Associate Manager, Scratch PD Business Support

Englewood Cliffs, United States

Professional seated at a conference table with laptops and a presentation screen in a modern office setting

Job ID:: R-1178188
Date posted:: 03/31/2026
Job Type:: Full time
Job Category:: Research & Development

Scratch Cooking is a critical pillar within Unilever’s Nutrition business. It houses Knorr, one of Unilever’s 30 Power brands and it is the second largest global brand. Knorr serves millions of American and Canadian consumers daily, led by its purpose to provide accessible and affordable nutrition to the many.
As a member of the Scratch Cooking R&D team, you will both lead and support the R&D activities required to deliver key Scratch Cooking initiatives and work with a cross-functional project team to deliver the brand’s business objectives.

We are seeking an experienced individual contributor responsible for independent formulation development and technical delivery of Foods innovation, renovation, and business support for Knorr Cooking Aids and Mini-Meals projects. The role translates consumer, culinary, and business briefs into robust, scalable food formulations that meet quality, safety, nutrition, cost, and sustainability requirements. Additional responsibilities include ensuring business continuity and resilience through strategic product development initiatives. This includes managing alternate material qualifications, complexity reduction; and, core renovation projects to maintain and enhance our market position.

Key Responsibilities:

Independently leading food formulation development from concept through scale up and commercialization
Design and execute formulation strategies, test protocols, and experimental plans
Develop bench scale and pilot scale prototypes, conducting analytical, sensory, and shelf life testing
Own technical decision making within projects, recommending formulation options based on data and risk assessment
Lead or strongly influence factory trials and scale up, adjusting formulations and processes as needed
Develop and approve raw material and finished product specifications
Partner cross functionally with Marketing, CTI, Culinary, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Quality, and suppliers
Support business continuity, renovation, cost savings, and complexity reduction initiatives
Contribute technical expertise to troubleshooting and supply chain issues where formulation knowledge is critical
Oversee the relaunch of products with no consumer-perceivable changes, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and achieving cost savings.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering or a related field.
Proven experience in product development.
Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Excellent communication and leadership skills.
Strong track record of ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Skills:

Experience in the consumer goods industry.
Knowledge of foods formulation and ingredient functionality as well as regulatory compliance and cost-saving strategies.
Computer literate
Proficiency in data analysis and problem-solving.
Highly collaborative spirit inspiring teamwork & collaboration
Ability to identify opportunities for improvement
A positive, can-do attitude and a balanced, calm approach to deliver projects in tight timelines

Pay: The pay range for this position is $88,600 to $133,000. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that areutilizedin making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs. 

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible. 

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible. 

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible toparticipatein our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Anycoveragesfor health insurance and retirement benefits will bein accordance withthe terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents. 

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Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities.

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If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.

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