UFH Program & Operations Manager, US Hub

Unilever • Trumbull, CT

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Program & Operations Manager will join Unilever Fragrance House’s US Hub in Trumbull, Connecticut, and lead delivery of fragrance innovation programs from creation through submission readiness. The role coordinates cross-functional teams and complex project portfolios, ensuring fragrance oils, applications, and evaluations are delivered on time, in full, and to quality standards. It partners with Perfumers, Evaluators, R&D teams, and Business Group stakeholders to set priorities, resolve bottlenecks, and support fragrance development for Unilever brands across the Americas.

The position also helps shape the US Hub’s future capabilities by leading laboratory operations, developing team capability, and driving digitalisation, data management, and continuous improvement. It oversees facilities, resource planning, and laboratory readiness. The manager has 2–3 direct reports and is responsible for defining their workplans and supporting their professional and personal development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a science or engineering field.
• Previous project management experience, including leading complex or global projects, with a proven record of delivery in challenging circumstances.
• Product formulation and/or fragrance development experience.
• Understanding of fragrance pricing and raw-material costs, including the ability to calculate and discuss cost-per-ton (CPT) impact.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills and the ability to inspire, manage, and develop teams.
• Ability to deliver through others in a cross-functional global network without relying on line management or category experience or relationships.
• Experience managing stakeholders and delivering to senior leadership teams.
• Developed data-management skills.
• Strong organisation, communication, problem-solving, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work with teams across different cultures, business backgrounds, and time zones.
• Passion for fragrance and ability to identify and implement improvements to ways of working.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the project and activity program for fragrance creation within Unilever R&D, ensuring deliverables are completed on time and in full.
• Use project management tools and best practices to support delivery and keep global Business Group stakeholders and the central UFH team updated.
• Use digital tools and trackers to clearly communicate project progress and requirements to the UFH leadership team.
• Communicate project timelines and constraints to the CTI team and collaborate to deliver samples on time and in full for consumer testing.
• Resolve issues while working across multiple Business Groups and Categories.
• Adopt digital tools and data-management approaches to speed project delivery, improve risk-based decision-making, and deliver consumer insights.
• Develop a cross-functional project-team culture with shared deliverables.
• Manage 2–3 direct reports, define their workplans, and guide their professional and personal development.
• Lead laboratory operations and support development of the US Hub’s team capability.
• Drive digitalisation, data management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee facilities, resource planning, and laboratory readiness.

Benefits

• Bonus eligible.
• Long-term incentive eligible.
• Health insurance, including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage (if elected).
• Retirement savings benefits.
• Life insurance and disability benefits.
• Parental leave.
• Sick leave.
• Paid vacation and holidays.
• Access to voluntary benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager