I was one of the fortunate few who managed to enter the Unilever Future Leaders Programme for Supply Chain in 2022, after rolling off an engineering degree. I applied to the programme as an individual with a focus towards sustainability, and Unilever is a company that co-aligns with this value, seen through their business efforts. The programme has since afforded me different opportunities and experiences across a variety of locations, categories and subfunctions, allowing for growth in various aspects
My journey began with supply planning for the ice cream category, where I was managing the import portfolio for water-ice SKUs such as Calippo, Icy Treats and Cyclone, along with the portfolio for 3 PM repack. The role had my work to ensure our core range was supplied appropriately according to customer demand, in addition to working cross-functionally for successful NPD product launches and managing inventory to reduce business waste and bottom-line costs to the business.
Following my stint in ice cream planning, I was relocated to the Foods factory in Tatura to work with the engineering team on project work and analyses related to Unilever’s sustainability and safety agenda. There was a stronger technical emphasis that had me leverage the knowledge that I learnt in university to engage with contractors and suppliers to implement design solutions. This included: design scope work for vibratory conveyors to replace the existing augers, P&ID design for solar-heated water integration with the existing Paypal system for factory dehumidification and managing our resource consumption data flows through Strata.
From Ice-cream to Nutrition and finally, to Home Care, Beauty & Well-Being and Personal Care, situated in the factory at North Rocks, my final rotation has me in the SUIT role, working on projects relating to factory improvement. Whilst I am still in the early days of the role, I have been involved in cost-saving projects for the capsule line in Home Care, scoping out upgrades for storage infrastructure and drafting parts for assessing 3D printing feasibility.
If I were to explain my path through Unilever so far in a single phrase, I would say ‘self-determined’. My needs and wants in relation to my progression as a ‘Future Leader’ were well considered with ample offering of advice and learning opportunities given to support my career. There is a strong push to discover your purpose and to integrate this purpose into your role whether it be at the forefront or periphery – ultimately giving you a greater drive and desire to succeed. If you want a multi-faceted, self-curated experience in a dynamic environment whilst being able to achieve tangible results that make a difference, then Unilever is the place for you.