Whole Foods Market is looking for a Principal Consumer Insights Manager to join our team in Austin. The ideal candidate has solid quantitative and qualitative skills, is savvy at translating research results into “the story,” thrives in a fast-paced environment, and is a passionate advocate for the shopper’s point of view
Job Level: IC6 (individual contributor)
Location: Austin, TX
Responsibilities
Collaborate with stakeholders in Marketing, Merchandising, and other functions across Whole Foods Market to structure business questions and develop learning plans based on business questions and objectives.
Develop, execute, and analyze consumer research projects to address business needs related to in-store & online shopping patterns, branding, positioning, advertising, eating habits, category consumption, etc.
Synthesize data from both primary and secondary research sources to create a comprehensive understanding of learning around key business issues.
Serve as consumer advocate ensuring voice of consumer is represented in all business decisions.
Manage outside vendors/agency partners to execute consumer research and control costs.
Manage projects ensuring that they meet time and budget parameters.
Must be willing to travel up to 15%
Desired Skills & Experience
Retail industry experience required.
BA/BS degree and 6-8+ years’ relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Working knowledge of syndicated data and analysis like IRI or Nielsen scanner/panel.
Experience with and strong understanding of marketing and market research fundamentals including qualitative and quantitative market research techniques and methodologies, experimental design, questionnaire development, and statistics.
Able to answer business questions through an insights lens, including (but not limited to) questions related to brand, advertising development and measurement, strategic program measurement, and product & category-specific needs.
Solid leader and influencer who is able to lead autonomously and to drive cross-functional partner alignment on common, consensus-based decisions.
Able to build subject matter expertise in a domain and serve as the primary point of contact in that area for business partners and research partners across the company.
Able to balance business risk to research rigor when recommending and managing different types of custom and syndicated studies.
Able to objectively interpret research, extract insights, link to strategies, and communicate in a motivating way.
Strong oral, written and formal presentation skills, including ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple way, and ability to customize communication to different audiences, including to high-level leadership stakeholders.
Highly collaborative & proactive relationship builder – enjoys working within and across teams, and values partnering on work with a variety of teammates and cross-functional partners.
Approaches conflicts as opportunities; understands others quickly and can find common ground without compromising objectivity.
Comfortable in a fast-paced work environment and can handle ambiguity and changing business priorities and questions.
Self-starter and highly self-motivated, assumes personal accountability for results and performance.
Sense of humor is a must.
