- Job Title: Senior Brand Manager - Ice Cream (Sydney CBD/Hybrid)
- Company: Unilever
- Location: Sydney CBD, NSW, Australia
- Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid (2-3 days on-site)
- Category: Marketing & Brand Management
- Date Posted: May 15, 2025
- Experience Level: Mid-Senior (5-10 years)
- Remote Status: Hybrid (On-site 2-3 days per week)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving growth and innovation for iconic ice cream brands
- Collaborating with global teams to create winning mixes and communication assets
- Developing and executing category innovation and business plans
- Building strategic partnerships with regional teams and customers
- Empowering and coaching direct reports to deliver exceptional results
*ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, creativity, and strong stakeholder management skills to succeed.*
📋 Key Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver category innovation and business plans to drive long-term and short-term growth for designated brands.
- Build and maintain strong business partnerships with regional category/brand teams, customer marketing, customer development, finance, and supply chain.
- Collaborate with global teams to execute or create winning mixes and communication assets for the Australian/NZ markets.
- Drive competitive growth through consumer and trend-led innovation, strategic pricing, promotional plans, and other elements of 6P.
- Deliver portfolio P&L in line with business objectives, including resource prioritization, medium-term forecasting, and contingency planning.
- Lead development and optimization of 12Q Innovation Plans.
- Embrace a consumer-centric mindset, understanding consumer habits, usage, and needs to inform brand plans.
- Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to deliver aligned brand plans across functions.
- Develop direct reports to perform at Assistant Brand Manager level and beyond.
- Manage budget and embrace Agile WOW principles.
*ASSUMPTION: Success in this role requires a balance of strategic thinking, data-driven decision making, and strong cross-functional collaboration.*
🎯 Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field. MBA preferred but not required.
- Experience: 5-10 years of experience in marketing, with a strong focus on consumer goods, communication development, media strategy, activation planning, and innovation project development.
- Required Skills:
- Category strategy and portfolio management
- P&L accountability
- Customer understanding
- Brand marketing planning
- Discipline and brilliance in execution
- Strong business acumen
- Team leadership
- Preferred Skills:
- Trade customer experience
- Project and budget management experience
- Experience managing direct reports and coaching/mentoring others
*ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the ice cream or FMCG industry will have a competitive advantage.*
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: AUD 150,000 - 180,000 per annum (based on experience and market rates for similar roles in Sydney)
- Benefits:
- Competitive bonus structure
- Generous pension and retirement plans
- Comprehensive health insurance
- Flexible work arrangements
- Learning and development opportunities
- Working Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week), with flexibility to work from home 2-3 days per week
*ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.*
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: Consumer Goods & FMCG
- Company Size: 10,001+ employees
- Founded: 1872
- Company Description: Unilever is a global consumer goods company with a purpose to make sustainable living commonplace. It produces world-leading brands including Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Axe, Hellmann’s, and Omo, alongside trusted local names and innovative forward-thinking brands like Ben & Jerry’s, The Dollar Shave Club, and Dermalogica.
- Company Specialties: Consumer Goods, Food, Home Care, Personal Care, Refreshments, Marketing & Advertising, Retail, Purpose, FMCG, Digital, Ice Cream, Nutrition, Sustainability, Beauty & Wellbeing, Innovation, and Careers
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: Mid-Senior level role with opportunities for growth and progression within the company
- Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Marketing Director - Ice Cream and manages Assistant Brand Managers or Brand Assistants
- Work Arrangement: Hybrid work arrangement with 2-3 days on-site in the Sydney CBD office and the remainder of the week working from home
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space in the Sydney CBD
- Office Location: 2 Park St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
- Geographic Context: Sydney is a vibrant, multicultural city with a high cost of living, excellent dining and entertainment options, and a mild climate year-round
- Work Schedule: Standard business hours with flexibility to work from home 2-3 days per week
*ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a strong focus on collaboration and innovation.*
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process: Phone or video screen, followed by two in-person or virtual interviews with the hiring manager and other stakeholders. A case study or presentation may be required.
- Key Assessment Areas: Strategic thinking, creativity, stakeholder management, and cultural fit
- Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions focusing on your problem-solving skills, leadership style, and ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
- Research Unilever's mission, values, and recent initiatives to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its commitment to sustainability
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, Adobe Campaign)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: Purpose-led, inclusive, responsible, and agile
- Work Style: Collaborative, innovative, and fast-paced with a strong focus on empowerment and experimentation
- Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody Unilever's purpose-led approach in your daily work?
- Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change or challenge, and how you approached it.
- How do you foster a culture of empowerment and experimentation within your team?
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role requires managing multiple stakeholders and balancing global and local priorities
- The ice cream category is highly competitive, with a constant need to innovate and adapt to changing consumer preferences
- The role may require occasional travel to regional offices or customer sites
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a Senior Brand Manager role in the FMCG industry but with a focus on the ice cream category
- The role offers more strategic and global exposure compared to a regional or local brand manager role
- Career progression opportunities may include moving into a global role or taking on additional responsibilities within the ice cream division
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a successful product launch campaign for a new ice cream flavor or format
- Conducting consumer research to identify trends and insights that inform brand strategy and innovation
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize promotional plans and pricing strategies for key brands
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30-60-90 days?
- How does this role fit into the long-term growth plans for the ice cream division?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and career progression within the company?
- How does the company support work-life balance for employees in this role?
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through [this link](https://unilever.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/Unilever_Experienced_Professionals/job/North-Rocks-Sydney-Australia/Senior-Brand-Manager---Ice-Cream--Sydney-CBD-Hybrid--_R-81623-1) by May 31, 2025
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills, using keywords from the job description
- Prepare for phone or video screen and in-person or virtual interviews, focusing on your problem-solving skills, leadership style, and cultural fit
- Research Unilever's mission, values, and recent initiatives to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its commitment to sustainability
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR representative after the closing date to inquire about the status of your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
