Customer Business Manager, Unilever International US Seeding
Unilever, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, United States
Work Location
Remote US, Tri‑State area / East Coast or Hoboken NJ
Expected Travel 50%
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.
Unilever International Is… As the ninth global cluster, we work across the world to fill white spaces for Unilever. It has quadrupled in size from $250M in 2012 to $1 BN in 2018 and has an ambition to double yet again to $2 BN by 2022. Do you want the opportunity to work in a fast‑paced, dynamic, diverse, and high‑growth environment? Do you want to be the GM of your own high‑growth business? If so, Unilever International is the place for you!
A $1 BN global business unit, set up as a complimentary “route to market” catering to white‑space geographies, channels, consumers, and categories.
Headquartered out of Singapore with multiple regional business hubs in Asia, Middle East, Africa, North America, Europe and Korea.
Fastest growing business unit within Unilever with access to a basket of over +100 global brands, 4,000 SKUs and serving consumers in over 130 countries.
Our core focus revolves around launching white‑space and complimentary portfolio of UL global brands across all channels.
Set up as a lean, entrepreneurial organization with a laser‑sharp focus on “speed to market” leveraging a network of over +400 global third‑party distributors/importers.
Our Culture & DNA
We will be the fastest route to market globally
We take challenges which no others take
Impossible is an opinion, not a fact
Speed is our currency
When brands are built right, they can last a lifetime
Job Purpose Reporting to the UINA Head of the Nutrition & IC business, you will be responsible for supporting the pursuit of white spaces and channel expansion. The role entails working closely with international distributors and with key internal Unilever stakeholders in the local MSO, mostly in CD and CS&P functions but can also expand to other support functions.
Previous experience working in the development of global brands into white spaces is essential, ideally in the food industry, dealing with import/export distributors, both domestically and abroad. You must have a good grasp of all areas of market development, and of physical and digital distribution channels. You will also have strong commercial experience including selling to US Key Accounts, and managing pricing, P&L, forecasting and customer service/supply‑chain interaction.
SPEED is the mantra for our resounding success. To serve the underserved, we embrace a founder’s mentality, explore uncharted territories, redesign end‑to‑end business models to establish successful businesses. We make a difference by working fast and smart, nurturing our tribe, winning together.
Key Responsibilities
Work hand in hand with all cross‑function leads and teams to seed global trusted top‑ten (TT10) nutrition products within the strategic scope of serving many Americans in the US, serviced through a network of importers/distributors/retailers. This includes identifying assortment gaps, working with New Product Development teams to land innovations with speed, and to achieve account‑level sell‑in, implementing shopper‑marketing programs and promotions, as well as developing new categories/segments.
Work closely with UI distributors on robust long‑range forecasting, and with UI supply chain and customer service to ensure 98% order fulfilment on time.
Collaborate with the Business Head and UI distributors to ensure delivery of top‑line, bottom‑line, market‑share targets and superior customer service.
Represent at annual trade fairs and present and sell products face‑to‑face, retaining existing customer base and expanding ACV distribution across Grocery, Mass, Independent and Club channels.
Projected business size $50 M+ in 2024.
Lead annual Joint Business Planning (JBP).
Become a critical member of the team leading sales in UL’s new business unit, empowered to be involved in strategy and own delivery of key strategic goals.
New Business and Scale‑Up
Lead, screen, and map business opportunities in line with overall business strategy.
Identify and drive innovations for launch in selected channels.
Manage potential businesses through market analysis, deal requirements, potential and financial analysis.
Oversee end‑to‑end process from idea to launch with customers and internal teams.
Customer Selection, Appointment and Relationship Management
Identify suitable business partners through required research.
Manage pricing and oversee supplies and new initiative landing.
Oversee business plan processes for logistics and planning, in close cooperation with internal business partners.
Oversee speed‑to‑market for new product developments (NPD).
Stakeholder Management
Oversee timely and appropriate management of customer complaints and relevant claims.
Lead and align cross‑functional teams to effectively manage projects in coordination meetings.
Collaborate with local OpCo for synergies.
Work closely with different stakeholders to align on critical projects and decisions, ensuring synergy across different functions.
Establishing and Executing Business Plans
Supervise strategic business plan processes and speed‑to‑market for new product distribution across locations.
Oversee networks for new product launches with supply chain team and align with Category team on launches.
Strong execution mindset, to own and execute key projects flawlessly.
Tracking and Monitoring Performance
Monitor and ensure key performance metrics are met.
Required Qualifications
Have experience working and leading in cross‑functional teams.
8–10 years’ experience in FMCG industry in sales/customer development in commercial cleaning or B2B distribution sector.
8–10 years’ experience in FMCG industry operational key‑account management, marketing, business or finance partnering roles.
Experience in key account management (B2B).
A bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Preferred Qualifications
Fluency in Mandarin and/or Spanish.
Embrace a high‑growth mindset, with strong love for consumers, shoppers and customers.
Have strong financial acumen and analytical skills.
You are an action‑orientated, results‑driven, highly adaptable and an entrepreneurial person and a rebel at heart.
A consistent track record of exceptional business results with humility to give credit and resilience.
Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills with senior stakeholders.
Experience in working and leading in cross‑functional teams and leading strategic customer relationships.
Pay The pay range for this position is $103,000 to $154,400.
Bonus This position is bonus eligible.
Long‑Term Incentive (LTI) This position is LTI eligible.
Benefits Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can select from a range of benefits including health insurance (prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits.
Inclusion Statement At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive and succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.
Equal Opportunity Employer Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons With Disabilities.
Federal Rights Information For more information on your federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.
Employment Verification Employment is subject to verification of pre‑screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.
