Associate Director, Global Consumer Foresight & Marketplace Strategy

The Kraft Heinz Company; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 164,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Healthcare benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

The Kraft Heinz Company in Chicago seeks an Associate Director, Global Consumer Foresight & Marketplace Strategy to champion consumer trends and foresight for Global Enterprise. Lead enterprise planning and localization for global markets, partnering with strategy, innovation, region insights, and R&D teams.

This role demands a strategic, influential leader with strong research chops, data interpretation skills, and a track record of driving cross-functional impact across a fast-paced

Qualifications

• At least ten years in a strategic insights/consumer research or trends-focused role, preferably at a CPG manufacturer.
• Comfort with leading custom research and synthesizing secondary data to tell a holistic story.
• Experience distilling cultural, consumer, and culinary trends to drive innovation pipelines.
• Ability to tailor content for diverse audiences including executives.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and leading change with strong communication skills.
• Working knowledge of syndicated tools such as Nielsen, Circana, Mintel.

Responsibilities

• Synthesize information and build data-informed perspectives for strategic planning.
• Represent consumer expertise globally considering macroeconomics, marketplace dynamics, and attitudes.
• Lead enterprise learning plans and trend deep dives to inform platform development.
• Connect consumer, culinary, and cultural trends to broader consumer motivations and opportunities.
• Vet new technologies and data sources to develop best-in-class methodologies.
• Ensure consumer perspective drives strategic direction and informs action.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Storytelling

Cross-functional collaboration

Data synthesis

Market research

Education

Advanced degree

Tools

Nielsen

Circana

Mintel

Job description

Job Description

The Associate Director,GlobalConsumer Foresight & Marketplace Strategy** **

will be responsible for championing the consumer andleadingtrends and foresight work forGlobal Enterprise– from research to strategy development. This positionwill support the development ofour organizational consumer trend north star to inform strategic planning at the enterprise level with relevant click-ins and pivots to meaningfully localize for consumers across the globe. Thisindividual will work closely withthe corporate strategy function,innovation teams,region consumer insights and R&D teams. This isa crucial enterpriserole in whichrelationships and leadership presence will be key to influence.This individual must operate with an enterprise business performance mindset, with the ability to translate learning tolocal insights and implications.This role will ensureconsistentconsumer-informeddecisions that future-proof our brands, and in turn Kraft Heinz overall.

This is not a solelymarket research role.TheAssociate Director,GlobalConsumer Foresight & Marketplace Strategy is a strategist with strong research expertise–this person must havea holistic understanding of how businesses grow, alongside a keenunderstandingofdata and tools available to build a strong consumer foundation to build future strategy.

This positionreportsintotheDirector,Consumer Foresight & Marketplace Strategy,and sitswithin the Global Growth Organization.

This role requires a person whois:

Strategic : Be a strategic business partner, flexible to work with various teams and functions.Discover new ways of thinking.Propel Kraft Heinzaheadof competition in how we think about the future.

Inspiring: Use their understanding of the consumer, culture, and culinary trends to guidestrategic planningin a naturalway with deep partnerships.

Influential : Influence at all levels of the organization (up, down, and sideways) and work seamlessly with cross-functional teams. Build internal and external credibility for Kraft Heinz in theconsumertrends and foresight space.Move past interesting information to truly drive action.

Impactful : Aim to “so-what’s” by making actionable recommendations routed in a deep understanding of consumers and Kraft Heinz’s business.

Creative & Accountable : Possess a willingness to get into the details, think and act like a start-up, and build a function against a blank slate without buying pre-packaged solutions or methodologies.

Flexible : Flexibly and creatively adjust to changing priorities and business challenges. Deal with ambiguity while showing a strong drive for results and project leadership skills; Highly adaptable, works well in an environment of change.

Strong Communicator : Showcase strong interpersonal skills through distilled, clean/concise deliverables that drive empathy and storytelling behaviors throughout the organization.

Self-motivated : Ability to handle many workstreams, challenging priorities andmake the hard calls about where to focus efforts to

1. have the greatest organizational impact, and 2)elevate the work in the right ways.

Analytical : Ability to see through data and recognize patterns to inform brand and enterprise actions; Develop true insights that are multiple steps beyondfacts.

Collaborator : Teammate, owning own expertise whileappreciatethe power of working with teams to get to the best solutions.

Coach & People Leader : Drive to share knowledge and develop a hard-working team

Curious & Action Oriented: High degree of intellectual curiosity and creative insight, coupled with a drive for actionable, tangible results

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Synthesize information and builddata-informed perspectives to inform thestrategic planning processes.

• Represent consumer expertise globally considering the intersection of macroeconomics,marketplacedynamics, structural shifts, and consumer attitudes and behaviorstoday and tomorrow as a result.

• Lead and implement highly visible enterprise learning plans and trend deep divesto inform innovation platform developmentandexisting business strategyacross theglobalportfolio.

• Connect consumer, culinary, andcultural trendstrendstobroaderconsumer motivations and translate signals in culture into strategic opportunities for Kraft Heinz.

• Build upon existing trends and foresight capabilities by vetting and onboarding new technologies and data sources to develop best-in-class methodologies. Constantly evaluates supplier partners to ensure cutting-edge methods.

• Ensure that the consumer is at the forefront, living principles, inspiring change, pivoting, and communicating as new learning and consumer understanding is gleaned.

• Requires working in high levels ofambiguity,andworking with the broader team to definestrategic direction for growth opportunities 1-10 years out.

Expected Experience & Required Skills

• At least ten (10+) years in a strategic insights/consumer research or trends-focused role, preferably at a CPG manufacturer, or7+ years with a combination of supplier, agency, and manufacturer-side insights experience showcasing increasing responsibilities and scope.

• Comfort with both leading custom research andsynthesizing secondary data sources to tell a holistic story and influence an organization.

• Meaningfulexperience in theconsumerinsights space; able to break historical ways of working, experiment, and drive agility.Mastery of common qualitative and quantitative market research methods, alongside willingness to experiment and try new methods.

• Proven ability to distill cultural, consumer, and culinary trends to drive impact into innovation pipelines, product development, business strategy, and M&A planning.

• Experience tailoring content for diverse audiences, ranging from external customers to executive leadership team.

• High level of tolerance for working in ambiguity, leading change, and motivating change management

• Experience working with progressive trend and foresight tools that leverage fast-moving consumer signalsand willingness toexplore new tools and ways of thinking.

• Working knowledge of syndicated research tools (e.g., Nielsen,Circana, Mintel, etc.)

• Master at storytelling in creative and impactful ways - excellent communication, organization, and presentation skills (written, oral, and across Microsoft Office Suite)

• Advanced Degree Preferred

Work Environment & Schedule

This is a Hybridrolewith three days a week in the local office, with limited travel or visits to external locations; offices are open workspaces. Additionally, this role requires working a salaried, exempt schedule to best execute against customer and internal expectations.

Physical demands include but are not limited to

Willingness to drive and/or travel as needed

Operate a computer and view screens for ~100% of the work schedule

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range:

$164,200.00 - $205,200.00

Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and savingfor the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coveragefor benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire aphysical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments

• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training

• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program, Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs

• Financial – 401k,Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.