We are FBC UK, Fox's Burton's Companies!...And we bake the UK's most incredible biscuits (we might be slightly biased, but we will leave that for you to judge).
FBC UK was a match made in heaven, with two of the top UK biscuits manufacturers (Burton's Biscuits and Fox's Biscuits) coming together to create one unique, integrated company.
We are home to famous iconic brands, including Maryland, Fox's, Jammie Dodger & Rocky, to name just a few. We bake our incredible biscuits at eight bakeries across the UK, located at Ilse of Arran, Livingston, Blackpool, Llantarnam, Edinburgh, Kirkham, Batley & Dorset. We also have offices for our supporting services in St Albans, Liverpool and Moreton. Together, we employ circa 4,000 amazing employees across all our locations.
We are currently the second biscuit manufacturer in the UK market with a strong ambition of becoming the number two biscuit manufacturer worldwide.
We are proud to be part of the Ferrero enlarged family: such a fantastic and successful business. The Ferrero Group operates in more than 50 countries, with products sold in over 170 countries, represented by almost 38.000 employees worldwide, and a consolidated turnover of €12.7 billion (2020-21).
Along with our fantastic brand portfolio, we also have long-term agreements to manufacture several sweet & savoury snacks across Mars, Jacobs, and LU branded products. In addition, we are proud to be a strategic partner for many retailer-branded products.
Our employees make our business special. With strong family values, we believe FBC UK is a more prosperous and fun place to work with when people feel free to be themselves. We believe in the power of being authentic, entrepreneurial and supporting each whilst meeting our business goals.
And don't forget… work hard but play harder!
About the Role
* Leads the CSU (Consumer and Shopper Understanding) team to develop and represent the voice of the consumer ensuring it is promoting its use in all strategic decision making, and to coordinate the activities related to supporting the Marketing and Retailer Brand teams to take fact-based decisions on strategy, innovation & renovation pipelines and other consumer-facing activities.
* The CSU team is the core business partner in defining and developing research programs and market test activities to provide valuable insights.
Main Responsibilities
As the Head of Consumer Insights, you will collaborate closely with the Marketing team and retailer brands team to facilitate a fact-based decision-making process, ensuring the consumer perspective is considered alongside other viewpoints. You will leverage your expertise in consumer research methodologies, best practices, and experience to drive the business forward. You will develop and regularly review an annual research plan and budget, aligning with reference brands to detail the necessary research projects and activities that support brand objectives and priorities. This includes ensuring the plan's realization meets deadlines, maximizes quality, and delivers excellent service.
You will proactively support Brand Activation by setting up research programs to review their impact and work on multiple tasks and projects with the marketing team, providing insightful recommendations. You will be responsible for establishing all research instruments and tracking tools to address category needs, excluding sales or panel data. Additionally, you will scout and select the best external research providers, acting as the main point of contact, and work closely with the CSU and S&I teams to ensure full alignment on projects as required.
In managing research projects and insights, you will coordinate, plan, and ensure efficient execution of research activities for reference brands at the central level, ensuring optimal operational flow and stakeholder alignment. You will input and advise on the Research Brief, validate the most suitable testing methodologies, and gain approval from stakeholders. Utilizing data, statistical and quantitative analysis, explanatory and predictive modeling, and fact-based management, you will drive decision-making and provide valuable insights and recommendations. You will supervise the quantitative and qualitative analysis and tests performed on assigned brands, coordinating external partners' development activities and preparatory materials. You will provide recommendations to enhance category and brand strategies and analyze results from relevant 'self-serve' projects, delivering reports and debriefs with clear, actionable recommendations.
In terms of competence development, you will act as a key reference in the research field for competent brands, promote the development of research and innovation capabilities within the brand and CSU teams, and contribute to best practices' cross-fertilization and test and learning processes. You will regularly report to top management on the status and insights achieved in the category, evaluate new research opportunities, methodologies, and tools to support category goals, and work closely with CSU on relevant categories, providing insights and seeking alignment when necessary. You will also develop and implement a continuous Consumer Closeness program in conjunction with the Marketing Director.
For human resources and team management, you will be accountable for managing your team, ensuring a management system based on Group values, motivation, competence development, and empowerment. You will recruit, manage, motivate, coach, and develop your team, guaranteeing their professional development, evaluating their performance, and proposing development initiatives.
In managing business partners, you will lead relationships to form long-term strategic partnerships with external entities and collaborate with the S&I and CSU teams to become a valued partner. You will recommend and influence cross-functionally to ensure all parts of the business keep consumers and shoppers in mind when making strategic decisions.
Who we are looking for
* Educated to degree standard
* Consumer Insights experience gained within FMCG organisations.
* Experience of applying a wide range of qualitative & quantitative research approaches and evidence of making actionable recommendations that have affected change
* Experience of in-house/self-serve research tools & methodologies (online sources, online surveys, interviews etc.)
* Strong analytical skills
* Team player
* Able to influence internal and external senior stakeholders
* Working knowledge of syndicated research tools (eg NIQ, Circana, Kantar)
Diversity Statement
FBC UK is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at FBC UK. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.
#J-18808-Ljbffr