Head of Research

Role Summary

• To provide strategic direction and accountability for Research across C&C GB Group, including assuming Group-wide responsibility for building a credible Centre of Excellence for Research for C&C Group Plc and for creating a Data Culture at C&C
• To deliver the performance targets for PROOF Insight as part of the PROOF Insight Management Team

Key Accountabilities

• To assume overall responsibility for Research for the benefit of PROOF Insight and the wider C&C GB business
• To provide strategic direction to the Research team, to PROOF Insight and to stakeholders across C&C GB
• To be accountable for tactical and strategic Research planning to efficiently respond to PROOF Insight’s needs and the needs of customers both internal & external
• To drive Research excellence and to develop & sustain a culture of continuous improvement in Research and Research reporting across C&C
• To ensure that all Research key performance metrics are delivered in line with Group expectations
• To deliver the Research budget through driving cost efficiency, optimising asset performance, effective planning and continuous improvement initiatives
• To ensure the highest quality standards are maintained
• To oversee the delivery of Research projects & models
• To drive the people agenda within the Research team, and the wider PROOF Insight team, including embedding Group values and behaviours, improving employee engagement scores, developing talent and promoting diversity and inclusion
• As part of the PROOF Insight Management Team to contribute to the achievement of wider PROOF Insight targets and the development of PROOF Insight strategy

Key Stakeholders

• PROOF Insight Management Team
• PROOF Insight customers and key partners
• GB Management Team
• UK & Ireland Commercial BUs

Skills

• Driven self-starter and strategic thinker
• Proven leadership capability within a Research environment
• Knowledge and experience of implementing Research excellence
• Ability to influence key stakeholders at Executive Committee level, to build effective working relationships in order to help the Group achieve its objectives
• Commercially aware, must understand impact of what PROOF Insight does on wider business and anticipate the needs of PROOF Insight, C&C GB, external influences, and the wider business agenda
• Comfortable working with risk and ambiguity, able to adapt to changing business requirements
• Knowledge of the Research industry, the competitive landscape, the key players and the current drivers of market & regulatory change.

Experience and Qualifications

• Proven track record of achievement in a senior Research role
• Bachelor’s Degree (minimum 2:1) awarded in a numerate course such as economics, statistics, mathematics, computer science, or a related quantitative field
• Expert in understanding disparate pieces of data and drawing connections between them to build data-backed, commercially relevant arguments
• Extensive experience conducting primary quantitative and qualitative research
• Experience leading successful teams and supporting skill development
• Advanced understanding of the value/limitations of varied qualitative and quantitative datasets and their applications
• Advanced quantitative/statistical analysis skills (Excel essential, other programs desired)
• Experience in qualitative research/analysis. Extensive experience working with continuous market/panel data (e.g., Nielsen), loyalty data (e.g., dunnhumby), and consumer data (quantitative and qualitative)
• Considerable experience presenting conclusions to senior stakeholders in a compelling and effective manner
• Experience managing and maintaining a consumer communities & panels
• Ability to explain and defend the methodology used in the development of research projects
• Experience prioritizing competing demands, resolving conflict, and obtaining buy-in from stakeholders
• Strong commercial awareness and knowledge of FMCG dynamics
• Experience reviewing and providing feedback on analysis in a structured and rigorous manner
• Experience of the drinks industry and/or a strong understanding of beer/wine/spirits (e.g., equivalent to WSET L2/3 for wine though qualification not necessary) is strongly preferred
• Effective communicator, in explaining tools, designing briefs, and presenting findings to colleagues, customers and suppliers
• MRS accreditation or equivalent