Digital & Automation Leader

BW S&T Automation and Digital Portfolio Leader – Physical and Chemical Sciences

Work Level: WL2C

Location: Port Sunlight

Purpose: To lead the strategic application of digital, automation, and modelling technologies within BW S&T Physical and Chemical Sciences (PCS). This role will transform product innovation by integrating advanced data science, AI/ML and automation to maximise return on investment (RoI) and amplify innovation delivery.

Context: This role serves as the single point of contact for defining and implementing a coherent technical roadmap for digital and automation initiatives in physical and chemical sciences. It ensures alignment with the BW RD innovation ambition and drives execution of priority activities through internal and external partnerships. The role will be based in Port Sunlight/Material Innovation Factory and will report to the Head of Physical and Chemical Sciences for Beauty and Wellbeing.

Accountabilities:

Deliver impact from automation and digital approaches that drives superior technology delivery to meet the BW growth ambition

• Apply own expertise, knowledge and science understanding to deliver to critical innovation projects

• Work with BW S&T programme owners globally to identify the roadmap for investment and implementation of automation and digital technologies to amplify superior innovation delivery from the physical and chemical sciences

• Ensure that BW S&T resources are prioritized onto the areas where they will deliver the most impactful RoI to the BW business ambition. Build a portfolio of end-to-end cases studies and a year-on-year transfer funnel to demonstrate this impact

• Define and implement a robust data capture and storage infrastructure that unleashes the application of ‘big data’ in BW Physical and Chemical Sciences delivery – influence the broader BW and x-Unilever R&D communities to ensure that BW S&T PCS needs are addressed in investment in automation and digital

• Build strong and effective partnerships and collaborations with internal and external partners which deliver strategic objectives and innovation outcomes including playing a leading role in defining and implementing the vision for the next phase of investment in the Materials Innovation Factory (Unilever’s industry leading partnership - focused on digital and automation enabled material science - with the University of Liverpool)

• Ensure teams build and maintain healthy patent and intellectual property pipelines

People and resource management

• Line manage scientists (including managers) and build high performance team and healthy succession plans across the global BW PCS team

• Recruit/develop talent for long term research programs and expertise groups

• Manage budgets for capex investment, open innovation, bought-in-cost and consumables in order to deliver the agreed programme

Networking and Stakeholders

• Regularly update progress to senior leaders in S&T and global R&D

• Make timely changes to fit BW/R&D strategy, and to influence stakeholders to drive science/technology solutions into business

• Bridge S&T connections to category R&D and brand teams as required

• Build network with wider teams, including SERS, Procurement/Supply Chain, Biosciences, Design/CTI, Digital R&D as appropriate to facilitate programme delivery

Safety and sustainability:

• Ensure all work is done in accordance with Unilever health, safety and wellbeing policies and sustainable targets to meet Unilever’s high standards.

• Hold teams (internal and external) accountable for working to these standards

Key Interfaces:

Internal

• BW S&T Directors (Platform and Category)

• x-BG Digital and Automation Director

• Digital and Partnership R&D Group

• BW R&D Digital Director

• AMC Director in PS

• Digital Leads in Category R&D and other BG R&D teams

• BW S&T Modelling Portfolio Leader, Biological Sciences

External

• The Hartree Centre, Daresbury

• University of Liverpool (MIF) and other Unilever Science Grid Partners

• Automation & hardware partners; software suppliers & coders

• Government Funding Agencies

Skills/Experience:

• PhD in chemical, mathematical or physical science/engineering, or equivalent research background; experience in the FMCG industry would be hi