Shopper Insights Manager

Halmer Recruit; Huntingdon; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Halmer Recruit is seeking an experienced Shopper Insights Manager for the Huntingdon area of Cambridgeshire. This strategic role focuses on understanding shoppers as people and translating insights into product development, positioning, and long-term growth.

You will own an in-house consumer panel and lead qualitative/mixed-method research, turning insights into clear recommendations that influence decisions across the business.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in shopper insight, consumer insight, market research or behavioural insight.
• Strong experience leading qualitative research and interpreting findings.
• Ability to explain shopper behaviour through motivations and human drivers.
• Experience managing consumer panels, communities or similar research groups.
• Excellent storytelling, communication and stakeholder influencing skills.
• A relevant degree or equivalent professional experience in related disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Develop a deep, evidence-based understanding of shopper motivations, needs and decision-making.
• Apply behavioural science and consumer psychology to understand drivers behind shopper behaviour.
• Own and manage an in-house consumer/shoppers panel with representative demographics.
• Develop a continuous insight roadmap incorporating pulse surveys, qualitative deep dives and trend sensing.
• Lead qualitative and mixed-method research, including interviews, online communities, ethnography and workshops.
• Translate complex insights into clear, actionable findings and recommendations.
• Present insights to influence decisions across the business.

Skills

Shopper insights

Qualitative research

Storytelling

Stakeholder influence

Behavioural science

Education

Relevant degree in Psychology/Economics/Behavioural Science/Market Research

Job description

The Opportunity

We are recruiting for an experienced Shopper Insights Manager to join an established business based in the Huntingdon area of Cambridgeshire.

Offering £45,000-£60,000 per annum, depending on experience, this is a strategic insight role focused on developing a genuine understanding of shoppers as people - how they think, feel, decide and behave.

This is not primarily a sales performance reporting or commercial analytics role. Instead, you'll explore the human drivers behind shopper behaviour, identifying motivations, unmet needs and emerging trends and translating those findings into clear direction for product development, positioning, innovation and long-term growth. Shopper Insights Manager

A key part of the position will be taking ownership of an in-house consumer panel, developing an ongoing programme of insight that combines qualitative research, pulse surveys and trend sensing. You'll use this to test hypotheses, explore early signals and help the business understand emerging changes in shopper behaviour. Shopper Insights Manager

You'll also lead qualitative and mixed-method research, turning complex consumer insight into clear and compelling recommendations that can influence decisions across the wider business.

This would suit an experienced shopper or consumer insight professional who enjoys getting underneath the data to understand why people behave as they do and can turn that understanding into meaningful strategic action.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a deep, evidence-based understanding of shopper motivations, needs, barriers and decision-making
• Apply behavioural science and consumer psychology to understand the drivers behind shopper behaviour
• Develop and evolve shopper frameworks around needs, tensions, missions and mindsets
• Own and manage an in-house consumer/shopper panel, ensuring a strong and representative demographic mix
• Develop a continuous insight roadmap incorporating pulse surveys, qualitative deep dives and trend sensing
• Use consumer research to test hypotheses and identify emerging behavioural shifts
• Plan and deliver qualitative and mixed-method research, including interviews, online communities, ethnography and workshops
• Translate complex and often unstructured human insight into clear, actionable findings
• Manage external research partners where required
• Track cultural, category and behavioural trends influencing shopper expectations
• Distinguish genuine emerging needs from short-term trends and fads
• Feed shopper insight, trends and foresight into innovation and strategic discussions
• Turn research findings into compelling and accessible narratives
• Present insights in a way that encourages action and influences decision-making
• Act as an internal voice of the shopper across commercial, innovation, strategy and leadership discussions Shopper Insights Manager

Requirements

• Proven experience within shopper insight, consumer insight, market research or behavioural insight
• Strong experience leading qualitative research and interpreting findings
• Ability to explain shopper behaviour through motivations and human drivers rather than relying solely on metrics
• Experience managing consumer panels, communities or similar research groups
• Excellent storytelling, communication and stakeholder influencing skills
• A relevant degree or equivalent professional experience within Psychology, Economics, Behavioural Science, Market Research, Consumer Insight or a related discipline Shopper Insights Manager

The following would be advantageous but are not essential:

• Experience within FMCG, retail or another shopper-led category
• Exposure to behavioural science, psychology or decision-making frameworks
• A Master's degree or further professional qualification within a relevant discipline Shopper Insights Manager

Skills & Qualities

• Naturally curious about people and what influences their decisions
• Empathetic and intellectually rigorous
• Confident challenging assumptions using evidence and insight
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and developing early-stage ideas
• Able to think strategically while delivering short-term value
• Collaborative while maintaining the integrity and independence of shopper insight
• Able to simplify complex information into clear and engaging recommendations
• Strong storyteller with the confidence to influence stakeholders across the business Shopper Insights Manager

What's On Offer

• £45,000-£60,000 per annum, depending on experience
• Opportunity to take ownership of an in-house consumer/shopper panel
• Strategic role influencing product development, positioning, innovation and longer-term growth
• Opportunity to shape how shopper understanding is used across the wider business
• Exposure across commercial, innovation, strategy and leadership functions
• Opportunity to develop a continuous programme of consumer insight rather than focusing solely on one-off research projects