Organisation Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Organisation Design Manager

Company: Unilever

Location: Kingston, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Organisation Design / Transformation Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-26

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end organizational design for key Global Business Services (GBS) value streams and Supply Chain & Operations functional programs, ensuring alignment with Unilever's transformation priorities like Mirai and Intelligent GBS.

• Lead the assessment and integration of AI, automation, and agentic tools into organizational structures, defining new role families and governance frameworks for human-AI collaboration.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive workforce plans, connecting headcount, skills, and capability needs with strategic transformation roadmaps.

• Partner with HR Business Partners, functional leaders, and the Group OD team to validate proposals, prepare governance materials, and ensure stakeholder alignment.

• Influence senior stakeholders and collaborate effectively within a complex matrix organization to challenge the status quo and champion innovative organizational designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a critical enabler of Unilever's large-scale transformation initiatives, particularly within the Global Business Services (GBS) and Supply Chain & Operations functions. The emphasis on AI and agentic tools highlights a forward-looking approach to organizational design, requiring candidates to not only understand traditional OD principles but also to be adept at designing for future workforces. The "Work Level WL2C" designation suggests a senior individual contributor role with significant strategic responsibility and influence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end design of target operating models for specific GBS value streams (e.g., Forecast to Report, Source to Pay) and Supply Chain & Operations functional areas (e.g., Customer Operations, Procurement).

• Simplify organizational structures, reduce management layers, and optimize spans of control and reporting lines, benchmarking against global best practices and aligning with Intelligent GBS processes.

• Proactively assess the impact of AI, automation, and agentic tools on existing roles, decision rights, and team structures, proposing and implementing necessary redesigns.

• Establish robust governance frameworks for AI-augmented operations, clearly defining decision-making authority, oversight responsibilities, and accountability flow.

• Redefine role families to accurately reflect the evolving landscape of human-AI collaboration, differentiating between automated, augmented, and distinctly human tasks.

• Build and maintain dynamic workforce plans that forecast headcount, skills, and capability requirements, ensuring they are tightly integrated with ongoing transformation roadmaps.

• Collaborate closely with HRBPs, functional leaders, and the Group OD team to validate design proposals and maintain consistent stakeholder alignment throughout the process.

• Prepare comprehensive materials for governance forums, design reviews, and Steering Committee meetings to facilitate informed decision-making.

• Partner effectively with Change & Communications teams to ensure clear articulation of organizational changes, their rationale, and their impact on employees.

• Support M&A integration efforts by applying organization design principles to new entities or merged operations, as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a hands-on role in organizational design and workforce planning, with a strong focus on operational efficiency through process simplification and the strategic integration of emerging technologies like AI. The need to prepare materials for governance forums and Steering Committees suggests a requirement for strong presentation and communication skills aimed at executive audiences.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for this level of role.

• A Master's degree or relevant professional certifications in Organization Design, Change Management, or HR Strategy would be advantageous. Experience:

• 5-10 years of progressive experience in organization design, workforce planning, or transformation roles within large, complex, global organizations.

• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing target operating models, optimizing organizational structures, and defining role architectures.

• Experience with M&A integration from an organizational design perspective is highly desirable.

• Proven ability to navigate and influence within a complex matrix organizational structure. Required Skills:

• Organization Design Expertise: Deep understanding of OD principles, frameworks, and methodologies for designing effective organizational structures, roles, and governance.

• Workforce Planning & Analytics: Proficiency in developing workforce plans, forecasting skill needs, and utilizing workforce analytics for strategic decision-making.

• AI & Future of Work Acumen: A strong understanding of how AI, automation, and agentic tools are reshaping roles, decision rights, and organizational models.

• Stakeholder Management & Influence: Exceptional ability to build relationships, challenge the status quo, and influence senior leaders and diverse stakeholders across a matrixed environment.

• Analytical & Scenario Modelling: Strong analytical capabilities, including the ability to conduct business value chain analysis, scenario modelling, and assess the impact of design choices on key metrics (e.g., costs, spans of control).

• Data Proficiency: Confidence and experience with data analysis and visualization tools, such as Orgvue, Workday, Power BI, or similar platforms.

• Communication & Presentation Skills: Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex organizational design concepts clearly and concisely to various audiences.

• Transformation Acumen: Experience supporting or leading significant organizational transformation initiatives.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Global Business Services (GBS) operating models and processes.

• Experience within Supply Chain & Operations functional areas.

• Knowledge of specific Intelligent GBS processes or Mirai transformation initiatives at Unilever.

• Certification in Organization Design (e.g., from IAF or similar bodies).

• Experience with change management methodologies and tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI and agentic tools suggests that candidates with a forward-thinking perspective on the future of work will be highly valued. The requirement for tools like Orgvue, Workday, or Power BI indicates a need for practical, hands-on experience with common OD and HR analytics platforms.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Organization Design Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed examples of significant organization design projects undertaken. Each case study should clearly outline the business challenge, the design approach, the target operating model, key structural changes, and the resulting impact.

• Workforce Planning Examples: Include samples of workforce plans developed, illustrating how headcount, skills, and capabilities were aligned with strategic objectives and transformation initiatives. Demonstrate analytical outputs and scenario modelling.

• AI Integration Proposals: Present examples of how you have assessed or proposed the integration of AI or automation into organizational structures or role definitions, highlighting governance considerations and redefined roles.

• Stakeholder Management & Influence: Provide evidence or case studies demonstrating your ability to influence senior leaders and manage complex stakeholder relationships during critical design phases.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate experience in mapping existing business value chains and designing optimized workflows that support simplified organizational structures and efficient processes.

• System Implementation Standards: If applicable, showcase experience in defining system requirements from an organizational design perspective, ensuring that technology supports the desired operating model and role responsibilities.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Include examples of how you have defined key metrics (e.g., spans of control, layers, cost-to-serve, decision-making speed) to measure the effectiveness of organizational designs and track performance against transformation goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to present tangible examples of their work, demonstrating not just theoretical knowledge but practical application of OD principles. The portfolio should highlight their ability to translate complex organizational challenges into actionable design solutions and quantify the impact of their work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for an Organisation Design Manager with 5-10 years of experience in a major global FMCG company in the UK, the estimated salary range is £70,000 - £95,000 per annum. This estimate considers the Work Level WL2C designation, the strategic nature of the role, and the London/South East cost of living.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary

• Pension Scheme

• Annual Bonus

• Subsidised Gym Membership

• Discounted Staff Shop

• Shares

• Flexible Working Options (discussion encouraged)

• Wellbeing Support Hubs

• Development Opportunities Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week.

• Unilever offers a flexible and hybrid working environment, encouraging discussion around possible flexible working arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on publicly available data for similar roles in the UK, factoring in experience level, industry (FMCG), and location. The benefits listed are directly from the job description and are typical for large, established corporations like Unilever, emphasizing a comprehensive package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). Unilever is a global leader in consumer goods, with a portfolio of iconic brands across beauty, personal care, home care, nutrition, and ice cream. This industry context means a focus on agility, consumer understanding, and efficient operations to deliver products at scale.

Company Size: Large, multinational corporation (typically 100,000+ employees globally). This scale implies complex matrix structures, diverse business units, and a need for robust, standardized processes and organizational designs.

Founded: 1929. Unilever has a long history of innovation and adaptation, suggesting a culture that values both tradition and forward-thinking change, particularly relevant for an OD role focused on transformation.

Team Structure:

• Group OD Team: This role will likely collaborate closely with a central Group Organisation Design team, which sets overarching principles and frameworks.

• Functional OD Partners: Direct partnership will occur with HRBPs and functional leads within Supply Chain & Operations and GBS, acting as the primary business stakeholders.

• Project PMOs: Collaboration with Project Management Offices (PMOs) for major transformation programs will be essential for integration and alignment.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires significant interaction with various departments, including IT, Finance, and Communications, to ensure holistic design implementation.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using workforce analytics, scenario modelling, and key metrics to inform and validate organizational design choices.

• Agile Transformation: Alignment with transformation priorities like "Mirai" and "Intelligent GBS" suggests an agile approach to organizational change, focusing on iterative improvements and rapid adaptation.

• Human-AI Collaboration Focus: A core methodology will involve designing operating models that effectively integrate human capabilities with emerging AI and automation technologies.

• Stakeholder-Centric Approach: Designs will be developed and validated in close partnership with business leaders and HR partners to ensure buy-in and practical applicability.

Company Website: https://www.unilever.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: Unilever's scale and focus on consumer brands mean that organizational design decisions must balance global consistency with local market needs and operational efficiency. The emphasis on transformation and AI indicates a company actively preparing for the future of work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as Work Level WL2C, indicating a senior individual contributor position with significant strategic responsibility and a high degree of autonomy in their specialized area. It sits above junior OD roles and below senior leadership positions, often serving as a key subject matter expert.

Reporting Structure:

• The role will likely report into a senior OD leader within the Group OD team or a senior HR leader within the GBS or Supply Chain & Operations functions.

• Close collaboration with functional leads and HRBPs means frequent interaction with senior stakeholders across different business units. Operations Impact:

• The Organisation Design Manager will directly influence the efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness of Unilever's GBS and Supply Chain & Operations functions, which are critical to the company's overall performance and profitability.

