At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead insights projects and turn consumer behaviour into strategic growth plans.
- Company: Join AG Barr, a leading brand in the UK soft drinks market.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, uncapped bonuses, and up to 34 days holiday.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping brand strategies with consumer insights.
- Qualifications: FMCG experience and strong analytical skills are essential.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture with excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Location: London, Hybrid working pattern
We are all about being your best Barr None and having a career with real Moments that Matter. AG Barr employs around 850 people across the UK and is a responsible business that values diversity, supports communities and works to minimise environmental impact. For 150 years AG Barr has built great brands and is home to some of the nation’s favourite flavours, including IRN-BRU, RUBICON, Boost, FUNKIN and MOMA. There has never been a better time to join us.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for a Senior Category & Insight Manager to act as one of the strategic architects of our growth. You will turn insights into a human-first commercial compass and serve as the voice of the consumer across all levels from category strategies to communication and product innovation. You will use curiosity and an obsession with human behaviour to steer our brands and ensure decisions reflect consumer needs and behaviours to drive growth.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Lead the integration of primary and secondary data sources (Kantar, Circana, etc.) to provide insights on UK soft drinks performance, track market share, price elasticity and competitor activity.
- Bring the consumer to life across the business through storytelling, consumer connectivity and deep understanding of behavioural patterns.
- Understand the wider regulatory and business environment, how it impacts our business and recommendations for future actions.
- Manage bespoke insights projects to understand why consumers behave as they do (qualitative and quantitative).
- Brand Strategy: be an objective partner to the marketing team to embed the consumer in brand positioning and communication.
- Commercial Leadership: act as a category expert across channels to provide guidance on trends across categories, sub-categories and channels.
- Portfolio and Pipeline: identify and size opportunities for growth based on genuine consumer needs and how to best utilise our brands.
What you’ll bring
Experience & Skills:
- FMCG expert: extensive experience in a category or insight role (ideally in food or drink) with a passion for the UK retail landscape.
- Analytical powerhouse: ability to distill messy data into a single, compelling human narrative and influence with insight.
- Consumer-obsessed: asks why, understands say-do gaps and can influence with or without formal presentations.
- Strategic collaborator: thrives in cross-functional working and can lead a workshop or dive into price elasticity modeling.
Personal Attributes:
- Inquisitive leader with infectious curiosity and the drive to share insights with the wider business.
- High emotional intelligence: adapt communication to influence across roles from Junior Brand Manager to Managing Director.
- Agile strategist: comfortable in a fast-paced, always-on category and able to maintain strategic perspective when conditions shift.
What we offer
We are committed to an inclusive culture and investing in our employees. Our benefits package includes:
- Uncapped bonus linked to business performance
- Defined contribution pension
- Up to 34 days holiday (depending on shift pattern)
- Flexible holiday trading
- Flexible cash pot to spend on benefits
- Healthcare cash plan
- Flexible benefits (discounts & cashbacks, gym memberships, technology purchases, etc.)
- Life assurance
- Save as you earn scheme
- Staff sales discount
- Free AG Barr products during working day and staff sales
- Annual salary review
- Ongoing professional development and access to learning content
We are an equal opportunities employer and happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be needed for successful candidates with a disability, health or mental health condition. While we have highlighted our ideal requirements for this role, we are realistic that the successful candidate may not meet every requirement. We encourage you to apply if you fit many aspects of the role. Speculative CVs from agencies will not be accepted. Latest closing date for applications is 8th April. We may close vacancies early if we receive significant numbers of applications.
Senior Category & Insight Manager employer: A G Barr plc
Contact Detail:
A G Barr plc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Category & Insight Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know AG Barr and their brands inside out! Research their products like IRN-BRU and RUBICON, and think about how your insights can elevate these brands. This will help you speak their language during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might just land you a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky interview questions by practising your storytelling skills. Be ready to share examples of how you've turned consumer insights into actionable strategies. Show them you’re the consumer-obsessed candidate they need!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the AG Barr family. Let’s get you that interview!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Category & Insight Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for FMCG: Make sure to highlight your experience in the FMCG sector, especially if you've worked with food or drink. We want to see your enthusiasm for the UK retail landscape and how it drives your insights.
Tell a Compelling Story: When you describe your past experiences, focus on storytelling. We love candidates who can turn data into a narrative that reflects consumer behaviour and needs. Show us how you've influenced decisions with your insights!
Be Consumer-Obsessed: Demonstrate your understanding of consumer behaviour and the 'say-do' gap. We’re looking for someone who asks the right questions and can articulate why consumers behave the way they do. Make it clear how this obsession has shaped your work.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our careers platform. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at A G Barr plc
✨Know Your Data Inside Out
As a Senior Category & Insight Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Familiarise yourself with key data sources like Kantar and Circana. Be ready to discuss how you’ve used data to drive insights in previous roles, and think about specific examples where your analysis led to impactful decisions.
✨Tell a Compelling Story
Storytelling is crucial in this role. Prepare to articulate consumer insights in a way that resonates with your audience. Think about how you can bring the consumer to life through narratives that highlight their behaviours and needs. Practice weaving these stories into your responses during the interview.
✨Show Your Curiosity
AG Barr values curiosity, so be prepared to ask insightful questions. Think about what drives consumer behaviour and how it relates to the company’s brands. Show that you’re not just interested in the role but also in understanding the broader market landscape and how it impacts AG Barr.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
This position requires working closely with various teams. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated across functions in the past. Highlight your ability to influence stakeholders at different levels, from junior team members to senior management, showcasing your emotional intelligence and strategic thinking.