Go to Market Distributor Markets Support TeaCo (Project Role)

Unilever is proud of its Tea business, the biggest in the world, with world class purpose driven brands such as Lipton, PG tips and Pukka. Recently, Unilever decided to separate the Tea business to ensure it can best achieve its potential. Unilever is currently reviewing several options for separation, including a demerger, an initial public offering, a disposal or through partnership models. The Tea businesses in India and Indonesia, and the partnership interests in the ready-to-drink Tea joint ventures will be retained.   

The balance of the Tea brands and geographies and all Tea estates, with generated revenues of €2 billion in 2019, is growing and profitable with proven potential both pre- and post-COVID-19. As a standalone entity, the Tea company remains number one in the world and is even better positioned to lead the industry and take full advantage of the opportunities in the category, with more focus and entrepreneurship driving greater growth and value.  

The current vision for the Tea company is to champion a tastier, healthier, more sustainable world of plant-based drinking. Purposeful thinking will be the core anchor of the business, its brands as well as its culture, and enables simple and agile decision making, supports an entrepreneurial mindset and is driven by passion for our consumers.  

As we move through this journey towards separation, we are seeking employees with a passion for exciting entrepreneurial experiences, who want to pursue unique career opportunities and have a desire to be an integral part in building the bright future of this plant-based company.  

Your Role:  

The Distributor Market SME Support will be part of the overall Tea Company Go to Market workstream and will be responsible to work with the regional teams and Tea Export Company team to ensure the new Tea Company successfully transitions markets to TeaCo selected distributors during the 15 month transitional period after Day 1 (July 1st).

Your Key Tasks:  

Support with the delivery of the detailed design & identification of critical areas for Distributor Markets and develop the road map to transition 60 markets from Unilever managed markets to a distributor led model

Assist with driving the detailed establishment plan for the distributor markets and guide the regional Distributor Managers throughout the whole process to ensure a smooth transition that will focus on people, customer contracts, processes, systems & assets

Take direction from the change management team to define key impacts of the changes that will be implemented for Day 1 and the TSA period and what it means for CD people in the markets (e.g. changes to roles, capabilities, ways of working, behaviours, handoffs etc)

Work with the comms team and rest of the GTM team to deliver a solid communication plan for the trade with clear milestones for the transition to the appointed distributor

Work on relevant end state design processes and implementation (e.g. S&OP, IBP) Ability to work with a 3rd Party to deliver this task.

Support with the set up of distributor markets onto the Tea Export Company (cross-functionally, including e.g. Supply Chain and O2C) and ensure a smooth go live

Contribute to the development of contingency and risk mitigation plans

Stakeholder Management and key interfaces 

The role reports to the Go to Market Distributor Markets Lead (TeaCo) and will be supported by the Project Management team and external consultants that are involved in the project

Works with Tea Co regional Distributor Managers, rest of Project Blossom (establishment) and Puccini (separation) functional leads & teams, Global Tea marketing & channel team as well as with the external consultant agencies that are involved in the project

Skills and Experience  

A strong track delivery record and at least 3 years of FMCG experience in various sales roles (e.g. Customer / Distributor management, Trade marketing, CCD)

Local experience is essential – Global experience is a strong plus 

Change management skills and experience of business transformational agenda 

This is a very dynamic and fast paced project and requires high adaptability  

Experience from other transactions: desired  

Strong excel and PPT skills

Start date: immediate 

Role is based in NL or UK however due to current situation, it can also be done from home country  

 Who we are looking for 

 Autonomous go getter who is pro-active

A strong sense of ownership and accountability 

Strong analytical & organisational skills

Ability to perform under pressure.   

High level of adaptability and flexibility to drive change 

Transparency and openness 

Thrives on getting involved in all aspects of the role

Excellent listening and minuting skills

Excited about the Role?  

Please apply online. Your application will be reviewed against our requirements and we will be in touch 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 you are eligible to apply for new internal opportunities.