Global Strategic Sourcing Manager - Ad Production

Function: Marketing Procurement

Work Level: WL2A

Reports to: Global Portfolio Strategy Lead, Asset Creation

Scope: Global

Location: London

Contract type: Full time, hybrid.

About Marketing Procurement

Unilever invests an estimated ~€6bn annually in Marketing across Creative Agencies, Digital & D‑Com, Ad Production, Field Force, and POSM/Premiums. Asset Creation represents an estimated ~€1bn of this spend across Creative, Ad Production, PR and Influencers, of which Ad Production accounts for around ~€300m.

Marketing Procurement leads sourcing strategy, commercial negotiations, supplier governance, and value delivery across all Marketing services. This role offers the opportunity to lead the development and execution of the Global Ad Production strategy — spanning film, photography, digital, adaptation, talent, and music — enabling strong cost governance, supplier performance, and innovation‑led transformation across a highly dynamic portfolio.

Role Summary

The Strategic Sourcing Manager for Ad Production will own strategic sourcing across the end‑to‑end production and execution required to turn approved creative ideas into finished, reusable campaign assets. The role is both analytical and stakeholder‑facing, ensuring cost discipline, operating model efficiencies, portfolio strategy and management, and high‑quality execution.

This individual will drive operational excellence across production scopes, supplier roster management, contract governance, and value tracking, contributing directly to Unilever’s ambition to deliver more content with consistent quality.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy & Portfolio Support

• Lead the development and execution of the Global Ad Production portfolio strategy across master production, adaptation, talent & celebrity, music, and photography services.
• Drive the implementation of key Ad Production initiatives, scaling AI‑enabled solutions and next‑generation capabilities.
• Ensure prioritisation and visibility across the portfolio, enabling value delivery and risk management.

2. Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Work with global, regional, and brand teams (incl. the Ad Production leadership and Business Group leadership teams) to align scopes, supplier selection, and commercial approach.
• Manage expectations across complex and sometimes ambiguous situations, supporting decision‑making with data and clear recommendations.
• Provide consultancy to cross‑functional teams and act as the subject‑matter expert supporting local Procurement teams.

3. Strategic Sourcing & Cost Governance

• Apply a structured strategic sourcing process to projects and RFPs.
• Lead cost benchmarking, rate card analysis, cost breakdowns, and scenario modelling for production scopes using internal and external tools.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of savings and efficiency opportunities, including asset‑reuse metrics, commercial model optimisation, and AI/automation savings.
• Support roster governance across preferred suppliers: onboarding, performance tracking, compliance, and contract renewals.

4. Performance, Compliance & Supplier Governance

• Lead KPI tracking, performance reviews and QBRs with key production, adaptation and talent partners, including performance‑based agency remuneration models.
• Maintain category data hygiene, spend tracking, and contract/PO compliance across relevant procurement systems.
• Contribute to risk assessment and mitigation (commercial, contractual, operational), including usage/licensing and talent contracting.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in Marketing, Procurement, Ad Production, or related roles is preferred.
• Strong financial acumen and analytical ability; comfortable working with data to support decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to create clear presentations and influence stakeholders.
• Understanding of supply markets, FMCG, and the advertising production value chain (pre‑production, shoot, post‑production, adaptation, talent, music) is a strong advantage.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and deliver in a complex global environment.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and supporting change, particularly production transformation.
• Ability to engage and influence diverse cross‑functional and senior stakeholders.

General Skills & Competencies

• Resilient and solution-oriented: able to progress work despite unclear boundaries.
• Strong project & time management skills across multiple workstreams.
• Fast‑learner, curious, with a passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and marketing excellence.
• Skilled at translating complex information into simple, actionable insights.
• Able to influence and drive adoption of new ways of working and support change management.