Join us as a Global Program Manager, Unilever Climate & Nature Fund (maternity cover)

Function: Procurement

Reports to: Director, Climate & Nature Fund (Global Procurement)

Scope: Global

Location: Poland

Terms and Conditions: Temporary role covering maternity leave; expected duration 12–18 months

Job Purpose

Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. If you want to deliver impact at scale through global value chain transformation in consumer goods by creating and managing innovative sustainable financing models and partnerships, then this role is just for you!

The role as Climate & Nature Fund Program Manager presents an opportunity to be part of an international team of program managers, sustainability, and investment professionals managing global programs and projects. This is an exciting role and a unique opportunity to spearhead sustainable transformation, with a focus in Europe and the Americas, as part of an international team, sponsored by Unilever’s Global Chief Procurement Officer and working across Unilever business groups.

The Climate & Nature Fund enables high impact, through growth-based global value chain transformation and technology innovation, and as a platform for collaboration with partners in innovation and financing that help scale impact faster and further. The commitment of €1 Billion will enable achievement of ambitions focusing on delivering goals under the 4 sustainability priorities – Climate, Nature, Plastics & Livelihoods. The Climate & Nature Fund is part of Unilever’s strategy of intervention in the value chain, to unlock impact and business performance, through M&A, investments and long-term strategic partnerships.

You will be part of a global financing and investment squad responsible for developing, implementing and the ongoing performance management of financing and innovation partnerships and programs, and the origination and monitoring of direct and fund investment strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Project origination and program management:

• Climate Investments for Net Zero Goals: developing and managing partnership and investment strategies for alternative feedstock and clean energy, collaborating with Co-Financing Solutions Manager and Supplier Climate Program Managers on developing and structuring external financing partnerships.
• Packaging & Circular Economy Strategy: support development and management of recycling and circular economy innovations and partnerships, including co-management of our external innovation partnership called 100+ Accelerator.
• Key relationship manager for internal partner collaboration with R&D, Supply Chain, Finance & Treasury, Assurance, Global Sustainability, and Business Units.
  
  

Partnership Development And Influencing The Field

• Contribute to elevating the leadership profile of the Unilever Climate & Nature Fund.
• Develop and maintain effective external financing and innovation partnerships.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 5-10 years professional experience related to the fields of value chain investment, innovation partnerships , or impact investment.
• Market knowledge and insights of sustainability in industry or supply chains.
• Proven experience delivering and managing complex and multi-stakeholder projects with strong business case execution.
• External network desirable within public and private sector financial institutions.
• Knowledge and experience preferred working on sustainability and investment strategies in supply chains and areas relevant to Unilever’s business groups (Personal Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, Home Care, Foods).
  
  

Skills

• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial growth mindset, a strong bias for action, accountability and interested in innovation and collaboration.
• Strong financial and analytical skills for building business cases and development / collaboration on financing solutions.
• Strong skills in program management skills and data-driven decision making.
• Ability to build, manage, and lead relationships with internal stakeholders.
• Proven strength in execution and able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong at communicating ideas to business partners, internally and externally, translating these into effective proposals conveying value and influencing.
• Business acumen and ability to understand how the organization derives value from opportunities, interventions and capabilities for decarbonization and nature positive strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to strategically motivate/influence colleagues and senior stakeholders, and in the process holding oneself as well as others accountable for reaching ambitious targets.
  
  

OUR OFFER

• Competitive annual bonus.
• Company car or car allowance.
• Private pension plan.
• Private medical care (Medicover).
• Private life insurance (Unum).
• Sports and wellness package (Benefit Systems).
• Two additional vacation days.
• Access to the Unilever employee shop.
• Access to Legimi (e‑book platform).
• Psychological support via the EAP platform.
• Hybrid working model: 3 days in the office / 2 days remote
  
  

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.