brand manager

senior brand manager

assistant manager

finance manager

communications manager

Unilever

A typical working day at Unilever:-

SAFETY CHECKS
Before any work could be started Health and Safety checks had to be completed to ensure the area in which myself and my team were working was meeting standards.  A check list had to be completed before any machinery was operated and I was responsible for ensuring tasks such as adjustments on lines to machinery to get them running to improve the lines overall effective efficiency (OEE). This enabled engineers to continue with other breakdowns on other lines or maintenance tasks. 

OBJECTIVES
Objectives were set at the outset of each working day to ensure productivity targets were met. 

PRODUCTIVITY
Productivity Targets were set at the outset of each working day, however self initiative was paramount to ensure deadlines and productivity targets were met. 

What I learned:-
I learned that promoting a 'Can-Do' approach towards to tasks in hand ensured all of the above could be achieved.  Having a positive outlook at the start of each day promoted productivity with team members. 
I also learned that dependability was a key feature in my working day, Dependability was a quality that worked well for team members as they relied on me to get tasks done and also for the company as they could feel assured that I would work to the best of my ability and also lead a team of 6 staff to get the job done. 
Co-operation and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues and  supervisors was another quality which showed a willingness to help out and this is something I did on numerous occasions. I helped to complete on line SAP transactions for Team Leaders who were tied up  resolving other lines issues. SAP transactions were checking stock availability, ordering necessary goods where needed and logging of items produced - it was all the information necessary and provided a full report of task in hand.

I had a very open and honest relationship with management. They were able to rely on my skills to ensure objectives were met. I always felt that I could approach management with any issues and concerns and be able to tell them what was on my mind.  This could sometimes come across as a negative  but I always tried to ensure personal feelings did not get tied when trying to get my message across. I believe my managers would say I had a very good work ethic.

I had a fantastic working and social relationship with my co-workers. I was always available to provide any necessary guidance or help required both in and out of work. When there was an event that affected a member of staff in the workplace I was always called upon to arrange monetary collections, for example birthdays, anniversary, birth of a child etc.

The hardest part of my job was trying to motivate new employee's who didn't have any work ethic or drive.  The lines I operated where difficult lines to run and needed full attention to detail. I overcome these issues by making sure that all staff were praised when achieving good results but in return when standards were not being achieved I was also able to deliver difficult messages effectively.

The most enjoyable part of my job was receiving my annual appraisal. I always worked to the best of my ability and always tried to promote the same work ethic to other colleagues. My annual appraisal was always the recognition I looked forward to.

Pros
• Nice offices in London
• Free ice-cream freezer
• Good food in the canteen
• Gym, GP on site
• Some employees are really nice and hardworking people
• Interesting projects 

Cons
• The company is not what it was 10 years ago
• The company has lost its professionalism and now only rakes in benefits of its own name/reputation
• Many employees overworked, on stress leave or have outstanding grievances with the organisation
• Culture of intimidation, harassment and bullying is supported widely in the organisation by HR and by senior and executive employees
• Hidden agendas of senior employees are destructing from delivering the job
• Senior management does not live what they preach and overtly behave hypocritically
• Conflict of agendas of senior employees and therefore difficult work relationships between departments
• Extremely disorganised – left hand does not know what right hand is doing
• People are hiding behind general email addresses which breads culture of not being held accountable
• Technical systems within Unilever far below standard of FTSE 350 (let alone number 5 of FTSE 100)
• Extremely poor or no learning/training opportunities
• This is not a company for mid-career hire. The company employs long-service senior mgmt (Directors, VP, EVP and C level) and then people without any experience. Mid-career employees with experience are discouraged from doing their job.
• This results in high turnover of the employees who actually are doing the work, and therefore there is a loss of knowledge and expertise
• Lack of subject matter experts in many areas of support functions of the business
• Dishonest in dealing with employees who are not treated with respect
• Agile working woks only if supported by your line manager. If your line manager likes to see you at the desk you must be at your desk.

