Overview

Our Future Leaders Programme will ignite the leader in you. This unique programme is designed to develop Unilever’s Future Leaders (UFLs) by providing challenging and purposeful opportunities that accelerate their readiness to take on business leadership roles.

The Unilever Future Leaders Programme (UFLP) is a global initiative enabling Unilever to build a strong talent pipeline that will support and lead our business growth. In the UK, our UFLP is a 36-month rotational leadership development program for which we recruit top-performing undergraduate talent who demonstrate the potential to become managers within our business. It’s designed to grow you into a manager, through hands-on learning alongside world-class experts. You’ll be hired into a function and develop your leadership skills by working on live projects which offer you all the experience you need to become ready for your first management role. At the heart of it, it’s about developing tomorrow’s leaders, today.

From Day 1, you will take on real business challenges within your own function and across the organization. Along the way you will develop deep core professional skills and leadership skills, and build a robust support network. On top of all that, you will have a lot of fun along the journey.

We look for people who want to get to grips with the inner workings of a vast business and a desire to understand how it works. It’s about commitment, real people skills and a deep-seated interest in the business as a whole. You’ll become part of a leading-edge company, where you’ll work with outstanding brands and outstanding people to drive sustainable business growth.

Your Future Employer

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Beauty and Wellbeing, Home, and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 3.4 billion consumers daily. Founded in Port Sunlight (Wirral) in 1929 by Lord Lever, Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, TRESemmé, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Hellman’s, Persil, Domestos, Marmite, Graze, Liquid IV, Vaseline, Sure, Colman’s and Pot Noodle.

Our goal is to deliver best-in-class performance with market making, unmissably superior brands. From our earliest days Unilever has been at the forefront of change always striving towards making a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘Brightening everyday life for all’.

What do we look for?

Creative flair will see you go far, but marketing is commercially focused and demands strong business skills to make things happen. It takes a deep sense of rationale, ambition, organisational, analytical skills, and a head for figures.

The role: Marketing

The three-year, world-class development programme is packed with variety and challenge, with the opportunity of promotion to manager level after 3 years. You’ll develop your leadership skills by working on live projects that offer you all the experience you need to become ready for your first management role.

What will the programme involve?

Over three years you’ll cover up to three placements. During your local (UK & Ireland) brand-building placements you will get exposure to commercial marketing and have the opportunity to work with iconic brands like Dove, Persil, Sure, and Marmite, managing brand mixes across all their elements. You may also get the chance to work with our brand development teams on strategy, product innovation, and advertising development at a global or regional level. You will get hands-on exposure to Customer Development (Sales), where you will build relationships, examine relevant data, own financial forecasting, agree on a tailored business plan, or negotiate promotions. First-hand experience – it’s the fastest way to learn. The Unilever culture is varied, friendly, and encourages innovative thinking. We will push and support you to achieve your potential, whilst giving you the chance to shape your career path according to your interests, strengths, and aspirations.

What could your day-to-day role include (depending on your role)?

You’ll be constantly deepening the already expert knowledge of our brands and the people who use them. You’ll use this level of insight to help develop our products’ personalities and bring them to life. That could mean working on the launch of a new deodorant, undertaking research on the latest trends in hair care, looking at sponsorship opportunities, or planning our social first campaign. Our people have the opportunity to make a big impact every day on a local level, across Europe, and around the globe.

Some of our positions you could be allocated to include

• Pot Noodle Assistant Brand Manager UK and I
• Homecare Disruptive Innovation Assistant Brand Manager
• Global Dove Hair Assistant Brand Manager

Skills required

• Brand Advocacy
• Media and Strategy Planning
• Brand visioning and planning
• Performance Marketing
• Commercial Acumen
• Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint)

Please note, that at Unilever, we have development programmes, the skills below are skills that would be good to have at the beginning however you will develop them throughout the programme.

Our application process involves

1. Online Application: Complete the online application form. It is a simple and easy application process with the option of filling out your details using your LinkedIn profile. You may apply to one function in your application.
2. Profile Assessment: Complete two stages of profile assessment; a portrait personality test and an online assessment. These are designed to look at different elements of your cognitive, emotional, and social traits. You will receive personalised feedback after completing each stage.
3. Digital Interview: The digital interview will consist of 3 short questions followed by a business case. You will be asked to solve real-world problems using Unilever scenarios. You’ll be able to record and complete your interview anytime and anywhere.
4. Discovery Centre: You will be invited to a ‘day in the life’ of a Future Leader at Unilever. You will get to experience a face-to-face day filled with several exciting activities including project meetings, business challenges, a team meeting with Unilever colleagues, and an interview.

*Please note, we do not use AI as a screening tool in our recruitment process; therefore, your digital interview submission will be reviewed by a real person*

What can Unilever offer YOU?

• A Competitive Salary of £35,000
• A Benefits Envelope of 25% of your base salary
• A pension Scheme
• Annual Bonus
• A discounted staff shop
• Subsidised Gym Memberships
• Shares
• Relocation support through a £5000 tax free loan
• 25 days of holiday allowance

Diversity at Unilever is about championing inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. To celebrate this, we have internal networks and communities created to raise awareness for a cause, which work to create change within the business. These networks include Proud, Empower, Enable and Unity and our communities include Thriving Parents, Carers, and All Inclusion Club.

We give full and fair consideration to all applicants, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

We are a key advocate of well-being 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.

What support will you receive?

• A dedicated buddy to help you onboard and learn about the business.
• A dedicated Career Sponsor, who can support you with your growth & development throughout the total duration of your programme.
• An experienced Line Manager for each of your functional rotations, allowing you to gain a breadth of experience.
• A bespoke Learning & Development Plan, designed to help you build your leadership skills.
• Opportunities to gain leadership experience outside of your functional rotations.

Adjustments in the application or assessment process

If you do need any adjustments, inform the Talent Acquisition team who will contact you to discuss the accessibility options available. E.g., extending time spent in any timebound assessments/interviews.

We also provide accessibility options such as magnifying glass, the ability to decrease/increase font size, change font & colour, screen ruler, and screen mask for everyone who would require support.

Please contact the Talent Acquisition team at UFLP.recruitmentUK@unilever.com. To find out more about Unilever, including information about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here.

Location

We offer a 3-year programme consisting of a variety of roles across the UK with rotations ranging from 3 to 12 months. Applicants must be geographically mobile across the UK, with opportunities across the UK and the programme designed to develop experience and leadership skills.

Travel Required

Approximately 10-25% of your time, depending on your functional rotation.

Discovery Centre

W/C 24 November 2025 at our Kingston office.

Closing date

This is a rolling deadline, so apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment in case applications close early.

Recruitment Fraud

Cybercriminals advertise fake job adverts with prestigious employers as a way of stealing information or defrauding individuals. These sites may resemble Unilever and include fake interviews or requests for fees.

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, report it via Una Live Chat. Be vigilant.

Unilever is committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

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