• By designing optimal structures and integrating AI, the role will impact cost-efficiency, decision-making speed, employee productivity, and the company's ability to adapt to market changes and technological advancements. Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in AI-Driven OD: Deepen expertise in designing organizations for the era of AI and automation, becoming a recognized specialist within Unilever.

• Transformation Leadership: Gain experience leading significant organizational transformation programs, potentially progressing into program management or broader transformation leadership roles.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop a deeper understanding of GBS and Supply Chain & Operations value streams, enhancing versatility and strategic business partnering capabilities.

• In-House OD Capability Building: Contribute to building Unilever's internal OD expertise, potentially leading to opportunities in mentoring junior team members or shaping OD methodologies.

• Senior OD Roles: Progress to more senior OD roles, such as Principal Organisation Designer, OD Lead for a major function, or Head of Organisation Design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future operating model of critical business functions within a global powerhouse, with a strong emphasis on cutting-edge topics like AI integration. This provides a solid foundation for further career advancement in transformation, HR strategy, or senior OD leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role is based at Kingston Head Office, but the company promotes a hybrid working environment, allowing for a blend of in-office and remote work.

Office Location(s): Kingston Head Office, United Kingdom. This location serves as a key hub for Unilever's operations in the UK.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration mean the workspace is designed to facilitate interaction, with opportunities for team meetings, workshops, and informal discussions.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard corporate IT infrastructure, including necessary software for communication, project management, and specialized OD tools like Orgvue and Power BI.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to engage with HR colleagues, functional leaders, and project teams, both virtually and in person at the Kingston office.

Work Schedule:

• While the core role is full-time, Unilever emphasizes flexibility. Discussions about possible flexible working options are encouraged, allowing for adjustments to accommodate personal needs while ensuring business objectives are met. This flexibility is crucial for roles involving deep analytical work or stakeholder engagement across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role offers a balance between the benefits of in-person collaboration and the flexibility of remote work, which is increasingly valued by professionals in operations and design roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application and CV by the recruitment team to assess alignment with core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager to delve into your experience in organization design, workforce planning, AI integration, and stakeholder management. Expect behavioral questions and scenario-based inquiries.

• Case Study Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present a detailed case study from their portfolio, demonstrating their approach to a complex OD challenge, their problem-solving methodology, and the quantifiable impact of their work.

• Panel Interview: This may involve meeting with HR Business Partners, functional leads, or members of the Group OD team. Focus will be on assessing cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic thinking.

• Final Round: Potentially a discussion with a senior leader to confirm strategic alignment and leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantifiable Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your specific role and actions, the design solution implemented, and—most importantly—the measurable results (e.g., cost savings, efficiency gains, improved decision-making, reduced layers).

• Process & Methodology: Clearly explain your OD process, from diagnostics and stakeholder engagement to design development and implementation support. Highlight how you adapted your approach to Unilever's context.

• AI Integration Focus: Emphasize any experience or insights you have regarding the impact of AI and automation on organizational design and workforce planning.

• Conciseness & Clarity: Present your portfolio in a structured, easy-to-digest format. Use visuals where appropriate to illustrate organizational structures, workflows, or data insights. Be prepared to walk through your most relevant projects confidently.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Questions: Be ready to discuss hypothetical OD challenges related to GBS, Supply Chain, or AI integration. Practice articulating your approach, considering key stakeholders, potential risks, and success metrics.

• Stakeholder Influence Scenarios: Prepare examples of how you have successfully influenced senior stakeholders, managed resistance to change, or navigated complex organizational politics to achieve design objectives.

• Data Interpretation: Anticipate questions that require you to interpret data related to spans of control, workforce demographics, cost structures, or performance metrics, and explain how you would use this data in an OD context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on practical experience and the ability to articulate impact. A well-prepared portfolio and clear communication of past successes will be critical differentiators.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Orgvue: Highly preferred for organizational design, workforce modelling, and scenario planning. Candidates with direct experience using Orgvue for complex organizational analysis and visualization will have a significant advantage.

• Workday: Expected proficiency in leveraging Workday for workforce data analysis, reporting, and understanding organizational hierarchy and role structures.

• Power BI: Essential for data analysis, creating insightful dashboards, and visualizing workforce metrics and organizational design outcomes for stakeholder presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Excel: Advanced proficiency is a given for data manipulation, financial modelling, and basic analysis.

• Tableau / QlikView: While Power BI is explicitly mentioned, familiarity with other major business intelligence and visualization tools is beneficial.

• HR Analytics Platforms: Experience with any dedicated HR analytics software for workforce metrics and reporting.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how organizational design impacts CRM processes and how automation tools (e.g., RPA, workflow automation) can be integrated into new operating models is advantageous.

