Data Science Manager - Customer Development, XOPS

Build data science products that shape how Unilever grows

Unilever is one of the world’s leading consumer goods companies, with iconic brands such as Dove, Knorr, Domestos, Hellmann’s, Persil, Cif, TRESemmé, Rexona, and Axe. Our products are used by billions of people around the world, giving our teams the opportunity to solve meaningful problems at extraordinary scale.

Guided by our purpose—to make sustainable living commonplace—we combine technology, data, and deep business expertise to create a more innovative, efficient, and future-fit Unilever.

About Global Data & Technology (GDT)

Data Foundation, part of GDT, is helping make Unilever truly data-intelligent. We build the data, analytics, and AI capabilities that power better decisions across the business—from accelerating innovation and strengthening brands to improving customer execution, personalising consumer experiences, and transforming internal operations.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a Data Science Manager to join our team within Data Foundation. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys combining technical depth, people leadership, and strong business partnership to turn complex commercial challenges into scalable data science solutions.

You’ll lead data science delivery across products and markets, shape technical direction, and help build a high-performing team. From framing the right problem through to industrialising solutions and driving adoption, you’ll have ownership across the end-to-end data science lifecycle—and the opportunity to influence how data science is applied at scale across Unilever.

What You’ll Do

Shape products and technical direction

• Own and evolve the data science roadmap for products across our Customer Development (CD) portfolio, connecting commercial priorities with measurable business outcomes.

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics solutions that are robust, scalable, and interpretable.

• Set high modelling and analytical standards across classical statistics, machine learning, and emerging Generative and Agentic AI capabilities.

• Ensure solutions are production-ready and industrialised using cloud platforms such as Azure and Databricks, with strong MLOps practices.

Grow people and capability

• Build a culture of ownership, curiosity, continuous improvement, and disciplined delivery.

• Provide hands-on technical guidance, thoughtful feedback, and mentorship to data scientists, helping the team grow its skills and impact.

Partner with the business

• Work closely with Product, Engineering, and Business stakeholders to define the right problems, prioritise opportunities, and accelerate adoption of data science solutions.

• Turn complex analytics into clear, compelling, and actionable insights for senior stakeholders.

Innovate and scale

• Champion agile experimentation and iterative delivery, helping teams learn quickly and translate ideas into impact.

• Identify opportunities to create reusable frameworks, scale successful solutions, and bring innovation into the global CD product pipeline.

What You’ll Bring

Technical expertise

• A degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, or a related technical discipline.

• Proven experience leading data science teams and delivering complex analytics initiatives in a commercial or product-focused environment.

• Strong data science modelling expertise, with depth in several of the following areas:

  • Econometric modelling, including regression and Bayesian approaches, particularly for pricing and promotions in CPG/Retail.

  • Time-series forecasting.

  • Simulation and optimisation.

• Experience designing and industrialising machine learning solutions at scale; exposure to agent-based AI systems is a strong advantage.

• Advanced proficiency in Python, Spark, and modern analytics stacks, with hands-on experience using Databricks and Azure.

Can do leader mindset 

• Ready to lead the design and delivery of data science and AI solutions.

• An excellent communicator who can influence senior stakeholders through data science driven narratives.

• A strategic thinker who can prioritise effectively and focus teams on the work that creates the greatest value.

• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, global, and ambiguous environment while balancing immediate delivery with a longer-term vision.

• A strong commitment to ethical data use, governance, and responsible decision-making.

Why Join Us?

• Shape global impact: Help define high-impact data science products used across markets and business teams.

• Work at the frontier: Apply cutting-edge data science, machine learning, and AI technologies to real-world commercial challenges.

• Lead and grow: Play a meaningful leadership role while developing talented data scientists and strengthening team capability.

• Scale innovation: Turn successful ideas into reusable solutions with global reach.

• Make a difference: Contribute directly to Unilever’s growth ambitions and sustainability purpose.

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.

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If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected]. 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.