R&D Assistant Manager

The Ice Cream division at Unilever is preparing to stand on its own, aiming to become an independent, EUR 8.3 billion publicly listed company by the end of 2025. We’re on a mission to create the ultimate snacking company. A place where growth, innovation, founder and ownership mentality, and performance are cultivated and rewarded. And where we craft extraordinary ice cream experiences - transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories. Because we know, life tastes better with ice cream.

ABOUT THE MAGNUM ICE CREAM COMPANY:

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is all about growth. Growing our business. Growing our customers’ businesses. Growing our people’s careers. Growth begins with empowerment. So we free our people to be innovative, responsible entrepreneurs, driven and equipped to give our consumers more amazing products and unforgettable moments – and having fun doing it.

With 19.000 expert ice cream colleagues and iconic brands like Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s, loved in 76 countries, we are the world’s largest Ice Cream company leading the industry. We have been taking pleasure seriously for more than 100 years, serving happiness with every lick or scoop of ice cream for generations.

We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of The Magnum Ice Cream Company as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen before the end of 2025.

We dream big but keep things simple to act fast.

If you want to grow with us, make an impact, and shape the future of Ice Cream, this is the place for you!

JOB PURPOSE:

If you are a passionate product development enthusiast eager to work in R&D—whether it’s solving unique challenges, leading innovative projects, or contributing fresh ideas—this dynamic role is made for you. Your creativity and drive will be essential in ensuring our products are readily accessible to consumers. You will achieve this by managing customer strategies, driving business planning, and overseeing distributor management and development to optimize product availability and market reach. Assure our products are available to be easily obtained by consumers by managing customer strategy with business planning and establishing distributor management and development.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Designing and carrying out the practical & lab-based work program linked to assigned projects

Manage project timelines, risk analysis, resource loading associated with projects assigned

Work on ingredient sourcing includes first point of contact with relevant supplier(s), link in with global partners and ownership to drive quality integration into our systems and processes.

Work on the provision of all related documentation linked to assigned project including documentation for consumer testing, requirements for registration, certification, or specific local country-initiated requests

Ownership of scale up trials required to confirm viability including ownership of trial briefing, connect with Supply Chain (SC) for factory trial run execution

Responsible for ensuring selected formulations are submitted & completed for relevant product performance studies (including tasting & preference assessments, stability & shelf-life testing).

Have awareness of competitor landscape, commercial production, SC model and project management processes

Support trial & process development in pilot plant for new products

Ensure related documentation and quality delivery during project

Support government audit and related activities

Acting as a core member of Indonesia R&D Project Teams, providing necessary input for Innovation projects required from processing end.

Leading pilot/main plant trials through cross-functional teams, analyzing the results, communicating the outcome and its effect on the business to the relevant stakeholders.

Assessing the production capabilities of Unilever and third-party production sites for the projects, defining investment requirements together with SC Engineering team and giving R&D support during the project implementation.

Supporting the activities relating to the Ice cream category located in Cikarang. Those activities include operation, upgrade planning, and operation safety.

Following process technology roadmap aligned with global R&D and implementing best practices in the cluster.

Assisting in SC capacity unlocking and resilience projects that are directly related with processing, such as waste management/reduction and simplification.

Expanding digital capability of R&D by actively being a part of UL’s digital transformation agenda.

Savings opportunity from Process interventions.

Upskilling Team from Processing Development Projects.

Connect with Processing Community in region to leverage learnings & Projects.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Master or Bachelor (or equivalent) in Food Science or Mechanical Engineering

3-5 years related experience in Foods or Ice Cream or FMCG on manufacturing management / product development/process development

Good understanding on project management

Experience in ice cream or food production, or experience in ice cream or food development with success launch in market is preferred

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

Knowledge of product development and relevant processing equipment principles and practices.

Proven ability to plan and manage your own work within a technical framework.

Ability to manage and communicate with stakeholders, including cross-functional colleagues, external partners, and those from non-technical backgrounds.

Technology & Digital savvy, agile, collaborative with strong growth mindset, personal mastery and passion for high performance

Data mining, capture and analytics for problem solving and modelling is a plus.

Good knowledge & skill set of product development

Process or equipment engineering knowledge in F&B or FMCG industry

Strong ownership and ability to fast-learning

Ability to manage and coordinate multiple tasks

Structured mindset

Good Time management skills

Ability to manage and coordinate multiple tasks

Fast action

LEADERSHIP: The Ice Cream Way

We are looking for bold, driven individuals who thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and share our approach to growth, collaboration, and innovation. Here’s what defines success in our organization:

Focus on Growth – Embracing new challenges, seeking opportunities to innovate, and continuously looking for ways to expand and improve. Whether it’s scaling markets, evolving roles, or leading teams, we value those who see possibilities and take initiative.

Speed & Simplicity – Working efficiently, adapting quickly, and simplifying processes by leveraging technology to drive better outcomes. With ethical decision-making as the backbone to this, we drive agility and stay focused.

Winning with Fun – Collaborating, integrating seamlessly with a founder/owner mindset, keeping what’s best for the company at the heart of all that is done. We build diverse, inclusive, and winning teams that drive our business.

Bold Innovations – Experimenting with fresh ideas and innovative thinking that shape our industry, through product development, process improvements, and customer experiences. Being obsessed with the consumer, we embrace change to drive growth.

Care & Challenge – Fostering an open, transparent environment where team members can grow, share feedback openly, holding themselves and each other to high standards while maintaining a strong sense of support and camaraderie.

Expertise in our category – A deep understanding of our industry, customers, and market trends enabling us to stay ahead and turn challenges into opportunities. Curiosity, insight, and a willingness to learn and lead enables us to remain market makers.

If these qualities resonate with you, we’d love to connect and explore how you can be part of our team.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

As publicly announced, it is envisaged that Unilever will internally separate its Ice Cream business by July 2025, at which point this role will transfer to the new Ice Cream company. It is expected that the Ice Cream business will then separate from Unilever by the end of 2025. Any impact on terms and conditions of employment will be communicated in due course. This proposal is subject to consultation where legally required.

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life. 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.

ARE YOU EXCITED TO CRAFT THE ICE CREAM FUTURE?

To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV, latest EoY and a motivation letter to . If you have been informed that you are at risk of redundancy, please make sure to tick this box during your application. Please also attach your letter of redundancy to the application.

Your application will be reviewed against our requirements, and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

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 apply for other positions.

Disclaimer

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

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.

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