AboutUnilever

With3.4billionpeopleinover190countriesusingourproductseveryday,Unileverisabusinessthatmakesarealimpactontheworld.Workonbrandsthatarelovedandimprovethelivesofourconsumersandthecommunitiesaroundus.Wearedrivenbyourpurpose:tomakesustainablelivingcommonplace, anditisourbeliefthatdoingbusinesstherightwaydrivessuperiorperformance.Attheheartofwhatwedoisourpeople-webelievethatwhenourpeopleworkwithpurpose,wewillcreateabetterbusinessand abetterworld.

AtUnilever,yourcareerwillbeauniquejourney,groundedinourinclusive,collaborative, andflexibleworkingenvironment.Wedontbelieveintheonesizefitsallapproachandinsteadwewillequipyouwiththetoolsyouneedtoshapeyourownfuture.

Responsibilities

Copacker Performance & Governance

Own end-to-end copacker KPI performance, including Quality (QC compliance, defect reduction), Safety standards and regulatory compliance, Operational efficiency (OEE) and service delivery (OR)
Drive performance reviews, identify gaps, and implement improvement actions
Ensure full compliance with Unilever standards, audit requirements, and agreed SOPs

Production Strategy & Capacity Planning

Lead long-term capacity planning and network strategy for copackers
Support and execute copacker relocation projects
Identify opportunities for insourcing vs outsourcing optimization

New Product Development (NPD) & insourcing

Drive NPD execution at co-packers, ensuring timeline and quality delivery
Lead insourcing initiatives, including Home Care and Beauty & Personal Care products
Coordinate cross-functional alignment to ensure successful implementation

Cost Management & Financial Governance

Partner with Finance to control and optimize conversion cost / co-packer cost structure
Manage and validate stock control and inventory reconciliation, financial compliance and sign-off processes
Oversee RM/PM control center compliance at site level

Supply Chain & Operations Control

Oversee DSR (Daily/Delivery Service Reporting) tracking and performance
Ensure robust stock accuracy and control processes
Manage operational readiness and issue resolution with co-packers

Stakeholder Management

Act as key interface with internal stakeholders (Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, Procurement, Production, Engineer, Planner)
Influence and align senior stakeholders to drive decision-making

People Management & Leadership

Lead and develop internal team members
Provide guidance and governance to co-packer teams and 3PL partners
Build capability and performance culture across extended teams

Contract & Commercial Management

Manage and govern forklift commercial contracts
Ensure vendor performance aligns with contractual agreements and service expectations

Candidate Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or related fields)
Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing or production operations, preferably within FMCG or high-volume production environments
Proven track record in managing end-to-end production performance, including safety, quality, service, and cost
Experience working with or optimizing high-speed production lines and machinery efficiency (OEE improvement)
Exposure to production expansion, capacity planning, or operational scaling projects is highly advantageous

Skills & Competencies

Excellent English proficiency (both written and spoken)
Strong operational and analytical mindset, with the ability to identify gaps and drive continuous improvement
Proven stakeholder management skills, with ability to collaborate across functions
Solid understanding of production KPIs such as OEE, service level, quality, and cost control
Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and execution capability

Behavioral Attributes

Highly agile, adaptable, and resilient in a fast-paced environment
Demonstrates strong ownership and accountability
Eager to learn, open to change, and continuously seek improvement opportunities

There's more to Unilever than the role. Discover our people, culture, and everyday life on our Life at Unilever

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.

First Line Manager Copacking