Insights Manager - Maker's Mark, New York

What makes this a great opportunity?

Suntory Global Spirits (SGS) is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Rooted in two centuries of family heritage, SGS has evolved into the world's third largest leading premium spirits company ... where each employee is treated like family and trusted with legacy. With our greatest assets - our premium spirits and our people - we're driving growth through impactful marketing, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Suntory is a place where you can come Unleash your Spirit by making an impact each and every day.

Manager, Global Consumer Insights - Maker's Mark & Portfolio Insights

 The following position is open in New York, United States.

 What makes this a great opportunity?

 Maker’s Mark is an iconic, Kentucky Straight Bourbon and one of the leading brands in our portfolio. The role has the opportunity to be a key part of driving and shaping our business in a highly attractive category and leading growth for a very exciting brand.  

The Insights Manager will be a strong individual contributor managing insights and market understanding globally for Makers Mark. Additionally, he/she will also be responsible for insights across our brand portfolio to ensure we understand the consumers and markets holistically across categories.  

The Manager will report to the Global Insights Director, American Whisky

Role Responsibilities

As the Insights lead supporting the Maker’s Mark brand globally, the Manager will be responsible for identifying, developing and integrating consumer insights throughout the Global Brand House to drive marketplace success. This includes:

• Collaborating with the Maker’s Mark brand team and key geographies to drive consumer-centric decision making and help to formulate end to end brand strategy: to support communication strategy, brand equity, consumer targeting, product and packaging, and brand investment decisions.

• Strong partnership with both Brand and Commercial stakeholders in the global brand house. Also work closely with partners and cross-functional stakeholders in local markets to ensure we continue to generate demand for our brands.

• Defining the learning agenda and ensure is delivered with excellence. Lead qualitative and quantitative custom research projects throughout all stages including design, execution, analysis and actionable recommendation

• While having point accountability for custom market research, the incumbent must also draw from a variety of information sources and internal resources to develop insights that provide a competitive advantage for Suntory Global Spirits.  This role will collaborate closely with the regional Insights partners in priority markets for the Maker’s Mark brand. 
• The manager will play a key role in supporting portfolio insights. This includes design, execution and driving implications and actions for consumer understanding initiatives across brands at a global level. This will cover research execution on demand spaces, thought leadership opportunities around the various spirit categories, as well as brand agnostic innovation and campaign testing

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leveraging consumer insights to drive business results
• High degree of intellectual curiosity and creative insight, coupled with a drive for actionable, tangible impact on the organization
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a cross functional team, agency and suppliers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills – experienced and comfortable communicating, influencing, and aligning senior leaders and cross-functional team members
• Team player with ability to work well in a fast paced, unstructured entrepreneurial environment. Highly adaptable to work well in an environment of change
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and complete projects in a timely manner.
• Experience with a range of research methodologies; concept testing, advertising, vis-id/packaging, positioning, consumer segmentation/demand spaces, etc.
• Resourceful and fiscally minded leveraging previous custom research and other internal resources to inform POV on brand strategy and guide business decisions
• Experience with syndicated sources (e.g. Nielsen, IRI, Panel data, MRI etc.) and ability to generate category or brand insights and to form recommendations
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to draw conclusions and extract meaningful insights from data

Qualifications

• Relevant bachelor's degree required – Master's degree a plus
• Minimum 6 years of custom insight/research or consumer planning experience
• Experience in client-side CPG companies is a plus for this role. Alc-Bev experience a distinct advantage
• Solid understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and suppliers with a broad range of research techniques
• Experience leading custom research across a variety of methodologies and business applications
• Demonstrated experience in collaborating with cross functional teams as well as the wider insights community

Salary Range: $115,000-$130,000, along with an annual bonus, 401K match, profit sharing, and medical and wellness benefits. The salary range is commensurate with the candidate’s location, experience, and skillset. The range will vary if outside of the NY Location.