Co-packing Lead

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 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.
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.
Co‑packer Performance & Governance
Own end-to-end co‑packer KPI performance, including Quality (QC compliance, defect reduction), Safety standards and regulatory compliance, Operational efficiency (OEE) and service delivery (OR)
Drive performance reviews, identify gaps, and implement improvement actions
Ensure full compliance with Unilever standards, audit requirements, and agreed SOPs
Production Strategy & Capacity Planning
Lead long-term capacity planning and network strategy for co‑packers
Support and execute co‑packer relocation projects
Identify opportunities for in‑sourcing vs outsourcing optimization
New Product Development (NPD) & insourcing
Drive NPD execution at co-packers, ensuring timeline and quality delivery
Lead in‑sourcing initiatives, including Home Care and Beauty & Personal Care products
Coordinate cross-functional alignment to ensure successful implementation
Cost Management & Financial Governance
Partner with Finance to control and optimize conversion cost / co-packer cost structure
Manage and validate stock control and inventory reconciliation, financial compliance and sign-off processes
Oversee RM/PM control center compliance at site level
Supply Chain & Operations Control
Oversee DSR (Daily/Delivery Service Reporting) tracking and performance
Ensure robust stock accuracy and control processes
Manage operational readiness and issue resolution with co-packers
Stakeholder Management
Act as key interface with internal stakeholders (Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, Procurement, Production, Engineer, Planner)
Influence and align senior stakeholders to drive decision-making
People Management & Leadership
Lead and develop internal team members
Provide guidance and governance to co-packer teams and 3PL partners
Build capability and performance culture across extended teams
Contract & Commercial Management
Manage and govern forklift commercial contracts
Ensure vendor performance aligns with contractual agreements and service expectations
Candidate Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or related fields)
Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing or production operations, preferably within FMCG or high-volume production environments
Proven track record in managing end-to-end production performance, including safety, quality, service, and cost
Experience working with or optimizing high-speed production lines and machinery efficiency (OEE improvement)
Exposure to production expansion, capacity planning, or operational scaling projects is highly advantageous
Skills & Competencies
Excellent English proficiency (both written and spoken)
Strong operational and analytical mindset, with the ability to identify gaps and drive continuous improvement
Proven stakeholder management skills, with ability to collaborate across functions
Solid understanding of production KPIs such as OEE, service level, quality, and cost control
Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and execution capability
Behavioral Attributes
Highly agile, adaptable, and resilient in a fast-paced environment
Demonstrates strong ownership and accountability
Eager to learn, open to change, and continuously seek improvement opportunities
Able to influence and drive results through both direct teams and external partners
Curious