• SharePoint / Confluence: For documentation, knowledge sharing, and collaboration on design documents and process flows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of Orgvue, Workday, and Power BI indicates a strong preference for candidates who are already proficient with these tools, as they are central to the team's operational workflow for organization design and workforce analytics.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A focus on delivering tangible, measurable results that directly contribute to Unilever's transformation goals and business performance.

• Collaborative Spirit: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and shared problem-solving across diverse functions and levels of the organization.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: A commitment to leveraging data and analytics to guide design choices and measure success, rather than relying solely on intuition.

• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change, being responsive to evolving business needs, and proactively designing for future challenges, particularly in the context of AI and automation.

• Curiosity & Continuous Learning: Encouraging exploration of new methodologies, technologies (like AI), and best practices in organization design and the future of work.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership: Working closely with HRBPs and functional leaders as strategic partners to co-create and validate organizational designs.

• Challenge & Influence: A willingness to constructively challenge the status quo and influence senior stakeholders with data-backed recommendations.

• Transparency: Maintaining open communication regarding design processes, assumptions, and potential impacts to build trust and alignment.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings within the OD community and with business partners to build collective capability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Unilever's culture is likely to be a blend of a large, established corporation's structure and processes with a drive for innovation and agility, especially concerning transformation initiatives. Expect a professional environment that values data, collaboration, and a results-oriented approach.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complexity: Managing organizational design within a large, global matrix structure with diverse stakeholder needs and competing priorities.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Designing practical and ethical frameworks for human-AI collaboration that enhance rather than disrupt operations.

• Driving Adoption of New Designs: Ensuring that redesigned structures and roles are effectively implemented and embraced by employees, requiring strong change management partnership.

• Balancing Global Standards with Local Needs: Developing organizational designs that are globally consistent yet adaptable to specific market or functional requirements.

• Quantifying OD Impact: Clearly demonstrating the ROI and strategic value of organization design initiatives to senior leadership.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Future of Work Specialization: Gain cutting-edge experience in designing for AI-augmented workforces, a highly in-demand skill set.

• Large-Scale Transformation Exposure: Participate in and learn from major transformation programs shaping the future of Unilever's core operations.

• Mentorship: Potential access to senior OD professionals and leaders within Unilever for guidance and career development.

• Cross-Functional Business Acumen: Deepen understanding of GBS and Supply Chain & Operations value chains, enhancing strategic business partnering capabilities.

• Methodology Development: Contribute to refining and evolving Unilever's in-house organization design methodologies and toolkits.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents an excellent opportunity to tackle complex organizational challenges at scale, with the added dimension of integrating emerging technologies. The growth potential is significant, particularly for those interested in shaping the future of work.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a new operating model for a complex business function. What was your process, what were the key challenges, and what was the impact?" (Focus on methodology, stakeholder management, and quantifiable results.)

• "How do you approach assessing the impact of AI and automation on organizational roles and structures? Provide an example." (Highlight your understanding of AI's implications and your design thinking.)

• "Imagine you need to redesign a GBS value stream to improve efficiency and integrate AI. What would be your first steps, and what key metrics would you track?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking, process orientation, and data awareness.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why Unilever? What interests you about our approach to transformation and organizational design?" (Research Unilever's transformation initiatives like Mirai and Intelligent GBS, and articulate your alignment.)

• "How do you influence senior stakeholders who may be resistant to organizational change?" (Provide examples of your influencing skills and ability to build consensus.)

• "How would you ensure that a new organizational design is successfully adopted by the teams involved?" (Discuss your understanding of change management principles and collaboration with change teams.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate: The Business Challenge -> Your Role & Actions -> The Design Solution -> The Quantifiable Impact.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly connect your portfolio examples to the required skills such as AI integration, workforce planning, scenario modelling, and stakeholder influence.

• Focus on Unilever's Context: Where possible, frame your experience in a way that shows relevance to Unilever's GBS, Supply Chain, or transformation objectives.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodologies, data sources, decision-making rationale, and how you handled specific obstacles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not only theoretical knowledge but also practical application, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive measurable results within a large, complex organization. Your understanding of AI's impact on organizational design will be a key differentiator.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Unilever careers portal via the provided link.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your CV to highlight specific experience in organization design, workforce planning, AI integration, and experience with tools like Orgvue, Workday, or Power BI. Use keywords from the job description and Unilever's transformation initiatives.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 of your most impactful organization design or workforce planning case studies. Ensure they clearly demonstrate your process, the challenges overcome, and quantifiable results. Be ready to present these in detail.

• Research Unilever's Transformation: Familiarize yourself with Unilever's strategic priorities, particularly "Mirai" and "Intelligent GBS," and understand how organizational design supports these.

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your responses to common interview questions, focusing on the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions, and practice articulating your portfolio case studies clearly and concisely.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.