Job Description

ABOUT UNILEVER:

Be part of the world\xe2\x80\x99s most successful, purpose-led business. Work with brands that are well-loved around the world, that strive to improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us every day. Every day, nine out of ten Indian households use our products to feel good, look good and get more out of life \xe2\x80\x93 giving us a unique opportunity to build a brighter future. We promote innovation, big and small, to make our business win and grow; and we believe in business as a force for good. Our brilliant business leaders and colleagues provide mentorship and inspiration, so you can be at your best.

At HUL, we believe that every individual irrespective of their race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, nationality, caste, disability or marital status can bring their purpose to life. So apply to us, to unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes; use your energy to make the world a better place. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we\xe2\x80\x99ll work to help you become a better you!

We are looking to hire a Product Development Specialist in our Foods Category Savoury R&D, South Asia team based in Unilever R&D Bangalore.

Purpose & Context:

With Compass organization effectively in place in Unilever from 1st July 2022, Nutrition (Foods, Beverages & Functional nutrition) has become a separate business group globally. At HUL, we believe that every individual irrespective of their race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, nationality, caste, disability or marital status can bring their purpose to life. So apply to us, to unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes; use your energy to make the world a better place. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we\xe2\x80\x99ll work to help you become a better you!

The responsibility of the position is to work on savoury product innovations, renovations, value engineering projects as per the brief agreed with the business. The role includes planning experiments, executing them with rigor, analysing the information and data and draw scientific conclusions. The role entails understanding and application of principles of food science, food technology, food chemistry, food engineering and microbiology at lab, pilot and factory scale.

Deliverables of the Role:

Carry out new product development & improvise in-market products wrt superiority, better for you, better for planet and cost effectiveness activities.

Product development: Creation of innovative formulation prototyping at lab, scaleup in pilot plant and deployment at main plant for all innovation & improvement projects as per brief within the cost, regulatory & Unilever framework.

Conduct relevant technical scoping and benchmarking exercises with scratch / competition products to ensure realistic inputs are captured while defining the scope of the project in the respective product & culinary briefs. In collaboration with CTI team, participate in consumer emersions to identify relevant consumer habits, key product drivers and technical insights on product usage and consumer expectations on respective projects. Up to date with Foods consumer trends, new Ingredients developments, vendor capabilities. Develop relevant SOPs, support development of KBS, selling stories of product and train the relevant team.

Specification management: Responsible for adopting Unilever Raw material specifications & creation of new finished product specification to ensure delivery of quality and technical action standards. Adopt digital R&D ways of working.

Product improvement & Value Engineering projects: Identify potential areas of flexing current specification/formulation, competition bench marking to drive potential savings, superiority, better for you & planet.

Responsible for risk management & claims support. Ensure compliance to Unilever standard, legal, regulatory compliances.

Responsible for OTIF delivery & project execution in line with Innoflex

Shelf-life stability: conduct stability studies to establish intermediate & finished product shelf-life.

Effective liaison with other functions viz METs, GDC, country R&D, capability teams, Supply chain \xe2\x80\x93 Sourcing, SUIT, planning & factory team including Contract manufacturing, marketing and other cross functions.

Required Professional skills:

Developing creative ideas

Experimental ability/Techniques

Data analysis/ interpretation

Science and technology expertise

Project management

Supplier/vendor development support

Consumer research & Insight capture

Commercial Knowledge

Legal / Regulatory Knowledge

Required SOLs:

Consumer Love

Passion for performance

Business Acumen

Agility & Personal mastery

Required experience:

Education: Master\xe2\x80\x99s degree in food science/technology or related course

Work experience: 1-3 Years, Experience in foods R&D - new product development and scale up preferred

Travel:

Work based travel, 10-20% of time approx, particularly to manufacturing locations, supplier location.

Organizational Structure:

Head \xe2\x80\x93 Nutrition R&D, South Asia

Regional Program Leader \xe2\x80\x93 R&D Savoury South Asia

Product Development Specialist \xe2\x80\x93 R&D Savoury

Unilever