Head of Trademarks & Brand Protection

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: Head of Trademarks and Brand Protection

Location: 100VE

Company Overview: 
 
Established over 100 years ago, we are one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies. We are known for our great brands and our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance.  Our products are sold in over 190 countries, and, on any given day, 3.4 billion consumers worldwide use them. We own some of the best known and best loved brands, including Dove, Persil, Axe, Cif, Comfort, Dermalogica, Hellmann’s, Knorr TRESemmé and Vaseline. 
 
In order to unlock our full potential and accelerate business performance, Unilever has set out a Growth Action Plan. It outlines the steps we are taking to deliver faster growth, drive productivity and simplicity, and dial up our performance culture.  Our 30 Power Brands are front and centre of our Growth Action Plan, as is unmissable brand superiority across the 6Ps, as well as science and technology. 

Unilever's legal team has recently been awarded Most Innovative In-House Legal Team in Europe and In-House Legal Team using GenerativeAI.  We are at the forefront of innovation and digitilisation with GenAI tools, data and Powerhouses (in-sourced hubs in Barcelona, Mexico City and Bangalore) shaping the future of how we work.   

 
JOB PURPOSE 

The role of the Legal Group is to protect Unilever and help it to win.  This role reports into the Chief Intellectual Property Officer and is a newly created role that will have global responsibility for trade marks and brand protection.   

In March 2024, Unilever announced steps to accelerate Growth Action Plan (“GAP”) through the separation of Ice Cream and launch of a productivity programme designed to simplify our portfolio and drive greater productivity supporting our ambition to position Unilever as a world-leading consumer goods company delivering strong, sustainable growth and enhanced profitability. 

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to join Unilever at a pivotal moment for the company. The role will suit someone who is entrepreneurial, has proven experience of change management on a global scale and is highly collaborative.   You will be part of a senior leadership team, and will business partner senior leaders within Legal and other functions such as Marketing and R&D. 

You will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Corporate IP strategy and will develop the trade mark and brand protection strategy to support Unilever’s goals.  You will lead and work closely with all our trade mark and Legal teams around the world to set and drive strategies for our brands, design optimal ways of working, including how we integrate TM team members located in our Powerhouses, lead the selection of external legal vendors, set and manage budgets and business partner key leader