Disabled Applicant Assistance If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com. This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Expected Travel 50%
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.
Unilever International Is… As the ninth global cluster, we work across the world to fill white spaces for Unilever. It has quadrupled in size from $250M in 2012 to $1 BN in 2018 and has an ambition to double yet again to $2 BN by 2022. Do you want the opportunity to work in a fast‑paced, dynamic, diverse, and high‑growth environment? Do you want to be the GM of your own high‑growth business? If so, Unilever International is the place for you!
A $1 BN global business unit, set up as a complimentary “route to market” catering to white‑space geographies, channels, consumers, and categories.
Headquartered out of Singapore with multiple regional business hubs in Asia, Middle East, Africa, North America, Europe and Korea.
Fastest growing business unit within Unilever with access to a basket of over +100 global brands, 4,000 SKUs and serving consumers in over 130 countries.
Our core focus revolves around launching white‑space and complimentary portfolio of UL global brands across all channels.
Set up as a lean, entrepreneurial organization with a laser‑sharp focus on “speed to market” leveraging a network of over +400 global third‑party distributors/importers.
Our Culture & DNA
We will be the fastest route to market globally
We take challenges which no others take
Impossible is an opinion, not a fact
Speed is our currency
When brands are built right, they can last a lifetime
Job Purpose Reporting to the UINA Head of the Nutrition & IC business, you will be responsible for supporting the pursuit of white spaces and channel expansion. The role entails working closely with international distributors and with key internal Unilever stakeholders in the local MSO, mostly in CD and CS&P functions but can also expand to other support functions.
Previous experience working in the development of global brands into white spaces is essential, ideally in the food industry, dealing with import/export distributors, both domestically and abroad. You must have a good grasp of all areas of market development, and of physical and digital distribution channels. You will also have strong commercial experience including selling to US Key Accounts, and managing pricing, P&L, forecasting and customer service/supply‑chain interaction.
SPEED is the mantra for our resounding success. To serve the underserved, we embrace a founder’s mentality, explore uncharted territories, redesign end‑to‑end business models to establish successful businesses. We make a difference by working fast and smart, nurturing our tribe, winning together.
Key Responsibilities
Work hand in hand with all cross‑function leads and teams to seed global trusted top‑ten (TT10) nutrition products within the strategic scope of serving many Americans in the US, serviced through a network of importers/distributors/retailers. This includes identifying assortment gaps, working with New Product Development teams to land innovations with speed, and to achieve account‑level sell‑in, implementing shopper‑marketing programs and promotions, as well as developing new categories/segments.
Work closely with UI distributors on robust long‑range forecasting, and with UI supply chain and customer service to ensure 98% order fulfilment on time.
Collaborate with the Business Head and UI distributors to ensure delivery of top‑line, bottom‑line, market‑share targets and superior customer service.
Represent at annual trade fairs and present and sell products face‑to‑face, retaining existing customer base and expanding ACV distribution across Grocery, Mass, Independent and Club channels.
Projected business size $50 M+ in 2024.
Lead annual Joint Business Planning (JBP).
Become a critical member of the team leading sales in UL’s new business unit, empowered to be involved in strategy and own delivery of key strategic goals.
New Business and Scale‑Up
Lead, screen, and map business opportunities in line with overall business strategy.
Identify and drive innovations for launch in selected channels.
Manage potential businesses through market analysis, deal requirements, potential and financial analysis.
Oversee end‑to‑end process from idea to launch with customers and internal teams.
Customer Selection, Appointment and Relationship Management
Identify suitable business partners through required research.
Manage pricing and oversee supplies and new initiative landing.
Oversee business plan processes for logistics and planning, in close cooperation with internal business partners.
Oversee speed‑to‑market for new product developments (NPD).
Stakeholder Management
Oversee timely and appropriate management of customer complaints and relevant claims.
Lead and align cross‑functional teams to effectively manage projects in coordination meetings.
Collaborate with local OpCo for synergies.
Work closely with different stakeholders to align on critical projects and decisions, ensuring synergy across different functions.
Establishing and Executing Business Plans
Supervise strategic business plan processes and speed‑to‑market for new product distribution across locations.
Oversee networks for new product launches with supply chain team and align with Category team on launches.
Strong execution mindset, to own and execute key projects flawlessly.
Tracking and Monitoring Performance
Monitor and ensure key performance metrics are met.
Required Qualifications
Have experience working and leading in cross‑functional teams.
8–10 years’ experience in FMCG industry in sales/customer development in commercial cleaning or B2B distribution sector.
8–10 years’ experience in FMCG industry operational key‑account management, marketing, business or finance partnering roles.
Experience in key account management (B2B).
A bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Preferred Qualifications
Fluency in Mandarin and/or Spanish.
Embrace a high‑growth mindset, with strong love for consumers, shoppers and customers.
Have strong financial acumen and analytical skills.
You are an action‑orientated, results‑driven, highly adaptable and an entrepreneurial person and a rebel at heart.
A consistent track record of exceptional business results with humility to give credit and resilience.
Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills with senior stakeholders.
Experience in working and leading in cross‑functional teams and leading strategic customer relationships.
Pay The pay range for this position is $103,000 to $154,400.
Bonus This position is bonus eligible.
Long‑Term Incentive (LTI) This position is LTI eligible.
Benefits Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can select from a range of benefits including health insurance (prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits.
Inclusion Statement At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive and succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.
Equal Opportunity Employer Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons With Disabilities.
Federal Rights Information For more information on your federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.
Employment Verification Employment is subject to verification of pre‑screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.
Disabled Applicant Assistance If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com. This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses.
#J-18808-Ljbffr