At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape strategic direction for the UK Snacks business using deep insights and data.
- Company: Join a leading snacks company that values innovation and consumer understanding.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with strong potential for career advancement.
- Why this job: Influence key decisions and shape the future of beloved UK brands.
- Qualifications: Experience in data analysis and strategic thinking required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
As Strategic & Portfolio Insights Manager, you will sit at the heart of decision‑making for the UK Snacks business. You will shape how and where we play by translating deep human understanding, data, and foresight into clear strategic direction. This is an end‑to‑end, highly strategic role, responsible for identifying growth opportunities, influencing long‑term portfolio strategy, and ensuring our plans are built on world‑class, human‑centric insights. You will partner closely with senior leaders and cross‑functional teams to guide both the what and how of growth. Your work will help define our 3–5 year vision, inform strategic planning, and ensure execution across brands and channels aligns with consumer truth. This is a chance to shape the future of the UK Snacks portfolio, influence senior leadership decisions, and ensure some of the UK’s most loved brands continue to win with consumers. You’ll have the opportunity to operate at scale, work with best‑in‑class insight tools and partners, and leave a lasting mark on the business.
Responsibilities
- Shape strategy through human‑centric insight: Co‑develop future‑proofed category and portfolio strategies that inform strategic and annual planning. Ensure consumer insight is embedded at the heart of decision‑making, championing Jobs‑to‑Be‑Done thinking at category and portfolio level. Turn complex data, SWOTs, and frameworks into clear, compelling strategic narratives that influence senior stakeholders. Act as a trusted thought partner and subject‑matter expert to the leadership and executive teams.
- Identify and size growth opportunities: Leverage demand spaces and advanced analytics to identify market gaps and portfolio opportunities across channels. Lead ‘where to play’ opportunity identification to accelerate category growth, incrementality, penetration, share and profitability. Analyse the consumer shape of demand, identifying shifts in behaviour, occasions and needs. Forecast future opportunities by applying qualitative and quantitative trends to portfolio growth models.
- Deliver foresight and demand understanding: Lead demand and foresight tracking to inform strategic plans and assess the impact of macro and external disruptions. Stay ahead of consumer, category and competitive trends, regulatory changes and future forces of change. Facilitate strategic deep dives for internal teams and customers, bringing insight to life in category visions and growth stories.
- Drive transformation through insight: Proactively identify gaps in consumer understanding aligned to key business priorities (e.g. sustainability, health/ GLP1s, flavour strategy). Use a wide insight toolkit – syndicated data, scan, quantitative, qualitative, behavioural science – to uncover human truths. Design and lead collaborative workshops and engagements that bring stakeholders on the journey and inspire change. Create compelling, visual strategic frameworks that provide clarity, alignment and momentum.
- Build capability and partnerships: Train and guide internal teams and agency partners to deliver powerful category, consumer and brand insights. Partner with global and regional teams to adapt, evolve and influence insight tools and methodologies. Build and manage strong agency relationships to stretch thinking and elevate the insights agenda.
Qualifications
- Experience & capability: Comfortable working across multiple data sources (scan, quantitative, qualitative), understanding both strengths and limitations. Strong quantitative fluency, including the ability to size and forecast business opportunities using tools such as Kantar, NielsenIQ and demand/occasion data. Ability to synthesise complex information into focused, actionable insights and growth recommendations. Strong strategic thinking – able to frame ambiguous problems, develop clarity, and drive impact end‑to‑end.
- Ways of working: Exceptional storytelling and presentation skills, with the ability to adapt messages for different audiences (executive vs. working teams). Commercially savvy, with a consultancy mindset and strong empathy for business partners. Skilled at influencing in a matrixed environment and building coalitions without formal authority.
- Mindset & leadership: Curious, courageous self‑starter who brings new thinking and challenges the status quo. Confident change agent who inspires others to adopt new ideas. Strong collaborator and networker, working effectively across functions, geographies and external partners. Ability to manage complexity and prioritise with focus. Capable of inspiring, coaching and developing others to maximise engagement.
Strategic & Portfolio Insights Lead UK in Reading employer: Pepsico
As a Strategic & Portfolio Insights Lead in the UK Snacks business, you will thrive in a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises human-centric insights and strategic innovation. The company offers exceptional growth opportunities, allowing you to influence key decisions and shape the future of beloved brands while collaborating with senior leaders and cross-functional teams. With access to best-in-class insight tools and a commitment to employee development, this role provides a unique chance to make a meaningful impact in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic & Portfolio Insights Lead UK in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and market position, especially in the UK Snacks sector. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've used insights to drive strategy in past roles. This is key for a position like Strategic & Portfolio Insights Lead, where influencing decisions is crucial.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and making an impact in the UK Snacks business.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic & Portfolio Insights Lead UK in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Audience:Before you start writing, take a moment to understand who you're addressing. Tailor your application to resonate with the values and goals of the UK Snacks business. Show us that you get what we're about!
Be Clear and Concise:We love a good story, but keep it focused! Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. Make sure your key points stand out so we can easily see how your experience aligns with the role.
Showcase Your Insights:This role is all about insights, so don’t hold back! Share examples of how you've turned data into actionable strategies in the past. We want to see your thought process and how you can bring that to our team.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pepsico
✨Know Your Insights
Dive deep into the consumer insights relevant to the UK Snacks market. Be prepared to discuss how you would leverage data and human understanding to shape strategic decisions. Show that you can translate complex information into clear narratives that resonate with senior stakeholders.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare examples of how you've identified growth opportunities in previous roles. Highlight your ability to analyse market gaps and consumer behaviour shifts. This is your chance to demonstrate your strategic mindset and how you can influence long-term portfolio strategies.
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
Practice presenting your ideas in a compelling way. Tailor your message for different audiences, whether it’s executives or cross-functional teams. Use visuals to support your narrative and ensure clarity in your strategic frameworks.
✨Be a Change Agent
Emphasise your experience in driving transformation through insights. Share instances where you've challenged the status quo and inspired others to adopt new ideas. Show that you're not just a thinker but also a doer who can lead collaborative efforts to bring about change.
