Innovation Foresight, Design and Beauty Academy Director
Innovation Foresight, Design and Beauty Academy Director

Innovation Foresight, Design and Beauty Academy Director

London Full-Time 72000 - 100000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the Foresight, Design & Beauty Academy team to drive innovation in beauty.
  • Company: Join a leading company transforming the beauty and wellbeing industry.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of beauty through strategic innovation and creative leadership.
  • Qualifications: Strong background in market strategy, innovation, and team leadership required.
  • Other info: Experience in luxury beauty brands is a plus; must be a collaborative go-getter.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 100000 ÂŁ per year.

Job Title: Innovation Foresight, Design & Beauty Academy Director

Location: London

Overview:

Reporting to the Beauty & Wellbeing Prospective Innovation & Sustainable Design SVP (PISD), and working with the leadership team, you will define and implement the department’s vision and strategy. You will use an ongoing innovation marketing plan to provide maximum value to key brands and Beauty & Wellbeing. This is a strategic role, and you will be responsible for driving profitable, sustainable, affordable, and desirable beauty at scale. In this role, your expertise will span the end-to-end innovation process – from spotting opportunities, to crafting ideas, facilitating workshops, writing product briefs, and collaborating with R&D and operational teams. You will manage the Foresight, Design & Beauty Academy Team.

This role will also lead the Beauty Academy, our global capability programme to transform B&W capabilities and expertise in Beauty to become a true industry challenger. This role will require a substantial investment in the key stakeholder relationships of both marketing and R&D leadership teams to ensure not just “bottom up” success of all our projects and relationships but also “top down” ability to impactfully influence stakeholders.

You will play a key role to shape our annual “InnoProf,” an exclusive event that showcases breakthrough ideas and innovations sourced from our key strategic partners. This event is closely linked to B&W macro spaces, High Growth Spaces, and Big Bold Move platforms, translating science into curated, holistic solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead the Foresight, Design and Beauty Academy team, building an inclusive, diverse culture and a high-performing team.
  • In collaboration with the B&W Prospective Innovation and Sustainability Marketing Director, act as the strategic partner to the global hair and skin brand leads across trends, innovation and design. You will be responsible for developing the innovation strategy across our hair and skin brands and then executing that strategy as a series of workshops in partnership with the brand team to tangibly land this in the business.
  • Develop detailed strategic packaging briefs in partnership with the brand leads and oversee the refinement of packaging prototypes while maintaining design standards throughout the development process.
  • Foster strategic partnerships internally and externally to create a design ecosystem driving growth and agility at scale. You will be the bridge between global marketing and R&D collaborating with S&T and Packaging.
  • Lead the creation of Beauty & Wellbeing innovation and design trends (e.g. Macro Spaces, Pitch Beauty Futures and any other new strategic trends workstreams) delivering long and short-term foresight helping brands to translate them into leading edge and tangible consumer-focused strategies, innovation, and experiences.
  • Utilise macro space trends to identify market development opportunities across the B&W portfolio. Work with the B&W Prospective Innovation and Sustainability Marketing Director to prioritise initiatives based on alignment with business strategy and the value generated for current and future users.
  • Partner with the B&W Prestige brands to cascade Macro Space trends and lead innovation workshops to translate these trends into tangible ideas in the innovation pipeline.
  • Drive consumer-centric innovation, understanding the consumer problem to solve, the desired consumer experience, and ideal product/pack to create a superior mix.
  • Lead the development and global deployment of the Beauty Academy capability programme to transform, at scale, B&W capabilities and expertise in Beauty to become a true industry challenger.
  • Work with HR team to measure the uptake and impact of all training against priority metrics.
  • Develop a partner network to find industry experts and best practise agencies to develop leading-edge capability content and participate as experts in co-creation workshops.
  • Oversee budget compliance and allocation for direct reports with the PISD team.
  • Act as site leader for Pitch London and/or future B&W collaboration spaces and manage the day-to-day operations of the building.

Relevant Experience:

  • Strong expertise in identifying market opportunities and developing innovation strategy and crafting disruptive concepts that can transform the market.
  • Experience leading strategic trends and foresight projects.
  • Experienced in agile practices and willingness to foster a non-hierarchical structure.
  • Proven track-record in leading multidisciplinary teams with experience aligning different stakeholders across functions, global and local and acting as a strategic partner to brand teams.
  • Working knowledge of end-to-end product development.
  • Experience in working in both global and local roles.
  • Understanding of the beauty market and/or lifestyle brands is a plus.
  • Experience in the premium or luxury segment of the beauty market with strong experience working on Prestige brands.
  • Experience in developing and deploying marketing capability programmes.
  • Experience in planning, organising and executing successful large events e.g. conferences, trade shows, corporate meetings or large social gatherings.

