Shopper Marketing Assistant

Unilever is currently hiring for Shopper Marketing Assistant

Reports to: Shopper Marketing Manager

Scope: Customer Development, South Africa

Location: Durban

Terms & Conditions: Full time

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. 

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

CATEGORY/FUNCTION INTRODUCTION

Customer Development (CD) is what we call our Sales organization at Unilever. Customer Development works closely with our customers to pioneer new products, build categories, and best deploy best-in-class retail and shopper capabilities.

JOB PURPOSE

The role of this is to drive shopper-based thought leadership to internal and external stakeholders. This includes execution of the shopper component of brand marketing/customer and category plans.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

The Shopper Marketing Assistant will work closely with the Brand team and agencies as well as the Channel & Category, E-Commerce and Trade Category Teams. Other key relationships will be with the Customer Management team (for Retailer engagement) and Unilever Field Sales (for execution) to effectively deliver activations, innovations and customer collaborations.

• Drive shopper thought leadership that increases, develops and sustains Unilever and Category growth opportunities.

• Drive Shopper Mission and Shopper/Channel understanding in all plans, activations, and innovations that deliver long-term consumer behaviour change, incremental sales and build brand equity.

• Leads execution of shopper-based plans that are rooted in shopper and consumer insights aligned to brand/category objectives.

• Work closely with key internal / external stakeholders to execute shopper marketing activities against key objectives.

• Adopt, Adapt and implement Global Best Practice of point of sale (POS) material to deliver best in class POS that delivers value for the retailer, is shopper based and drives incremental sales.

• Ensure “best in class” executional excellence of Shopper Marketing Plans through clear briefs to internal and external executional teams.

• Clear brief to field team on all execution of the instore activities

• Manage activity budgets annually and monthly execution against financial principles

• Lead a rigorous and transparent post-evaluation analysis of specific activations, initiatives that guide the business on its success based on agreed KPIs.

• Shopper marketing planning- Developing plans that drive shopper strategy

• Shopper engagement – working with customers and agencies to create and execute shopper programs

• Shopper impact Evaluating and learning from SM programs

• Shopper insight – knowing shoppers and shopping and translating it into action

Experiences & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Business, or related field.

• 3–5 years of experience in brand, shopper, or customer marketing within FMCG or retail.

• Strong understanding of omnichannel retail environments and shopper behaviour.

• Proven ability to manage complex projects and cross-functional teams.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and digital marketing tools.

• Analytical mindset with a passion for data-driven decision-making.

• Creative thinker with a bias for action and innovation.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Ability to demonstrate team player capabilities

• Strong project management skills

• Strategic, influencing and presentation skills

• Strong collaborative business partner that is business savvy

• Understanding of shopper, customer strategy and tactics

• Excellent computer skills

Leadership

• You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.

• As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.

• Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors

  • PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Has an owner’s mindset, using data and insight to make decisions.

  • PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.

  • CONSUMER LOVE: Whatever their role, always looks for better ways to serve consumers. Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.

  • PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.

  • AGILITY: Explores the world around them, continually learning and developing their skills.

Unilever is an equal opportunities employer and committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.  We are intentional in employing the best talent that reflects the demographics of our country and which will help build representation of currently under-represented groups. We therefore invite applications from all candidates representing diversity of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. When appointing potential candidates, the South African Employment Equity and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Legislation will be considered.  We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. If you are applying as a foreign national, please note that you may be requested to provide supporting documents supporting this.

This is an office-based role in Durban (La Lucia Ridge Office) and requires 100% of time attendance on site.

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.