Plant Biotechnology Manager

UNILEVER IN THE NETHERLANDS IS LOOKING FOR A PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY LEADER 🌍

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 the Netherlands. If you are based outside of the Netherlands 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 the Netherlands.

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

ABOUT NUTRITION R&D

Nutrition is the largest Business Group (BG) in Unilever with global multibillion-dollar brands such as Knorr and Hellman’s and many strong regional and local brands. Nutrition BG’s vision is to be a Force for Good in Foods. Nutrition R&D develops and delivers unmissably superior products and solutions that are Boldly Healthier for People and Planet, rooted in differentiated science and technology. With our global innovation centre Hive, in the heart of the Silicon Valley of Food, in Wageningen, The Netherlands, and our network of R&D teams across the world, we work closely with many internal and external partners to create market-winning innovations. Increasingly, Digital and Data are the currency of how we work in R&D, from discovery through product development and deployment. New developments in AI and Data Science will be the crucial differentiator for us to win.

JOB PURPOSE

Find your purpose at Unilever. You will lead innovations, big and small, that will make our business win and grow. You will learn from brilliant business leaders and colleagues in a truly global and diverse culture to ultimately become a better you. If you are a passionate leader in plant biotechnology and want to define Nutrition’s plant biotech strategy for future bio-ingredients, then this role is just for you.

Together with your team, you will unleash the power of modern plant biology, digital tools and plant biotechnology to identify, create and deliver food ingredients with more functionality and lower (carbon) footprint for superior products across our Nutrition portfolio.

You will bring leadership, creativity and expertise of working at the interface of Structure:Function, in silico modelling; plant biotech/agritech ingredient production and a strong external network (academics/companies) on which to develop and grow.

In this role, you will lead and develop a newly established team of 2 scientists and inspire, shape and deliver disruptive plant-based ingredients that transform our product performance and sustainability (‘function without footprint’). This team is working closely with the established team of Microbial Biotechnologists in the Future-Biobased Ingredients team.

As part of the Future Bio-Ingredients team and the Unilever Nutrition Science and Technology Organization, you will deliver breakthrough technologies to enable long-term competitiveness of the Nutrition Business Groups consumer product portfolio, including Knorr and Hellmann’s.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE:

• Lead and develop the Plant Biotechnology team based in Hive, NL.
• Inspire, shape and deliver disruptive bio-ingredients that transform our product performance and sustainability.
• Build an ecosystem (including academic research, start-ups, suppliers, companies) and maintain strategic relationships across plant based ingredient structure:function; in silico modelling; plant biotechnology/agritech production systems.
• Lead scientific understanding of Future Plant-based Ingredients, technologies, production systems and plant biotechnology.
• Collaborate closely across Science and Technology teams and, jointly with the team, drive our digital agenda.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED?

Experiences & Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Plant Biotechnology / breeding / Food Biotechnology / Bioengineering or similar subject matters
• Proven leader and expertise working at the interface of structure:function; plant biotechnology / plant based approaches for novel ingredients, as well as strong external network.
• Experience and passion for leading and managing teams, proven ability to develop and grow people.
• Creative thinker with ability to make links across diverse technical areas to shape a programme and bring project leadership to deliver impact.
• Knowledge of application of digital tools/computational modelling to accelerate structure:function identification and delivery, especially related to plant based ingredient development and foods.
• Proven experience of partnership development
• Excellent communication skills in English
• Effective Stakeholder Management
• Track record of delivery and working collaboratively with cross-functional and external partners to implement new ingredients / technologies.

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?

Unilever is the place where you can be yourself and bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. We offer an exciting & dynamic work environment where you can make things happen. Furthermore, we offer some great reward and benefits!

• Attractive total remuneration package; excellent company pension, bonus, share scheme.
• Flexible cross-disciplinary career opportunities and a wealth of training opportunities & wellbeing resources whenever and wherever.
• Plenty of company-paid holidays to further ensure your work-life balance is maintained.
• We encourage an inclusive culture, which comes to life with interchangeable public holidays, paid paternity leave of 6 weeks and our transgender policy.
• Under the Hybrid Working principles, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 40%-60% in the office or at customers, suppliers or partners to connect and collaborate. For the time you work from home, we will ensure you are well equipped. When you are at the office, you can enjoy our tasty canteen with prepped food.
• Informal culture and being the first one trying our new products.
• My Fitness Plan (reduction on your Fitness Subscription).
• Home work allowance
• Company laptop and mobile phone
• Green Mobility Policy.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability, age, parenthood, pregnancy or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against. By highlighting the gender diversity at the workplace, Unilever encourages women equally men to apply. If you look for a job after a long career break or after any type of leave, do not hesitate to apply.