About the Company & Graduate Programme
Unilever is a global powerhouse of purpose-led brands, with a footprint that touches the lives of over 3.4 billion people every day. From Dove and Hellmann's to Ben & Jerry's, our products are a staple in households worldwide, driven by a commitment to sustainability and ethical manufacturing. As we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, our Supply Chain & Sustainable Tech Graduate Programme serves as the backbone of our operations, ensuring that innovation, agility, and eco-consciousness are embedded in everything we do.
This graduate intake is a pivotal moment for our business as we accelerate our 'Compass' strategy to become the world’s most sustainable business. You will be joining a culture that champions radical innovation, data-driven decision-making, and inclusive leadership. We view our graduates not as trainees, but as the future architects of our logistics, digital factory, and procurement ecosystems. By joining this programme, you are stepping into a dynamic environment where your work directly impacts our goal of achieving net-zero emissions throughout our value chain.
What You'll Do & Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end supply chain improvement projects, optimizing inventory flow and logistics efficiency across our European distribution network.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to integrate IoT and AI-driven predictive analytics into our digital manufacturing plants.
- Engage with senior stakeholders to identify bottlenecks in procurement processes and implement sustainable sourcing solutions.
- Manage live vendor relationships, ensuring compliance with Unilever’s rigorous Supplier Code of Conduct and sustainability standards.
- Utilize data visualization tools like Power BI and Tableau to present actionable supply chain insights to regional leadership.
- Coordinate with global engineering teams to implement resource-saving technologies that reduce water and energy consumption in our production facilities.
- Support the implementation of warehouse automation projects, leveraging modern ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA) to track real-time operational performance.
Who We Are Looking For & Candidate Eligibility
- Degree discipline: We welcome graduates from STEM (Engineering, Logistics, Data Science), Business, or Sustainability-related backgrounds.
- Academic achievement: Minimum of a 2:1 degree classification (or equivalent) in your undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
- Analytical mindset: Ability to synthesize complex data sets into logical, actionable strategies and identify operational efficiencies.
- Resilience and Adaptability: Comfortable navigating ambiguity in a fast-paced, matrixed global corporate environment.
- Communication: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and present to senior leadership and technical teams.
- Collaboration: A natural team player who thrives in cross-functional working groups and diverse, global teams.
- Eligibility: Must possess full right-to-work in the UK. Unilever supports visa sponsorship for candidates who meet the eligibility criteria.
Graduate Training, Rotations & Mentorship
Your 24-month journey is structured into three distinct 8-month rotations across our core functions: Planning, Procurement, and Logistics/Digital Operations. This rotational structure ensures you develop a holistic understanding of how our physical and digital supply chains intersect. Beyond the practical placements, you will be enrolled in our 'Future Leaders' training modules, covering leadership essentials, commercial acumen, and advanced supply chain management.
To ensure your professional growth, you will be fully supported in obtaining relevant industry certifications, such as CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply) or APICS (Certified Supply Chain Professional). We believe in holistic development, which is why every graduate is matched with a dedicated 'buddy' from the previous year’s cohort and a senior executive mentor who provides strategic career guidance and networking opportunities throughout your tenure.
Salary, Bonus & Benefits Package
- Starting salary of £36,000 - £38,000 per annum, reviewable upon successful completion of yearly milestones.
- Annual performance-related bonus scheme linked to individual and business targets.
- Generous company pension scheme with up to 10% employer matching.
- 25 days annual leave plus UK Bank Holidays, with the option to buy/sell additional days.
- Private medical insurance, including dental and optical cover.
- Hybrid working allowance to support your home office setup in addition to our London office base.
- Exclusive staff discounts on our global range of products.
Recruitment Stages & How to Apply
- Online Application & CV: Submit your application via our portal. We review applications on a rolling basis, so early submission is highly recommended.
- Gamified Cognitive & Situational Judgement Tests: A series of engaging online assessments designed to measure your cognitive agility and alignment with our business values.
- On-Demand Video Interview: A pre-recorded session where you will answer a series of questions exploring your motivations and how you handle real-world challenges.
- Virtual Assessment Centre & Technical Presentation: The final stage involves group exercises, a competency-based interview, and a short presentation on a technical/commercial case study to demonstrate your analytical abilities.