Senior Sustainability Manager – Unilever

Unilever Be part of the world’s most successful, purpose-led business. Work with brands that are well-loved around the world, that improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We promote innovation, big and small, to make our business win and grow; and we believe in business as a force for good. Unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes; use your energy to make this happen. Our brilliant business leaders and colleagues provide mentorship and inspiration, so you can be at your best. Our portfolio ranges from nutritionally balanced foods to indulgent ice creams, affordable soaps, luxurious shampoos and everyday household care products. We produce world-leading brands including Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Axe, Hellmann’s and Omo, alongside trusted local names and innovative-forward thinking brands like Ben & Jerry’s, The Dollar Shave Club and Dermalogica. Every individual here can bring their purpose to life through their work. Join us and you’ll be surrounded by inspiring leaders and supportive peers. Among them, you’ll channel your purpose, bring fresh ideas to the table, and simply be you. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we’ll work to help you become a better you.

Business context

Unilever is two years into its journey of Purpose-led and Future-fit business, as defined by the Unilever Compass. The Compass is our integrated business strategy, which also includes  a series of multi-year commitments to address environmental and social sustainability challenges. This agenda with an ambitious approach to sustainability will require higher engagement across the business,a step up in understanding the breadth of our multiple stakeholders and a strategy to continues to push Unilever to remain leading edge and retain its leadership position as a sustainable business. It needs to come to life across the company through our brands, our products, our innovation and our business practices, and with our customers.

In the new Compass organisation, Countries play a critical role to drive practical implementation, advocacy, thought leadership and partnerships on the ground, in support of our global sustainability strategy. That is why we are setting up a unique HUL Sustainability Team, which will report directly to the Global Sustainability Team, while retaining close links to the HUL business and leadership.

Function: South Asia Sustainability

WL: 2C

Reports to: Head of Sustainability South Asia

Scope:  South Asia

Location: Mumbai

Business Context

Detailed role description

This role requires an experienced manager with a strong understanding of Unilever’s business strategy, Supply chain and its retail customers and channels as well as a strong passion for and knowledge of sustainability issues, from social, environmental and governance.  The manager should have a track record in implementing sustainability strategies in organizations; Experience working externally with partners; Ability to work in high pressure environment; Willingness to challenge the status quo. Experience working externally with Unilever customers is preferred.

Under the direction of the Head of Sustainability South Asia, the manager will work cross functionally, including in close coordination with the Global Sustainability team, to:

Integrate sustainability commitments into business planning

• Review external landscape to reflect on HUL’s sustainability strategy, and bring outside perspective into the business, to continue to be leading edge.
• Translate UL global Compass strategy and sustainability commitments (as defined by the HUL Compass) into India (and wider South Asia) implementation roadmaps, managing the cross-functional and leadership-driven process.
• Track and monitor progress against the sustainability commitments as agreed in the HUL Compass, including development of digitised system for programme management
• Manage relationships with relevant local and global teams, and particularly across Supply Chain,
• Procurement, Finance, Customer Development and Marketing.
• Manage the HUL external sustainability reporting, including Annual Report & Accounts as well as third party ESG reporting (e.g. Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Carbon Disclosure Project).
• Similarly, maintain MIS wherever necessary and support the annual reporting processes for data collection for HUL corporate reporting and ensure compliance to local laws on non-financial sustainability reporting

Partner with business teams to ‘commercialise sustainability’ and win with customers and shoppers

• Partner with CD, Supply chain, Brand team and HR to develop joint sustainability plans to deliver HUL compass commitments to drive competitive growth, cut costs and mitigate risks (licence to operate, resilience, regulatory, reputational)
• Support Business Groups (BGs) and Business Units (BU) agendas, working with marketing and business teams to shape their innovation strategy to align with sustainability commitments.
• Manage the reporting of product and other data to customers to support and leverage their sustainability programs and assessments
• Coordinate with Project leads for budget allocation of sustainability initiatives adopted.
• Understanding of metrics on various factors such as Energy, Water etc., (cost savings, CO2, water, etc.), analyse the expenditure and annual savings/benefits from sustainability initiatives adopted, create sustainability target (such as SBT, Net Zero) achievement plans in line with this
• Define the priorities, and strategic orientation of the local community action plans (CSR) in India in line with Compass, develop and maintain the action plan accordingly with support of the CSR teams

Advocate for system change and lead partnerships for impact

• Support India’s (and South Asia’s) country roadmap, advocacy and partnership strategy, in line with global Compass priorities (i.e., Living Wage, Climate Action).
• Create public policy influence documents for sustainability, help build a strong culture for sustainability (internally and externally), while we fulfil our sustainability ambitions and goas.
• Create sustainability SoPs, audit documents, alignment notes (with other business reporting such as BRSR, CSR, ESG etc) that can help institutionalise impact led sustainability within the organisation
• Build on strategic partnerships internally and externally that help meet our Compass commitments and maximise visibility as an ESG/ sustainability leader

Engage sustainability stakeholders and employees

• Build and engage an external network of sustainability stakeholders and partners, helping to bring the outside in as well as build our reputation as the leader in sustainable business.
• Educate and engage our employees and HUL senior leaders to build knowledge and capability on sustainability.
• Partner with corporate communications and human resources to support employee engagement programs, trainings, and initiatives on sustainability, helping to engage employees as advocates for the company and build sustainability capabilities and knowledge.
• Support the coordination and execution of sustainability events, both internal and external, such as annual progress reports, volunteer day.
• Grow and develop a network of country Sustainability Champions to mainstream sustainability thinking and engagement within the company

Direct Reports

Key Interfaces

None

• Global Sustainability Organization
• Finance (Investor Relations)
• Customer Development (Shopper Marketing)
• Corporate Communications and external affairs
• Human Resources
• Supply Chain (Procurement, R&D)
• Division leadership teams (CCBTs)
• Marketing (Media/Advertising)

Critical Success Factors for the Job

Key Skills

• Relevant Experience
• Strategically strong
• Breakthrough thinker
• Positive attitude
• Self-starter that takes own initiative
• Advocacy skills
• Good at seeking different perspectives and works collaboratively
• Influences people to deliver beyond their comfort zone
• Team player
• Strong written and oral communications
• 8+ years relevant experience
• Strong business experience with a preference for experience in customers, shopper marketing or brand management
• Can demonstrate experience of creating sustainability impact in business
• Able to influence and operate at the most senior levels in the organisation
• Good knowledge across a wide range of the sustainability topics relevant to Unilever

Leadership Behaviours – Standards of Leadership

• Purpose & service (works from purpose for the good of others)
• Agility (constantly curious & courageous)
• Passion for high performance (inspires the energy needed to win and grow)
• Business acumen
• Talent catalyst (develops and magnifies the power of people)

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.