Manpower are currently seeking an interim Media Procurement Transformation Lead, to work with our global FMCG client Unilever, renowned for brands such as Dove, Sure, Persil, and Simple, to become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment.
The position is based at Kingston Upon Thames. This is a full-time temporary role till end of Oct 2027, requiring 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying up to £215,000 per annum, pro rata, depending upon experience.
The role currently offers a mix of remote and onsite working, subject to adjustment based on business requirements.
Background & Purpose of the Job
This is an exciting opportunity as part of Unilever media journey.
We operate at the forefront of competitive buying, sustainable sourcing and purpose-led partnerships. We seek to combine our own technology expertise and insights with our partners, to support the creation of disruptive sourcing strategies and supplier-led innovation that respond to ever-changing consumer needs quickly, flexibly and effectively.
ABOUT UNILEVER PROCUREMENT
Part of the Supply Chain family, Unilever Procurement is responsible for the spend of material and services spend globally with more than 50,000 suppliers, over half of them in MBS – Marketing and Business Services. Getting the right services and materials, ensuring responsible procurement is critical to ensuring desire at scale. Our teams work closely with the business to understand stakeholders needs, bring innovation to meet changing consumer, employees and customers needs, and drive financial value for Unilever through competitive buying. We are at the forefront of digital procurement, bringing new tools and analytics to drive data-based decisions.
ABOUT MBS
MBS, Unilever’s Marketing and Business Services Procurement team, is responsible for Unilever’s sourcing and supplier strategy and execution for all third party spend across Marketing, Business Services, and IT, supporting the business requirements of Brands, Business Units, Business Groups, and functions to drive growth through strategic supplier management, cost and value management, and innovation. The team manages an annual spend with a supplier base of about 40,000. Within MBS, The Media Procurement Transformation Lead role is responsible for driving a major organisational change initiative within media procurement, introducing roll-out of new technology and contemporary digital tools for the first time. The position will oversee efficiency delivery, adoption planning, and execution, while managing cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and value creation.
Key Accountabilities:
- Lead Organisational Change: Drive the transformation agenda, ensuring smooth adoption of new processes, tools, and ways of working across the organisation.
- Roll-out new Technology and contemporary digital tools: Oversee planning, deployment, and integration of new tech and contemporary digital tools and associated routes, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
- Efficiency Delivery: Accountable for delivering measurable efficiency improvements through process optimisation and technology adoption.
- Digital Enablement: Establish and embed contemporary digital tools to enhance transparency, automation, and performance tracking in media buying.
- Project & Stakeholder Management: Manage complex, cross-functional projects involving multiple teams, ensuring timely delivery and effective communication with senior stakeholders.
- Capability Building: Develop and implement training and change management programmes to enable successful adoption of new tools and processes.
- Performance Monitoring: Track progress against KPIs, efficiency targets, and adoption milestones, providing regular updates to leadership.
Experience Required:
Qualification/experience
- Proven experience in procurement transformation, digital tools implementation, or media buying technology.
- Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams.
- Expertise in change management and driving organisational adoption of new processes and technologies.
- Unsettled with status quo and not afraid to be provocative
- Analytical mindset with ability to quantify efficiency gains and value delivery.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills at senior levels.
- Experience on large-scale project management
- Experience in shaping and leading transformational business process reengineering, with experience driving Change Management initiatives.
General Skills & Competencies
- Passion for new technology and disruptive ideas
- Ability to work under pressure and in a complex global environment balancing a broad spectrum of stakeholder requirements
- Able to create and drive adoption and execution of a shared vision and strategy for change.
- Ability to interact with senior stakeholders cross effectively and efficiently functionally to understand their needs and deliver effective balanced solutions
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including creation and delivery of effective presentations
- High financial and business acumen
- Strong in selling ideas and concepts
- Strong in project and time management for complex global projects
- Stakeholder management and people skills
- Tenacious and resilient in the pursuit of challenging goals
- Travel:
- International travel required. Not projected to require more than 20% on average
Kingston working environment:
- Contractors who are based at Kingston will be eligible to get free parking at a local carpark
- There is a Unilever Staff Shop located on the Ground Floor next to the main entrance, where Contingent Workers can buy discounted Unilever products.
- A canteen
- A Gym is available for use on the Ground Floor (with subscription).
- Facilities in the gym include cardiovascular equipment, resistance machines, spin bikes, free weights area, boxing equipment and a stretch/matted area. Classes are also available and can be booked directly with the Gym. Shower facilities are available in the changing rooms, along with hairdryers.