Country Establishment & ERP Deployment Lead - Thailand

JOB TITLE:
Country Establishment & ERP Deployment Lead – Project Opus (ERP and associated applications) Implementation

LOCATION: Bangkok, Thailand

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

If you are in the Unilever Ice Cream business or consider choosing to work for the Unilever Ice Cream business, you will work for the Global, leading Ice Cream player with €7.9bn Turn Over in 2023. The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of top 10 selling brands including Wall’s, Magnum, Ben & Jerry’s. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025.

Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure. As Ice Cream company we are committed to developing and nurturing talent within our Ice Cream company. You will have ample options for career growth and exploration, allowing you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organisation. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company. We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us.

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of over $8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win.

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As Ice Cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products.

JOB PURPOSE:

Are you ready to be at the heart of a transformative journey? We’re seeking a Country Deployment Lead to oversee all aspects of deploying a dynamic and impactful ERP and associated applications implementation programme (Project Opus). This role is an exceptional opportunity to merge your expertise with cutting-edge technology to revolutionize our organisation’s processes and drive future growth.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Programme Oversight:

• Lead ERP and associated Day 2 applications deployment of processes, systems and data activities for all countries in your Country. 

• Recruit, set-up and lead a deployment team in respective markets.

• Help each country’s ICLT understand the programme and mobilize appropriate resource for system implementation, change management, and master data management.

• Drive and monitor deployment to the centrally agreed schedule, ensuring timely and effective implementation.

Strategic Planning:

• Adapt globally produced deployment plans for your countries to support ERP project milestones and deliverables.

• Collaborate with cross-functional project teams (e.g. S2P, SC, R2R, O2C) and GBS partners to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance.

• Ensure proper integration and coordination with inflight initiatives being implemented in the Country.

Detailed Design – solution creation:

• Provide timely input to the global project team so that the business model requirements for your countries are understood and worked through in detailed design of global template. 

• Organise country engagement and validation in detailed design phase.

• Own the detailed design solution and drive the required process change in your countries to enable its operation in each market.

Deploy Lifecycle Management

• Ensure the deployment phases of ERP and associated applications for your Country are running to the global project plan across each of the project steps and manage and / or escalate deviations to the plan.

•  This will encompass design localisation, user testing and training through to deploy, cutover and hyper care.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure local compliance (legal, fiscal and statutory) requirements are properly communicated to the global project team and that the solutions developed provide the required compliance standards.

• Identify and mitigate risks associated with the deployment process and escalate for support where required.

Performance Monitoring:

• Provide regular updates and reports on deployment progress and performance to both: global project team and Country leadership team.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Work closely with Global/Regional Process Owners, IT, and external consultants to ensure project and future operating financials are understood and managed.

• Facilitate communication and collaboration among all Country and Markets stakeholders to ensure alignment and support.

External Communications and Change Management:

• Provide leadership in transitioning operations to the new ERP environment, ways of working ensuring smooth adoption and minimal disruption.

• Work with the local teams to ensure timely and accurate updates and requests are communicated to customers, vendors and other 3rd parties with appropriate follow-up to ensure deadlines are met.

• Raise, document, manage approval for and lead resolution of any exception to globally established standards.

ALL ABOUT YOU:

Experience:

• Experienced business leader with broad understanding of how Go To Market and Supply Chain processes operate across their Country

• Proven track record of a leadership role in a transformation project including systems implementation.

• Experience working internationally and with offshore service providers

• Demonstrated ability to lead for change

Technical Skills:

• Experience of operating some core country processes that use SAP ERP or Supply Chain systems

• Ideally experience in deploying IT systems.

• Proficiency in project management tools and methodologies.

Analytical Mindset:

• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to translate data into actionable insights.

• Ability to analyze and optimize deployment processes.

Leadership:

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams in a high-pressure environment.

• Strong leadership and team management skills.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field plus a professional qualification in project management or related areas.

Communication:

• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.