The Sr. Shopper Insights Manager on the Pet Parent Insights team operates as a strategic copilot for shopper insights for a priority pet care category and customer team and delivers insightful, actionable learning to business partners. The Sr. Shopper Insights Manager drives business results by leveraging the voice of the pet parent/shopper to influence business plans and guide the category and customer business strategy to drive accelerated growth and mitigate risk.

What are we looking for?

• Minimum qualifications:
  • 5+ years of experience in consumer/shopper research or Category Management at a consumer products company
  • Track record of successfully growing category by implementing category solutions, or business strategies that unlock growth within the retail environment
  • Expertise in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods (including control store testing) and ability to apply them to appropriately address business issues.
  • Bachelor’s Degree

• Preferred qualifications: 
  • 7+ years of experience in a Shopper/Consumer Insights or Category Management or Market Research role at a leading CPG.
  • Experience leading the learning plan and managing the corresponding budget.
  • Experience with story telling to share insights and solutions across and outside of the organization 
  • Experience working in a global business with broad network of stakeholders
  • Both Client-side and research agency side work in consumer products
  • MBA or other advanced degree

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Act as a strategic co-pilot to the sales planning and strategy teams (Everyday Value, Specialty, or Generalist), representing the voice of the shopper in cross-functional discussions and influencing plans to accelerate growth.  
• Proactively work with cross-functional teams & senior leadership to identify knowledge gaps. Develop strategic learning agenda based on a deep understanding and analysis of pet owners, shoppers, retailers, competitors, and US market trends.
• Conduct all US research initiatives related to shopper based design and Perfect Store support. Ensure insights are deployed to Sales, Category Management, Sales Strategy and translated into clear customer activation through the toolkit, specifically the Category Growth Solution deck. 
• Manage annual learning plan prioritization and budget for area of responsibility. 
• Leverage all data sources (past and current research, first party data, syndicated market data) to develop & share-out multisource insights syntheses that shape our shopper understanding. Lead regular insights share-outs that drive the shopper voice throughout the organization.
• Lead the development and support the deployment of category stories and 3-5 year category vision within the organization and with retail partners.   
• Partner with Global Consumer, Shopper and Market Insights to exchange knowledge and insights and partner with the global team to conduct the validation of prioritized global innovation projects (ie Merchandising Key Beliefs)
• Nurture a culture of pet parent and customer centricity in the organization.
• Manage relationships with key insights suppliers to maximize their contribution to the business 

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 like-minded and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

#LI-KW1

About Mars:
Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5â„¢, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitalsâ„¢, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCAâ„¢ and Pet Partnersâ„¢. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 130,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

Disclaimer:
Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.​​​​​​​

Note to Search Firms/Agencies:
Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific.  Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.