Strategy & Transformation Director - Intellectual Property

Job Title: Intellectual Property Strategy & Transformation Director

Business Function: Legal

Location: Blackfriars, London, UK

JOB PURPOSE

Are you someone with an entrepreneurial spirit combined with a passion for Intellectual Property and innovation?

Are you able to embrace new thinking to drive change, results and capture the hearts and minds of your team?

In Unilever we are on a global mission to create a better planet and society using our purpose-led products. We have over 400 brands across the world, with circa 100,000 trade mark registrations and 20,000 patents. This demonstrates our rich history of ground-breaking innovations – many of which have been adopted by organisations the world over. We innovate for our consumers, for superior performance, for value for money and for sustainability.

This is a newly created role in which you will be responsible for all aspects of Intellectual Property strategy development and transformation. A further focus will be ensuring that we extract value from our portfolios including exploiting relevant technology to leverage data as an asset. You will also use your experience to build cutting edge process management and operational excellence to support business growth and ambitions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Together with the Chief Intellectual Property Officer and key stakeholders, you will

• Set the operational strategy and drive operational excellence across all aspects of IP (e.g., patents, trademarks, brand protection, brand enforcement), including tech, external counsel and vendors.
• Proactively identify synergies across IP to deliver best in class technologies and systems to meet business needs and priorities.
• Demonstrate innovative thinking that enables us to deliver a competitive edge by exploiting our IP assets.
• Manage complex business strategy, technology, and process improvement projects & programs.
• Identify and lead measurable client and strategy reporting systems that meet business KPIs.
• Lead the IP talent development and learning agenda.
• Train, guide and assist all relevant teams in the implementation of all relevant IP Standards & Policies to ensure protection of all Unilever Group IP and draft new Standards and policies as needed.
• Drive the IP communication and engagement strategy (internal/external)
• Identify and facilitate the training needs of the IP team in conjunction with the CIPO.
• Support the IP CO Boards

ALL ABOUT YOU

• Significant experience in international intellectual property portfolio management, enforcement and monetisation of IP
• Strong analytical thinking and ability to work independently.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, a proven track record in leading, winning the trust of colleagues and teams.
• Ability to think differently to provide best-in-class solutions: creative & adaptive, entrepreneurial, curious.
• Proven track record in implementing change management using tools and techniques (e.g., Lean Six Sigma, Design Thinking, Organizational Change Management) to drive exceptional and measurable client outcomes.
• Strong commercial and business acumen and judgement with the ability to develop pragmatic solutions to challenge business issues.
• Experience within the FMCG industry is preferable.

NOTES

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace.’

Location

In September 2020, Unilever announced the intention to build a new sustainable campus site in Kingston, London to house the employees who currently work in 100 Victoria Embankment in Blackfriars, Lever House in Kingston, Unilever House in Leatherhead and Graze in Richmond. We are creating our own Unilever sustainable, agile work environment, purposefully bringing us together in our own Unilever ecosystem. The campus is due to be completed in early 2025 and will consist of two interconnected buildings, as well as landscaped surrounding areas. 

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here [Register to View] target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unileveropens in a new window.

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How is Unilever tackling this?

Many of Unilever’s recruitment sites publish a warning to candidates about recruitment fraud. The Cyber Security team also proactively scan for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and act to close them down.

What can I do?

If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat.

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. Your vigilance is key!