Key Skills:

  • A Beauty Crafter who is comfortable in both the R&D world, science & technology savvy, and at empathetic to the consumer. Able to think expansively and holistically about the functional and the emotional and translate this into a compelling story.
  • Ability to readily translate an aesthetic vision, breaking it down into clear beauty codes, who speaks the language of beauty and design and can articulate that forward in mix development.
  • Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to articulate creative concepts and rationale to internal stakeholders.
  • Strategic thinker, analytical with a future-oriented mindset who cannot just identify and codify trends but can apply them for the benefit of innovation and our brands.
  • Go-getting entrepreneur with an obsession for growth and finding new opportunities.
  • Meticulous attention to detail in execution and design aesthetics.
  • Collaborative approach able to bring disparate groups of people together to create a unique team to innovate successfully.
  • Strong people leadership and talent development, able to inspire a team and coach individuals to reach their potential.
  • Curiosity and a passion for learning and building capability in others.
  • Resilient with the ability to manage uncertainty and volatility.
  • Excellent financials and organisational skills.

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Innovation Foresight, Design and Beauty Academy Director employer: Unilever

As the Innovation Foresight, Design & Beauty Academy Director in London, you will join a forward-thinking company that prioritizes creativity and collaboration. Our inclusive work culture fosters diversity and innovation, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development. With access to industry experts and a commitment to transforming beauty capabilities, this role offers a unique chance to make a significant impact in a dynamic and evolving market.
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Contact Detail:

Unilever Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Innovation Foresight, Design and Beauty Academy Director

✨Tip Number 1

Make sure to showcase your experience in leading multidisciplinary teams. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully aligned different stakeholders across functions, as this is crucial for the role.

✨Tip Number 2

Demonstrate your understanding of the beauty market, especially in the premium or luxury segment. Share insights or trends you've identified that could be relevant to the company's innovation strategy.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your experience with agile practices and how you've fostered a non-hierarchical structure in previous roles. This will show your adaptability and leadership style.

✨Tip Number 4

Be ready to articulate your vision for consumer-centric innovation. Think about how you can solve consumer problems and create superior experiences, as this aligns with the core responsibilities of the position.

We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Foresight, Design and Beauty Academy Director

Strategic Thinking
Market Opportunity Identification
Innovation Strategy Development
Disruptive Concept Crafting
Agile Practices
Multidisciplinary Team Leadership
Stakeholder Alignment
End-to-End Product Development Knowledge
Beauty Market Understanding
Luxury Segment Experience
Marketing Capability Program Development
Event Planning and Execution
Communication Skills
Influencing Skills
Analytical Skills
Future-Oriented Mindset
Detail Orientation
Collaborative Approach
People Leadership
Talent Development
Curiosity and Passion for Learning
Resilience
Financial Management Skills
Organizational Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role: Before you start writing your application, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Innovation Foresight, Design & Beauty Academy Director position. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the strategic role outlined in the job description.

Highlight Relevant Experience: Focus on showcasing your strong expertise in identifying market opportunities and developing innovation strategies. Provide specific examples of how you've led multidisciplinary teams and aligned stakeholders across functions, especially in the beauty or lifestyle sectors.

Demonstrate Leadership Skills: Emphasize your ability to lead and inspire teams. Discuss your experience in talent development and how you've fostered an inclusive and high-performing culture in previous roles. This is crucial for a leadership position like this one.

Craft a Compelling Narrative: Use storytelling to articulate your vision for the role. Explain how your background in R&D, consumer insights, and design can contribute to the company's goals. Make sure to connect your personal passion for beauty and innovation with the company's mission.

How to prepare for a job interview at Unilever

✨Showcase Your Strategic Vision

Prepare to discuss your vision for the Foresight, Design & Beauty Academy. Highlight how you would define and implement a strategy that aligns with the company's goals, focusing on innovation and sustainability in beauty.

✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration

Be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully collaborated with diverse teams, particularly in marketing and R&D. Emphasize your ability to bridge gaps between departments and drive projects forward.

✨Highlight Your Consumer-Centric Approach

Discuss your understanding of consumer needs and how you've translated insights into innovative products or experiences. Share specific instances where you've solved consumer problems through creative solutions.

✨Prepare for Trend Analysis Discussions

Familiarize yourself with current trends in the beauty industry and be prepared to discuss how you would leverage macro space trends to identify market opportunities. Show your analytical skills and future-oriented mindset.

Innovation Foresight, Design and Beauty Academy Director
Unilever
U
  • Innovation Foresight, Design and Beauty Academy Director

    London
    Full-Time
    72000 - 100000 ÂŁ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-02-08

  • U

    Unilever

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