At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead consumer insights to shape brand strategies and drive long-term growth.
- Company: C&C Group plc, a premium drinks company with iconic brands like Bulmers and Tennent’s.
- Benefits: Join a culture focused on sustainability, teamwork, and personal development.
- Other info: Diversity of experience is valued; all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by influencing brand direction and innovation in a dynamic industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in consumer insight and strategy within FMCG or beverage sectors.
C&C Group plc is a premium drinks company which owns, manufactures, markets and distributes a unique portfolio of beer and cider brands in its home markets and across the globe. You probably know us best from brands like Bulmers, Magners and Tennent’s.
Role Summary
Lead the development and application of consumer, brand and strategic insight and foresight to shape long-term growth for C&C. This role moves beyond insight generation to define where to play and how to win, translating consumer understanding, cultural trends and market dynamics into portfolio strategy, innovation pipelines and brand direction. You will lead a team ensuring the voice of the consumer drives decision‑making across brand, innovation and commercial strategy.
Key Accountabilities
- Define and lead the foresight agenda, identifying future growth opportunities across brands, categories and occasions.
- Translate consumer, cultural and category trends into clear strategic choices, demand spaces and portfolio direction.
- Shape long‑term brand and portfolio strategies alongside Marketing and Commercial leadership.
- Oversee brand health, consumer segmentation, audience understanding and evaluation programmes.
- Ensure insight moves beyond reporting to clear, action‑led recommendations impacting brand and commercial plans.
- Set the standard for best‑in‑class insight frameworks, tools and storytelling.
- Lead consumer and insight inputs into innovation strategy, NPD pipelines and concept validation.
- Identify whitespace and future demand opportunities, guiding long‑term innovation bets.
- Partner with Technical & Innovation teams to ensure consumer‑led product development.
- Integrate foresight outputs into annual planning, brand strategy and commercial decision‑making.
- Act as a strategic partner to senior stakeholders, influencing at ExCo and leadership level.
- Ensure insight and foresight outputs drive measurable business impact.
- Lead and develop a high‑performing team.
- Embed clear roles, ways of working and capability development across the foresight pillar.
- Elevate team output from “insight delivery” to strategic influence and recommendation.
- Own relationships with key research agencies and partners (e.g. Kantar, Nielsen), ensuring best‑in‑class delivery.
- Bring external thinking, innovation and new methodologies into CMI.
- Represent C&C externally as a leader in consumer and brand foresight.
About you
- Significant experience in consumer insight, strategy or foresight roles within FMCG / beverage or a consumer‑led industry.
- Proven track record of shaping brand, portfolio or innovation strategy.
- Strong grounding in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
- Experience working with leading research partners (e.g. Kantar, Nielsen).
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive business outcomes.
- Experience leading and developing high‑performing teams.
About Us
Operating through the Matthew Clark, Bibendum, Tennent’s and Bulmers Ireland brands, the Group has a market leading range, scale and reach including an intimate understanding of the markets it serves. From grass to glass, and everything in between, we grow, brew, manufacture, market, and deliver some of the world’s favourite drinks. C&C Group’s portfolio of owned/exclusive brands include: Bulmers, the leading Irish cider brand; Tennent’s, the leading Scottish beer brand; Magners the premium international cider brand; as well as a range of fast‑growing, premium and craft ciders and beers, such as Heverlee, Menabrea, Five Lamps and Orchard Pig.
We seek to champion and embed sustainability in everything that we do at C&C. While delivering joy to customers, we always shine a light on people and the planet. We have a clear ESG vision delivering to a better world. We respect, support, and develop all our people to be their best, with a focus on results by creating a culture of winning together. We also recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to delivering on our mission. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.
Head of Foresight employer: C&C Group
C&C Group is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, making it an ideal place for a Senior FP&A Analyst to thrive. With a strong emphasis on employee development, you will have access to continuous learning opportunities and the chance to work alongside experienced professionals in the heart of the United Kingdom. The company values work-life balance and offers competitive benefits, ensuring that you can grow both personally and professionally while contributing to meaningful financial strategies.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Foresight
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for C&C Group and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like C&C Group are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with C&C Group on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at C&C Group. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Foresight
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit C&C Group. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of C&C Group:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about C&C Group’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at C&C Group
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at C&C Group will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At C&C Group, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
