Job Description
Our Unilever Industrial Placement (IP) Programme is designed for students who are completing a year in industry as part of their degree studies. In the UK, our IP programme is a 12-month development scheme, for which we recruit top-performing undergraduate talent, with fresh ideas who are eager to gain exposure to real-world challenges. All new joiners are given real responsibility from day one and have an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the business. Alongside this, they receive one-to-one mentoring and support to aid their development and help them achieve their goals. These programmes provide a variety of experiences, enabling individuals to learn, grow, develop personally and professionally, build confidence and gain a comprehensive understanding of the business. As we receive a high volume of applications, please make sure to read the job descriptions on our website carefully and apply for the ONE function you are most interested in. Only your first application will be considered. The Role A placement in Sustainability puts you at the heart of helping shape the long-term success of Unilever's business and the positive impact we create for people and the planet. Global Sustainability is Unilever's sustainability strategy and delivery engine. It connects long-term ambition, external influence, enterprise governance, performance management and data-driven insight, helping mobilise the entire business to deliver against our goals. As a Sustainability IP, you'll gain first-hand experience of how sustainability is embedded into business strategy, decision-making and growth. You'll work on some of the most important challenges and opportunities facing business today, helping to shape sustainability strategy, influence external stakeholders, drive business delivery and measure impact. You will work closely with colleagues across Sustainability, Communications and Corporate Affairs, as well as teams across Business Groups, Supply Chain, Procurement, R&D, Legal, Finance and other functions. This unique cross-functional exposure will help you understand how sustainability is integrated across a global business. Where Could Your Placement Take You? One of the unique aspects of this placement is the breadth of opportunities available across Sustainability. You could support teams setting sustainability strategy and governance, helping shape the long-term direction of the business and ensuring sustainability priorities are embedded across markets, Business Groups and functions. You may work with colleagues building the external conditions for success through advocacy, partnerships and stakeholder engagement, supporting Unilever's contribution to major societal and environmental challenges. Alternatively, you could focus on performance, reporting and insight, helping the business track progress, generate data-driven recommendations and communicate impact to internal and external stakeholders. Depending on your placement, you may contribute to a range of sustainability priorities, including Climate, Nature, Plastics, Social Sustainability and Human Rights, Sustainability Strategy and Governance, Advocacy and Partnerships, Sustainability Performance and Reporting, or Data, Insights and Measurement. This means no two placements are the same. Whether you're helping shape strategy, analysing data, engaging stakeholders, contributing to reporting, supporting global advocacy programmes or delivering major milestones such as Climate Week, COP, the World Economic Forum or the United Nations General Assembly, you'll gain first-hand experience of how sustainability drives long-term business performance, resilience and growth. What Could Your Day-To-Day Role Include? Gathering and analysing insight from external developments, policy changes, industry trends and stakeholder discussions to inform strategic decision making Supporting the development and implementation of sustainability strategies, programmes and governance processes Contributing to advocacy initiatives, partnerships and stakeholder engagement activities that help create the conditions for sustainable business growth Supporting senior leaders with briefing materials, presentations, events and external engagements Assisting with sustainability reporting, performance tracking and disclosure requirements Working with data, insights and AI-enabled tools to help improve decision-making and performance measurement Creating clear, compelling content for internal and external audiences, including reports, articles and presentations Supporting major global moments and events, such as Climate Week, COP, the World Economic Forum and the United Nations General Assembly Collaborating with teams across functions, Business Groups and markets to support the delivery of sustainability priorities What Do We Look For? We're looking for curious, proactive and collaborative individuals who are passionate about the role business can play in addressing social and environmental