Register Your Interest - Sustainability Placement 2027

*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: Sustainability IP

A placement in Sustainability puts you at the heart of shaping Unilever’s reputation as the leader in sustainable business. From planning and delivering sustainability strategy through to managing big milestone events that advocate for systemic change, everything we do drives towards strengthening our business performance. You’ll gain skills in advocacy, partnerships, innovation, stakeholder management, research, content, writing and strategic issues management in a fast-paced, externally facing environment, with a unique insight into agendas that cut across the whole business. You will work closely with our Communications and Corporate Affairs teams and IPs as part of the same function but also with other functions like Supply Chain or the sustainability people in our Business Groups.

The Function:

The function is split in 3 pillars: Communications, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability.

The Sustainability pillar is responsible for:

• Setting and Leading the Sustainability Strategy
• Lead on Global Advocacy, Partnerships, Platforms and Stakeholder Relationships
• Lead on the Sustainability agendas that cut across multiple points of Unilever

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

During your placement, you could work with teams from different areas of the business. Your key responsibilities could be:

• Gather and summarise insight from external events, policy changes and reports that are relevant to the team’s agenda to help inform decision making.
• Support Unilever's senior leaders on advocacy through briefs and events that drive systems change to optimise the enabling environment in areas that are material to Unilever to grow our business and protect our licence to operate.
• Work on reporting, write articles for our U.com website and distil complex topics into clear, compelling communications.
• Support the pillar during big milestones like the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, the United Nations General Assembly, COP, etc
• Support team organisation and management.

Some of the positions you could be allocated include

• IP in our Plastics team
• IP in our Strategy and Governance Team
• IP in our Social and Human Rights team
• IP in our Nature team
• IP in our Climate team

What do we look for?

• A proactive individual who is happy to take initiative and keen to learn! Creative, detail-orientated, energetic and a strong team player.
• With a strong performance culture, challenging goals and continuous feedback, we will help you in achieving your potential in an inclusive environment. You will thrive by gaining exposure to real business challenges where your energy and fresh thinking will have an impact.

Skills required include:

• Ability to work well in a team and build good working relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and operates with flexibility
• Team player who is willing to pitch in and help wherever necessary
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Taking initiative and being proactive in identifying and solving problems
• Microsoft office skills (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint)
• Open minded, flexible and creative thinking)

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 the 12 months.

Programme details

• Location: Hybrid working a minimum of 3 days required weekly at our Kingston office.
• Applications open: Monday 14 September 2026
• Applications close: 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: June 2027

Industrial Placement (IP) Application Process

Please note: you will only progress to the next stage if you are successful in the previous stage.

• Stage 1 – Online Application & IP Simulation

Complete an online application form before completing our interactive IP simulation, designed to give you insight into our organisation and the programme you’re applying for. This will prepare you for a series of situational judgement questions based on realistic business scenarios.

• Stage 2 – Online Assessments.

Complete a numerical reasoning assessment, an online test that measures your ability to interpret and draw conclusions from numerical data and verbal Reasoning assessment an online test that measures your ability to understand and evaluate written information.

• Stage 3 – Digital Interview

Complete a video interview.

• Stage 4 – Virtual Discovery Centre

Attend a half-day virtual discovery centre alongside fellow candidates. This will include immersive business challenges and interviews.

• Stage 5 – In-Person Discovery Centre

Invited to attend an in-person half-day discovery centre alongside fellow candidates. This will give you the opportunity to visit a Unilever office, meet and interview with business leaders, and work on function-related business challenges.

What Can Unilever offer YOU?

• A competitive Salary of £27,898.00
• End of Placement Bonus
• Subsidised Gym Memberships - availability varies by site
• Discounted Staff Shop
• Opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.
• 28 days (pro rata) of holiday inclusive of bank holidays. Once you have completed 12 worked weeks, under the Agency Workers Regulation your holiday entitlementwill increase to 33 days inclusive of bank holidays, pro rata for the term of this placement.
• Opportunity to join one of our Future Careers Development Teams such as Outreach, Digi, Community & Wellbeing and many more! By joining a team, you can grow business-critical skills, develop Unilever Behaviours, and make a meaningful contribution to Future Careers.
• A dedicated buddy to help you onboard and learn about the business.
• An experienced Line Manager to develop your knowledge and understanding across the year.

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

At Unilever, diversity is about embracing differences, championing inclusion, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. Join our vibrant and inclusive workplace that champions diversity and inclusion.

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 wellbeing 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.

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

If you have any questions about your application, require reasonable adjustments to complete any part of the application process or wish to discuss any mitigating circumstances, please contact the Talent Acquisition team using the following details. If adjustments are required, the team will reach out to discuss available accessibility options. E.g., If required extending time spent in any ‘timebound’ assessments/interviews.

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

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How is Unilever tackling this?

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What can I do?

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Register Your Interest

To be the first to know once applications open, register your interest today!