The entire privacy programme and strategy is about helping everyone to understand their role in privacy. Once Unilever's privacy principles and legal objectives are widely understood then our strategy will succeed. The entire concept of trust and transparency is fundamental to our digital growth ambitions to have a two way dialogue with one billion people, and the need to demonstrate how we comply with the law is built on the ‘Accountability Principle’. Through the provision of tools, techniques, guides, policies, procedures and standards - that will ensure that privacy principles are fully established throughout Unilever. We have also achieved the following: • Single handedly engaged with nearly every ULE board member on privacy and related security issues, and developed and cultivated relationships and networks across the entire business in nearly every MCO/Cluster. • Raised the profile of privacy within Unilever and advised Paul Polman, Audit Committee and NEDs on issues of privacy and cyber security. • Cultivated an open dialogue with key functions where the Privacy CoE are seen as a ‘must invite’ on committees and project boards including SalesForce, CEC, PRM, Workday and many more. As a leader, I am required to establish and maintain a consistently high level of motivation remains throughout our privacy programme. Over the last three years, I have replaced four people to ensure the equilibrium, passion and focus remains in place. This helps to drive people’s enthusiasm and trust in their leader. Being unafraid to take difficult decisions has proven to be highly effective and beneficial to the business and our long-term objectives for growth and profitability.

29 years here. Has been a mixed bag over the years for me but generally we are well looked after but the benefits have generally lessened from what they were when I started. I have worked hard for the company and they have looked after me when the chips have been down also. 

Over the years, people have come and gone that have been great and some not so great and sometimes there have been challenging people to work with. But generally some of the best people I've ever met have worked here and I met them here first.

Feel that training potential is better now than what it had been, if you are willing to get your head down and learn how everything works. There is a more structured path to training now if you are keen. Internal qualifications now though don't really result in externally recognised skills (on the shop floor) Before you'd have btec and nvq etc but you can move up the pay grades the more you understand engineering or sciences. 

Long 12 hr shifts sometimes stressful and tiring but 4 on 4 off for me gives a fair work life balance though this may change in the future depending on business needs. The wages never really track inflation fully so you always lose a little year by year but then again its the same everywhere. The last rise though did attempt to address that better. 

Overall I feel it is a good place to work if you are a willing team player and support the people you work with to make the day as easy as possible. You'll do OK there. 

Unilever is an excellent place to work, fast paced, ever changing and diverse.

A typical day would consist of mainly telecom with customers, colleagues, vendors and support teams globally across all time zones.  

I learned to engage and co-ordinate with very diverse and multi-cultural teams across all continents.  All of these teams required a different handling approach to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and solutions to issues.

Management are constantly having to deal with shifting priorities, targets and deadlines whilst still managing the needs of their teams and individuals.  However, throughout the stresses and strains of these constantly changing times the teams always worked together with good humour and understanding to meet targets and deadlines successfully.

Hardest part of the job for me was the travelling, following the office relocation from North Wales to the Wirral it was taking me almost 2 hrs each way to reach the office and making it difficult to complete a full working day which I found frustrating.  Therefore my decision to take the voluntary redundancy package and look for new opportunities and challenges.

Most enjoyable part of the job was the diversity and challenge of resolving new issues daily, plus meeting new targets and goals.  Also, working with my team and colleagues to meet these requirements.

•	Always maintain a high standard of work combined with exceptional productivity.
•	Excellent negotiation and communication skills which is beneficial when dealing with advisors. 
•	Ability to recognize diverse skills within the team and progress these for the benefit of the company.
•	Excellent coaching and mentoring skills with the ability to plan and provide feedback on personal development.
•	Excellent communication skills when dealing with internal and external queries and also when building contacts.
•	Plethora of knowledge gained in all duties.
•	Always strive to obtain as much information as possible when completing a task. Therefore always keeping my personal knowledge at a very high standard.
•	Work well under pressure, producing high quality of work at all times.
•	Remain positive even in the face of negativity and also the ability to promote this feeling within the organization and team. 
•	Ability to provide support and share knowledge and expertise with the team at all times.
•	Aware of Customer first values and constantly strives to deliver exceptional customer service. Always demonstrating an enthusiastic approach to tasks.
•	Proficient in Microsoft programs due to intensive exposure to the systems in a work environment.
•	Prioritize workloads in tight deadlines still producing the quality of work expected.
•	Highly motivated and skilled in motivating others.
•	The ability to become an expert in process and procedure very quickly.

