Job Description

Overview

Job Title: Hair Category Formulation Scientist

Location: Port Sunlight Research Lab

Work-Level: RH4

An opportunity has arisen to join the EU B&W Regional R&D team within Unilever Research and Development in the Hair BU in Port Sunlight. This role comprises working across all of Unilever’s core EU hair care brands (e.g. Tresemme, SSK, Dove & Andrelon) to provide formulation and technical support to enable innovation projects, work on 5S and resilience projects and redevelop existing products to meet ever-changing EU regulatory needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical elements of Hair Category Innovation Projects, specifically in the development and formulation of new products and in the redevelopment of existing products to meet regulatory requirements or for 5S cost savings initiatives.
• Coordinate 5S work plans for the EU with R&D brand custodians, Factories & Procurement.
• Design, plan and execute own work plans, including necessary lab work, ensuring compliance with COSHH, GLP and SOP requirements.
• Prepare and characterise products, including measuring rheological properties, physical/sensory evaluations and storage stability tests etc.
• Data analysis & communication: statistical analysis of data and clear communication of results and recommendations, via presentations and formal written reports.
• Formulation data entry on SAP PLM for formulations, INCI lists and other technical information.
• Use of digital IT systems to enable local R&D, regulatory and safety teams to process formulations.
• Delivery of technical aspects of innovation projects on time, in full. Accelerating projects where business requires with smart risk taking.
• Ensuring specifications and technical action standards / product performance standards are delivered.
• Project and technical risk management.
• Effective collaboration within cross-functional teams, including Brand teams & Procurement (5S projects).
• Develop technical mastery of hair care formulations; technologies, hair science and measurement understanding.
• Establish networks with external collaborators (suppliers, industry associations or equivalent) to understand information on product/consumer trends.
• Use understanding of formulation technologies to contribute ideas for new product activations with marketing and trade.

All About You

• Minimum of a degree (or equivalent) in a Science or Engineering discipline
• Minimum of 2-3 years experience working in a laboratory
• Previous experience in R&D preferably with project management experience and/or product development experience
• Great people skills; building and maintaining relationships. Ability to work well both independently and as part of a wider cross-functional team.
• Proactive problem solver with analytical skills, attention to detail and ability to interpret data
• Good knowledge of data management and analysis tools
• Good communication skills and ability to influence
• Passionate about brands and their consumers & a creative thinker

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’.

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment. We are happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity and Recruitment Fraud

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. We want to push boundaries, and have the flexibility needed to keep adapting in an ever-changing, more dynamic world. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

As part of your hiring journey, we are happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments, to improve your recruitment experience.

To find out more, including more information about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here.

Recruitment Fraud Cyber criminals advertise fake job adverts with prestigious employers as a way of stealing information or even defrauding individuals. Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat.