- Senior
- Ufficio in London
Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.
Job Title: GMO Special Projects and Strategy Director
Business Function: GMO
Location: 100VE
Work-Level: 3X
JOB PURPOSE
The Special Projects and Strategy Director operates at the heart of the Growth & Marketing Office (GMO), with a unique mandate to lead and deliver high-impact strategic initiatives that shape the future of marketing at Unilever. This role combines strategic leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and operational excellence to drive transformation across the GMO and broader marketing ecosystem.
As a key member of the GMO Leadership Team (GMOLT), the role will partner closely with the Growth & Marketing Team to execute the Desire@Scale marketing transformation agenda. In addition to core strategic responsibilities, the individual will lead special projects that are critical to unlocking our Desire@Scale ambition—including corporate brand identity evolution, marketing AI enablement to name a few.
This role reports directly to the CGMO and support the wider GMO LT and CMO LT agendas.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy & Transformation Leadership
- Partner with CGMO and GMOLT to shape and execute Unilever’s Marketing Transformation strategy, ensuring we stay three steps ahead of consumer, industry, and technology trends.
- Lead special projects that are central to our transformation agenda, including but not limited to:
- Corporate Brand Identity Evolution: Define and drive the strategic refresh of Unilever’s corporate brand identity to reflect our purpose, values, and global ambition.
- Marketing AI Enablement: Spearhead the integration of AI tools and capabilities across marketing workflows—from insight generation to creative development and media optimization.
- Act as liaison to the CEO Strategy Office and BG President/CMO strategy offices for annual strategic planning, Quarterly Business Reviews, ULE, and Board meetings.
- Lead strategic goal-setting and KPI governance for GMO, ensuring performance management is aligned to transformation outcomes.
- Bring external foresight into GMO strategy by tracking emerging trends, competitor moves, and disruptive innovations.
Operational Excellence & Leadership Enablement
- Ensure operational effectiveness of GMO LT and CMO LT, enabling impactful decision-making and agile ways of working.
- Build and facilitate high-value agendas for GMO and CMO leadership meetings, driving clarity, alignment, and follow-through.
- Serve as first point of contact for Business Group CMOs and strategic partners across the enterprise.
- Partner with HR and Comms to craft compelling internal and external narratives, including townhall content and leadership messaging.
“Chief-of-Staff” to CGMO
- Provide strategic support to CGMO for ULE, Board, and external engagements.
- Act as trusted advisor and sounding board for CGMO on strategic decisions and priorities.
- Represent CGMO in select forums and engagements when required.
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
Focus on What Counts
- Strategic clarity and prioritization across complex transformation agendas.
- Strong analytical thinking and ability to distill complexity into actionable insights.
Execute with Excellence
- Proven track record in strategy-to-action execution, ideally in marketing or transformation roles.
- Skilled in stakeholder engagement, project management, and change leadership.
Stay Three Steps Ahead
- Highly organized, structured, and future-focused.
- Deep curiosity and external orientation—bringing the outside in.
Care Deeply
- Passionate about enabling marketers to thrive.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
- Collaborative, empathetic, and purpose-driven leader.
NOTES
Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications may not be processed.
By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.
Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner Anisha Kanani on [email protected]
What we offer
Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.
Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).
Location
In June 2020 we announced our plan to consolidate a number of Unilever’s offices across the South East of England into a new Unilever campus in Kingston-upon-Thames in or around early 2025. However, on the 08 August 2024 we announced to our existing staff our proposal to retain our central Head Office in London, 100 Victoria Embankment (“100VE”) until our lease expires in 2027. As a result of this new proposal, we will be consulting with our existing staff, and new joiners who join during this period of consultation at 100VE, on the proposal made in August 2024. During consultation we will clarify the future location of each team and function. This means your role will either be based in 100VE until 2027 or in Kingston-Upon-Thames from early 2025. As we are yet to commence consultation on the proposal you agree, until such a time when consultation has concluded, your normal place of work as set out in the enclosed Statement of Terms & Conditions will be 100VE. You agree that on the conclusion of the consultation your place of work will be 100VE or 100VE until early 2025 and then Kingston-upon-Thames ("the locations") and you will be notified of which of the locations will be your place of work after that consultation ends.
Relocation to the UK
Please be aware if you are applying for this role from outside the UK, if successful, your application will be treated as a self-initiated Change Location Outside of Country (CLOC) transfer. This means any relocation costs must be self-funded with the potential to reclaim some specific pre-approved expenses up to £5,000. Please speak to your Talent Partner if you have any questions.
