The purpose of the Associate Scientist will be to support Unilever Skin Care brands through category design activities involving creams and lotions, sunscreens, Petroleum Jelly and lip products. Additional work will center around new product forms and sourcing which create new opportunities for flexibility speed and savings.This will involve working with internal R&D teams, Procurement, Marketing, Brand and Supply Chain, both locally and regionally, as well as external suppliers.

When technologies and product forms are developed internally on the bench the position will also entail responsibilities for scale up through the pilot plant and into production. When technologies and product forms are sourced through third parties scale up activities will be largely handled externally. In both development scenarios the associate scientist will be involved in coordinating claims support for new products and technologies.

Who You Are & What You’ll Do

As an Associate Scientist, you will support specific technical deliverables that are part of different projects run by Technical Project Leaders (TPL) within a broader R&D team.

• You’re a born leader: You will be working in a very dynamic work environment which will require you to be very agile and take a lot responsibility over your day to day activities without constant over-site. The group you will be working in is filled with many leaders. We lead through example collectively and through collaboration.
• You’re a dot connector:The position works in conjunction with broader R&D teams including: Process Engineers, Packaging Engineers, CTI (Consumer Technical Insights), Microbiology, Material Experts, Data & Digital, Regulatory and Technical Project Leaders (TPLs).
• You’re a paradox navigator:Unilever thrives in an ever-changing ultra-competitive business environment. Because of this we must often work under paradoxical demands and directions. Example, work faster but use less resource. In this position you must juggle these demands and constantly figure out what is best for your projects and the business.
• You’re a culture & change champion:This position we will be a part of a team that will be often developing products somewhat independent of specific Brand briefs. This way of working allows us to react faster to market changes to get new products on the market, this is a recently new way of working for Unilever Skin care. It is expected that one will champion this new way of working through making it a success.Additionally the position will also be a new type hybrid roll were one not only has bench formulation responsibilities but also claims and engineering scale-up responsibilities. Again your success will make you a change champion.

You Will:

• Lead and deliver bench top product development for innovation or renovation projects based on product brief from TPLs. Lead and deliver bench top product optimization, new ingredients or ingredients from new suppliers screening and validation for quality and value improvement projects.
• Perform, when required, pilot plant trials and all analytical and sensory evaluations of the samples
• Weigh out and batch formulations for pilot plant runs/product bench optimizations/samples preparation for showings/cuttings including ingredient organization and inventory management and logistics (FIFO), interfacing with suppliers to order ingredients where necessary.
• Perform inventory management and logistics of product samples (pilot plant produced or delivered from factories), manage products disposals and ship samples to other Unilever sites globally.
• Conduct product showings/cuttings with cross-functional teams including CTI.
• Interpret analytical, testing & showings results and suggest scientifically sound next steps (with appropriate assistance and support).
• Lead the process of specification creation in SAP PLM from the request to the approved status and create specifications for all new ingredients and new products to be launch.
• Lead the delivery of Third Party Manufacturing Manual for outsourced product launches.
• Participate in factory trials for commercialization when required.
• Identify improved ways of working and simplified processes.
• Operates according to procedures and ways of working in line with Unilever frameworks, standards, and policies (SHE, SEAC, etc), relevant regulations (i.e. FDA), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) as well as Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs).
• Adheres to all company policies, programs, rules, regulations, and safety rules.

What You’ll Need Too Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering
• 0-2 years’ experience in Cosmetic formulation preferred but not required
• Proficient in Microsoft office packages (Excel, Word, Power point)
• Time management skills to coordinate multiple work streams

Unilever has a simple but clear purpose – to make sustainable living commonplace. They believe this is the best long-term way for the business to grow. On any given day, two billion people from around the world use Unilever products from iconic brands like Dove, Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Lipton, Dollar Shave Club, and Knorr to look good, feel good, and get more out of life.