Unilever Looking for Business Development Manager – South Auckland at Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Full Time

On any given day, 2.5 billion people globally use Unilever products to feel good, look good and get more out of life. Many of our brands are well-known, household staples and old-time favourites including Dove, Rexona, Lynx, Vaseline, OMO/Persil, Surf, TRESemmé, Continental, Ben & Jerry’s and Streets.

We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today. In 2022 Unilever Australia & New Zealand became a Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp), joining a growing network of organisations committed to galvanising a stronger, more inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy for all.

A job at Unilever is a career made by you, with development opportunities, benefits and a working culture that embraces diversity and is pioneering flexibility. There’s no better time to join our team!

At Unilever NZ, we have also embarked on something special: we are proud to be undertaking a 4 Day work week. The 4DWW will see our staff retain 100 percent of their salaries, while working 80 percent of the time and delivering 100 percent of business outcomes. The Business Development Manager role is designed to be fully functional in the 4-Day work week.

Job Summary

The Field Team is the front facing, execution arm of Unilever New Zealand. This critical function ensures that Unilever’s category & customer growth plans are executed within our key customer partners. Building internal and external relationships at all levels & functions within our customers are the key building blocks to the success of our business.

We are looking for an exceptional Business Development Manager who will be the link between the front line of retail and Unilever. They are responsible for the development and delivery of the execution strategy of our business in some of NZ’s biggest retail stores (New World, Pak N Save).

Role Responsibilities

• Development & execution of a territory business plan / strategy to deliver growth
• Lead quarterly ‘Unilever Business Review’s’ with each store in the territory
• Use of Dunnhumby and Neilson data tools to develop store-based insights, create compelling data driven sales stories to unlock sales objectives / KPIs
• Manage the ‘Partner for Growth’ (JBP/Certified replacement) process to unlock best in class instore practices from Commercial Review outcomes
• Execution of the ‘Unilever Field Activity Plan’
• Maintaining strong collaborative relationships with stores across all levels (Owner Operators, Grocery Managers, Buyers, Store Merchandising Team)
• Active participation in Unilever Team Meetings (BDM Weekly Meeting, BPM’s, Go-to-Market, Unilever Conferences & Unilever Hui’s)
• Coordination of Unilever CSR’s (eg: BIG staff) focusing on:
• Resolution of coverage challenges
• Review of CSR compliance reports for each store and escalation of non-compliance of FS HQ Plan for resolution with the store
• Use FS official escalation processes to report & resolve non-compliance challenges to the HQ centralized plan (with Unilever CM’s/NFM as a secondary escalation point)
• Identification and negotiation of incremental store based opportunities across the Unilever portfolio including:
• Shelf space & positioning,
• Recommended & optional ranges,
• Over & above displays
• Improved display location, guidelines (mudmap) & stock weight
• Store events,
• Clearance

• Be the voice of Unilever to our retail store customers, sharing company updates, brand or product information & business/category insights
• Provide feedback into the Unilever business on customer needs, store based insights & opinions/perspectives for improvement
• Reasonable level periodic in-store support of Unilever’s business interests (example: POG implementation, store training). This should be the exception not the norm.
• Periodic review of operational elements in the store to identify and resolve challenges inhibiting Unilever’s business performance
• Stock Counts, shelf holdings & minimum presentation levels (to improve OSA)
• Promotional stock weights (for price promotions / display builds)
• Cutting in of NPD/Core Range (by exception)
• TEMPORARY (until June-24): for categories within PNS stores not yet transitioned to the commercial review model (eg: Hair). Manage the:
• Execution of Unilever JBP/Certified programs
• Optimise Unilever range and space
• Promotional deal sheets and order coordination
• Display allocation, location, mudmap & trade spend agreement with strong ROI focus + invoice management

Key Skills

• Passion for High Performance & delivery against KPIs
• Strong at persuasive selling
• Strong Negotiation skills
• Strong communication skills
• Teamwork and collaboration skills (internally & externally)
• Strong category and customer knowledge (based on data & analytic ability, Dunnhmby/Neilson)
• Self-motivated with strong personal leadership
• Ability to identify and manage risk
• Competent Presentation skills (simplify complex data into simple sales stories)
• Flexible mindset with ability to change and adapt to different business needs

Does this sound like You

• Minimum of 2 to 5 years FMCG or sales experience (essential)
• Experience using Dunnhumby/Neilson data tools (desirable)
• Business related degree (desirable)

What Awaits You At Unilever

The core of Unilever’s culture is captured as Human, Purposeful, Accountable. You will be joining a dynamic, flexible, and inspiring work environment that truly cares about your wellbeing, values what you do and celebrates your success. This is your opportunity to be part of a purpose-led business and a global community where you can progress your career both locally and internationally. You will also benefit from amazing discounts on external company products, attractive employee referral reward program amongst other benefits.

This is a great opportunity to work within an iconic and global organisation. We have gained our reputation as one of the world’s most admired employers by providing an environment where individuals can achieve their goals, both professionally and personally.

Make no mistake we expect a lot from our people as they do of us. So, if you can rise to the challenge, don’t waste any time – apply now!

If you require reasonable adjustments for the application and recruitment process, please advise us on [email protected].

Unilever is an organization 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.

This means we encourage people with all backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities. Interested in learning more, check out our Reconciliation Action Plan and Workplace Adjustment Policy on the Unilever webpage.

At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! We encourage you to advise us at the time of your application if you require any reasonable adjustment so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.