We are currently seeking an interim Head of Skin (Beauty & Wellness Prospective Innovation) , 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 Blackfriars on London's Victoria Embankment, just a short walk from Blackfriars tube. This is a full-time temporary role to last until the end of October 2025, requiring 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying up to £88,000 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.
Due to the urgency of the role, candidates must be available immediately/have no notice period.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Marketing Director - Skincare, you will be expected to set the direction for the Big Bold Moves (BBMs) for our Skincare brands, creating multi-year branded platforms that will set the leadership of UL B&W on disruptive trends at speed & at scale.
Shape the Strategy & Future of Our Core Business: Support the Skin Care Brand Partner & Design Lead by feeding into the growth opportunities, to ensure these help our brands drive their strategy at scale & lead these into brand innovation roadmaps & projects.
Refine Beauty Craftsmanship & Storytelling via Science and Desire: Deliver through your team by seamlessly blending scientific & aesthetics/semiotics insights with consumer desires & deep brand understanding, honing your craft in beauty storytelling to help our products stand out in the market.
Deliver innovation projects under the BBMs: Use agile approach to deliver innovation aligned with future market opportunities / future consumer needs. Lead multi-functional project teams (Mkg, CMI, R&D, SC, Finance, Regs, Legal), partnering closely with BGs & Business Unit teams to execute and bring innovations to market across the full marketing mix.
Own budget, recommend investment required for assigned brand category activities
Team management: Lead a team of 3 (1x Marketing Manager, 2x Marketing Assistant Managers)
The scope of this role is global, which means that you will be partnering with both Global & local teams in our top BUs and markets (e.g. US, UK, India…) & have the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of different consumer trends and unique market dynamics globally.
Key Requirements
Integrated Marketing Expertise: Proven experience in brand development with a focus on delivering bottom-line results.
Innovation Leadership: Previous experience in a Global/Regional Innovation role is essential, with a strong understanding of the Skin Care category.
Project Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and deliver complex projects with multiple stakeholders. Ideally - ability to drive innovation at portfolio level
Strategic & fact-informed thinking: Ability to build & assess strategic ambition, and connect the dots between trends & brands strategy with good instinctive judgement to focus on the biggest opportunities. Able to filter relevant feedback while keeping a global mindset.
Entrepreneurial Drive, with high stakeholder influencing know-how: You are a proactive, accountable doer with the determination & agility to make things happen, forging strong working relationships with senior stakeholders, cross-functional partners and agencies, eager to learn, resilient & apt at finding solutions where others see blockers. Maintain an outward focus, building strong partnerships.
Diverse Experience: Experience in both smaller, growth-stage companies and larger, established businesses.
Effective Communication: Communicate clearly and persuasively, tailoring your approach to different audiences
Storytelling & Communication: Articulate ideas compellingly across various media, from websites to social platforms
Financial Savvy: Strong awareness of financial metrics, with experience leading P&Ls and driving business performance across levers.
Consumer-Centric: Strong bias towards understanding and prioritizing consumer needs.
Aesthetic Excellence: You have a keen eye for detail, a strong sense of aesthetics, and take pride in delivering high-quality work-never settling for "good enough."
Learning Orientation: Willingness to listen, learn, and incorporate expertise from others.
Resilience & managing ambiguity: Maintain effectiveness & ability to deliver when managing uncertainty and volatility with a can-do attitude.
Collaborative Team Player: Thrive in team settings, contributing to collective success without being territorial.
Organizational Excellence: Push boundaries, stay focused, and know when to move forward without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.
Passion for Skincare and Beauty Trends: You are naturally curious, always on the lookout for the latest beauty trends, with a particular personal passion & curiosity for Skincare brands and how they engage with their audiences.
Educational Background: A university degree or equivalent professional qualification is preferred
