity plans
• Innovation Operations – governing the global innovation portfolio: Investor Boards, PMO resource allocation and ensuring OTIF delivery.
• Marketing Analytics & Insights – providing performance reporting, strategic analyses and decision support.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Beauty & Wellbeing Global Innovation & Business Planning Lead will play a critical leadership role spanning Strategy and Business Planning, as well as Innovation Operations. The high exposure role partners closely with the CMO, GBVPs, GMs and X-functions (R&D, SC & Finance) to ensure the business is aligned behind the right priorities, makes high-quality decisions and executes effectively. A key focus is continuously improving planning, governance and decision-making through simplification, digitisation, AI and stronger analytics.
The role leads two direct reports: An Assistant Brand Manager who focuses on IBP & Innovation, as well as an Assistant Brand Manager who focuses on Events and Communications. The team retains a flexible, agile mindset and continues to evolve responsibilities in line with business needs and the skills & needs of the team members.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Lead Global Business Planning
• Lead the end-to-end Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process across Global Brands and Markets.
• Connect long-term strategy with annual business planning and execution.
• Drive alignment across Brand Teams, Markets and Functions, particularly R&D and Supply Chain.
• Maintain the global activity calendar and OTIF reporting, identifying risks, opportunities and trade-offs.
• Drive continuous improvement through simplification, digitisation, AI-enabled planning and smarter analytics – e.g., of the 6P Detective Tool.
• Oversee planning events and executive engagements, ensuring a best-in-class experience through compelling storytelling, product displays and immersive brand showcases.
Lead Global Innovation Operations
• Chair the CMO-led Investor Board and prepare high-quality decision materials
• Lead governance of the global innovation portfolio and innovation funnel – helping to drive prioritisation & proactively managing risks
• Ensure InnoFlex hygiene, ensuring portfolio data accurately reflects business priorities and leadership decisions.
• Oversee PMO resource allocation and portfolio demand planning.
• Track OTIF delivery across the innovation portfolio, highlighting implications for Brand Teams and Markets.
• Improve governance through stronger reporting, analytics, digitisation and AI-enabled insights.
Support Strategy Development
• Partner with the CMO and leadership team on priority strategic research & initiatives. These vary by case but include topics such as those listed below.
• Portfolio and brand strategy (e.g. ahead of CEO Brand Reviews, Board Meetings & ULE meetings)
• Performance assessment (e.g., assessing UBS or Share or competitors to uncover new insights for strategy ahead of BWLTs)
• Demand generation or channel deep-dives (e.g., to investigate competitors, operating models etc).
• Strategic comms development (e.g. translating strategy into effective communications for the full division, external parties or others)
ALL ABOUT YOU
• Seasoned business leader equally comfortable developing strategy, solving complex business problems, forging relationships and driving operational excellence. You'll bring:
• Experience in strategy, marketing, operations, commercial planning or portfolio management.
• Strong commercial judgement and analytical capability – with a curiosity for getting to root issues and moving quickly into an action plan
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills – across broad array
• Outstanding communication and executive storytelling.
• Agility to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous global environment.
• Ability to build trusted relationships across a complex stakeholder network and align teams with differing priorities.
• A passion for continuous improvement, AI, digitisation and smarter ways of working.
WHAT WE OFFER
Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.
Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. 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. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).