UFS R&D Support Manager, Future Technologies SEA
Job Description
About Unilever
With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are love and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.
At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.
Job Purpose
At Unilever Food Solutions, our purpose is to Free Chefs to love what they do. We work with Hotels, Restaurants and Caterers to create exciting menus that are good for diners, and good for the planet. Our brands include Knorr Professional & Best Foods— trusted and used by chefs and F&B operators every day.
Job Summary
The UFS R&D Support Manager – Future Technologies (SEA) plays a critical role in enabling the development and deployment of future-fit innovations across Southeast Asia. The role supports the pipeline of breakthrough technologies, accelerates innovation readiness, and strengthens technical capabilities to drive sustainable growth aligned with UFS strategy. This role partners closely with R&D leads, business teams, and external partners to translate emerging technologies into scalable, impactful solutions for the UFS portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
1. Future Technology Exploration & Deployment
- Identify, evaluate, and validate emerging technologies relevant to UFS categories (e.g., cooking aids, condiments, foodservice solutions).
- Support translation of early-stage concepts into viable prototypes and scalable solutions.
- Contribute to building a mid-to-long-term technology roadmap aligned with business and innovation priorities.
2. Innovation Pipeline Support
- Enable innovation projects by providing technical guidance, feasibility assessment, and risk mitigation.
- Ensure technologies are development-ready and aligned with product, process, and consumer requirements.
- Support delivery of innovation projects on time and in full in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
3. Capability & Knowledge Building
- Build and strengthen R&D capabilities in future technologies, including digital tools, formulation science, and process innovation.
- Drive knowledge sharing across SEA markets and with global R&D teams.
- Support training initiatives to upskill teams in emerging technology areas.
4. Cross-functional & External Collaboration
- Partner with Marketing, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Quality teams to ensure seamless technology integration into product development.
- Collaborate with external partners such as suppliers, startups, universities, and technology providers.
5. Project & Portfolio Management
- Manage a portfolio of technology support initiatives aligned with business priorities.
- Monitor progress, risks, and resource allocation to ensure effective delivery.
- Contribute to strategic decision-making on future innovation investments.
6. Governance, Compliance & Sustainability
- Ensure adherence to Unilever standards including safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
- Integrate sustainability considerations (e.g., packaging, ingredients, environmental impact) into technology development.
Key Interfaces
- UFS R&D Leads (SEA & Global)
- Marketing / CD / Business Teams
- Supply Chain & Procurement
- External innovation partners (startups, academia, suppliers)
Qualifications & Experience Required
- Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or related field
- Significant experience in R&D, product development, or technology development within FMCG or food industry more than 5 years
- Proven track record in innovation, project management, and cross-functional collaboration
- Strong understanding of product development, scale-up, and commercialization processes
- Strong English communication and presentation skills.
Preferred
- Experience in Cooking Aids / Condiments categories
- Exposure to digital, AI, or advanced food technologies
- Regional (SEA) or global project experience
Key Skills
- Innovation mindset with strong curiosity for emerging technologies
- Stakeholder management and influencing without authority
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
- Ability to work in diverse, multicultural environments
- Agile and resilient in fast-changing, complex environments
Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.