Global Dove Skin Cleansing R&D Packaging Manager

Trumbull, CT
Full-time
$103,000 to $154,400
Posted Nov 12, 2026

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Skills

Project Management
Recruiting
Scheduling
Supply Chain

Job description

Join us as Global Dove Skin Cleansing R&D Packaging Manager

Location: Trumbull, CT

Terms & Conditions: Full time, International assignment is not available for this role and relocation for local and international candidates is not provided

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. We work on brands that are loved 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.

JOB PURPOSE:

Unilever recognizes Packaging as a critical part of the product mix. Not only does it fulfil a very important functional role, to contain, protect and inform, but also as the first “touchpoint” with the consumer; it must engage the consumer, reflecting the brand proposition, and delivering a delightful experience. To ensure the robustness and technical performance of new packaging before it is placed on the marketplace involves both design and technical innovation in packaging.

The Personal Care Category is seeking a dynamic, flexible, and innovative packaging leader for the Global Dove Skin Cleansing Packaging team. The job holder will work closely with the Global Skin Cleansing Associate Packaging Director for development & strategy of the Dove Premium Skin Cleansing packaging portfolio and to develop and nurture a collaborative team culture across the Dove premium packaging team.

Working closely with other Unilever functions as part of a cross-functional team, the job holder will be the packaging workstream leader on multiple high complexity global and/or NA specific projects in tandem, developing consumer and customer preferred packaging designs. The job holder will be expected to maximise the use of design tools and deliver projects using Unilever project tools (Innoflex, Functional Excellence, 1Unilever Packaging Process). The job holder can often be a Technical Project Leader, responsible for the delivery of all the R&D programme on a project.

This position will also support existing business through packaging revisions, cost improvement projects, planet positive projects, and packaging simplification projects. They must bring the necessary technical skill/expertise, passion for winning, owner’s mindset and project management rigor to deliver packaging innovation projects and related workstream activities in a dynamic environment and on time in full.

This position will interface with Brand Development, Package Design teams, Supply Chain, Procurement, Product development, Processing, CTI, CMI, and Packaging Suppliers, in order to drive consumer focused innovative and optimised packaging solutions.

The person in this role must possess the ability to anticipate technical issues and prepare risk mitigation plans to address. The ability to communicate, collaborate and influence effectively with technical and non-technical peers and stakeholders is essential. Must have demonstrated ability to present information to both technical and non-technical audiences and can use a range of communication styles according to the audience and situation.

The job holder will have WL1 junior packaging engineer reports and will be required to manage their business goals, and development plan

In addition to programme delivery, the job holder will build team and talent sharing technical expertise within the team, the way of working with other functions, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the team. The job holder will also have responsibility for driving Unilever’s packaging excellence best practices into the way of working in the category.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

•Packaging workstream leader, working with Brand Development and the cross functional project team, ensuring packaging is fit for purpose to meet the packaging brief, and delivered on time, in full

•Deliver packaging which not only meets the required quality and technical standards, but also delights the consumer and builds brand love, through using Unilever’s Packaging Excellence best practices

•Development of complex custom delivery systems which deliver key consumer benefit and open up new market spaces and address business needs from premiumization to plant positive solutions

•To help develop packaging capability within the team, and lead relevant group activities, at both a packaging, and at a category R&D, level

•Where assigned, to be the Technical Project Leader of a project, accountable for delivery of all R&D deliverables, and managing the programme of the R&D workstream leaders assigned to the project

•Manage, coach and develop WL1’s

•Develop comprehensive development testing protocols for all critical aspects of pack performance and ensure pack is tested against these.

•Budget responsibilities where relevant

•To develop and test packaging in accordance with the One Unilever Packaging Process (1UPP), and ensure that the packaging team is fully trained and adopting the 1UPP.

•To comply with the Unilever Code of Business Principles and all SHE and QA policies, including the support of product claims, risk management and environmental awareness

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

•Minimum 7 years in R&D packaging development within Personal Care, Beauty & Wellbeing or Prestige categories within both regional and global experience

•Technical Project Lead experience on multiple complex innovation programs

•Project Management experience with a proven track record of delivering multiple projects in tandem in a fast paced environment

•Experience as the R&D lead responsible for a complex brand program

•Highly Skilled and Experienced in managing and coaching people

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

•Expertise in key packaging materials for category – rigid plastics, bottles, closures, dispensers, aerosols, flexibles and paperboard and basic awareness of all packaging materials

•Technical Specification & Supply Chain Support

•Fully Operational Project Management Skills: Must be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of project management to realize the order, importance, and impact of appropriate project activities and maintain packaging commitments to project scheduling.

•Fully operational knowledge of the package development process and engineering principles

•Ability to negotiate and clearly and concisely communicate timelines, deliverables and project risks on cross functional teams

•Ability to navigate all relevant-to-role digital systems and authoring documentation

•B.S Degree (Packaging Science or Engineering equivalent)

•Understanding of consumer, business, category, and channel needs and the relationship to packaging decisions & execution; An entrepreneurial mindset is advantageous.

Pay: The pay range for this position is $103,000 to $154,400. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

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At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do . We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.

Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities.

For more information on your federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations unilever.com . Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.