Nice environment to work in, building and equipment, stunning offices.
Poorly  Management - management seem to lack direction
New Starters - exploited via agency contracts (Manpower)
Lack of direction - no direction on training and development
Perm Staff who have worked for the company for a long time unhappy and many having to re-apply for their jobs.  
Great Staff restaurant and fantastic GYM 
Lack of support from Management 
Company expects orders to come through as brands are well known,
from day 1 you are left to your own devices with poor training 

If the founders of the company came back today they would be happy the firm is still going but unhappy with the way staff are treated, as they campaigned for better staff rights and pensions.

Today its about exploiting agency contracts.

 And if you do not like the way you are exploited - you can leave as we have plenty of other people we can exploit.

Short term contract work - no longer about career development, achievement and dedicated professional staff.

A typical at work, was to induct any new starters. To monitor employees were following work instructions and to support where required. Delivery of all courses and workshops. (One to one training) Support engineering apprentices in there qualification and College attendance. Assess and monitor standards of learner qualifications. 
Deliver any training and workshop sessions to the workforce from Directors to the support staff across the site.
Learned something every day, most importantly that your learners all have individual needs, finding these out enables them to reach their full potential.
Management was a stepped structure with 3 reporting lines, prior to getting anything completed. I worked with various co workers and always was a valued member of the team, enjoy working with any team that are effective.
The hardest part of the job was doing it part time, as demands sometimes required a full time position. Personally I was happy with part-time. 
The most enjoyable part of the job was presenting Certificates to learners and success stories with the young apprenticeships.

I am currently working as Global Assistant Brand Manager in Unilever. 

I started my experience in Unilever in Milan in February 2012 as management trainee in the Household Cleaning category and I then moved to London in September 2013 as Global Assistant Brand Manager. In November 2014, I moved to the Ice Cream category. 

During my working experience in the Global Marketing of Unilever I had the opportunity to lead various innovation projects and support the Senior Brand Manager on global communication campaigns development. 

This experience has helped me building and strengthening my skills in project management (through the leadership of a multi-functional, multi-cultural and diverse team of people), deep consumer understanding (e.g. through the management of consumer research and the continuous deep dive in consumers studies), strategic thinking (e.g. through the definition for the medium and long-term plans for the brands both at global and regional levels) as well as my analytical skills (e.g. through the leadership of the market share and gross margin performance analysis and plan for the total brand, the analysis of in-market and financial data, and the leadership of the business cases for the innovation projects).

Unilever has a great diverse culture and is a fantastic company to work for!

I love the elements of my role that enable me to provide fantastic service to the business users and also my peers, whilst the most frustrating part is having to rely on others for responses or actions to enable me to do this.  However, this challenge has turned into a positive by interacting and engaging more with the colleagues that I need to so that they understand my reasons and I can understand their constraints.  There's a great course that UL run called Partnering With Impact and this has assisted me so much in understanding how people are driven and also where my bias lies (customer service obviously) and how to put my point across, whilst taking into consideration what I need and the style of the person that I am liaising with.

The chance to work on various committees and focus groups to shape and drive an agile, safe and innovative workforce and environment is a bonus too!

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Brand manager 11 salaries reported	£42,773 per year
Senior brand manager 3 salaries reported	£77,333 per year
Assistant manager 8 salaries reported	£45,252 per year
Finance manager 9 salaries reported	£74,778 per year
Communications manager 6 salaries reported	£54,833 per year

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