Unilever Future Leadership Programme - Human Resources UK

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 Program (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 FMCG companies, home to iconic brands including Dove, Vaseline, TRESemmé, Lynx, Persil, Domestos, Surf, Radox, Sure and Liquid I.V. Through products used by millions of people every day, we help improve health, wellbeing, confidence and care around the world.

Established over 100 years ago, Unilever has a proud heritage of innovation and a long-standing belief that great brands, great people and responsible business go hand in hand.

Today, we are transforming into a faster, more focused growth company centred on Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care and Home Care. Through world-class brands, cutting-edge science and technology, digital innovation and AI-enabled capabilities, we are building unmissably superior products and experiences for consumers around the world.

A career at Unilever offers the opportunity to work at global scale while helping shape the future of some of the world's most recognised brands. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, bringing curiosity, creativity and passion to solve real business challenges and make a meaningful impact every day.

• 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* 
  
  

 What do we look for? 

We are looking for future HR leaders who are motivated by a passion for people and are trusted partners in the business to get things done. We need people who can drive performance by using data and insight to inform decision-making and continually think of new ways of doing things, fuelled by their dissatisfaction with the status quo. Whilst people skills are critical for the Unilever Futures Programme in HR, there are no specific qualifications necessary.  We need HR people who are mindful and responsive to contexts and audiences, inspired to develop colleagues and the capabilities required for our winning business.  

The role of HR in Unilever as a core strategic business area means we look for people with enthusiasm, an interest in how businesses operate, and the bravery to offer creative insights and execute change. People who can build relationships, collaborate with others, have a data-driven mindset, and possess strong influencing and negotiation abilities. Business challenges are always changing and evolving so remaining constantly curious and keen to learn, demonstrating agility, and being able to think differently in different contexts are key.  

The role: Human Resources (HR) 

In HR, our vision is “Bring back joy to our people, passion for our brands and pride in our performance”. We aim to unlock Unilever’s potential and drive business growth by building a diverse and inclusive talent powerhouse that delivers consistent, superior performance.  

What will the programme involve?  

The three-year leadership development programme is packed with variety and challenge, with the opportunity of promotion to the managerial level after completing the programme. Throughout the programme, you’ll develop your leadership skills by working on live projects and completing CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) training, preparing you for your first management role. The programme includes 4 placements of 9 months each, including time spent in the following areas:  

• HR Business Partnering working in a local, regional, or global role across a business group, business unit, and/or global functions team 

HR in Factories across various locations in the UK 

HR Expertise including Reward, Learning, Talent, Organisation Development & People Analytics 

People Experience is the heart of our function delivering the best HR experience for all Unilever employees across the entire employee lifecycle from hiring to retiring. 

All rotations present responsibility and accountability from day one – it’s the fastest way to learn and grow. You'll have the opportunity to shape your career adventure based on your unique strengths, skills, interests, and aspirations.  We will support and guide you through stretching assignments whilst enabling you to maximise the experiences available for you to achieve your potential. 

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

As a member of the HR organisation, wherever you are based in the business, you will have the opportunity to gain experience in driving culture change, managing employee relations, developing talented leaders, improving team performance, and building skills and capabilities that each business area needs, and much more. All part of shaping the organisation to be future fit and maximise business performance and growth. 

Some of our positions you could be allocated to include:

• HR Business partner BG/BU
• People Partner
• Global Learning Specialist
• Reward Specialist
  
  

Skills Required Include

• Business Acumen
• Stakeholder Management
• Design thinking
• Digital Technology Awareness
• Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint)
  
  

Please note, that at Unilever we have development programmes, the skills above are skills that would be good to have at the beginning however you will develop them over the course of your programme.

Our application process involves: 

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 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.

• 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*
  
  

Step 4: Discovery Centre:

You will be invited to a ‘day in the life’ of a Future Leader at Unilever. You will 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.

What Can Unilever offer YOU?

• A Competitive Salary of £35,000
• A Benefits Envelope which has a notional value of 25% of your pensionable earnings. Use it to save for your pension, get extra taxable pay or both.
• A pension Scheme
• Annual Bonus
• A discounted staff shop
• Subsidised Gym Memberships - availability varies by site
• Shares
• Relocation support through a £5000 tax free loan
• 25 days of holiday allowance
  
  

To find out more about Future Careers at Unilever UK, check out our Instagram page!

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.
  
  

Do you require any adjustments in the application or assessment process?

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

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

Please contact the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected]

Location:  

Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days required weekly at one of our offices – Port Sunlight, Kingston, Blackfriars, Leeds, Crumlin, Colworth, Burton.

Travel Required: 

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

Discovery Centre

TBC

Closing Date

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

Start Date

September 2027

Recruitment Fraud

Cybercriminals advertise fake job adverts with prestigious employers as a way of stealing information or even defrauding individuals out of money. In the most sophisticated cases, they will set up fake websites, which have a similar address to companies like Unilever. They even conduct fake telephone interviews and then offer candidates a role with the proviso they pay a fee for background checks or to cover work visa costs. These types of attacks are becoming more common as more people are looking for employment in the economic climate.

How is Unilever tackling this?

Many of Unilever’s recruitment sites publish a warning to candidates about recruitment fraud. The Cyber Security team also proactively scans for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and acts to close them down.

What can I do?

If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat.

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. Your vigilance is key!  

Unilever is an organisation committed to diversity and inclusion 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 and the talent they can bring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.