Customer Insights Manager

The Opportunity We are recruiting for an experienced Consumer & Shopper Insights Manager to join an established business based in the Huntingdon area of Cambridgeshire. Offering circa £60,000 per annum, depending on experience, plus car allowance and up to 10% annual bonus, this is a strategic insight role focused on developing a genuine understanding of consumers and shoppers as people, exploring how they think, feel, decide and behave. Internally titled Shopper Insights Manager, the position would suit someone from a consumer insight, shopper insight, market research or behavioural insight background who enjoys getting underneath the data to understand why people behave as they do. This is not primarily a sales performance reporting or commercial analytics role. Instead, you'll explore the human drivers behind shopper behaviour, identifying motivations, unmet needs and emerging trends and translating these findings into clear direction for product development, positioning, innovation and long-term growth. A key part of the role will be taking ownership of an in-house consumer panel, developing an ongoing programme of insight combining qualitative research, pulse surveys and trend sensing. You'll use this to test hypotheses, explore emerging behaviours and help the business understand how shopper expectations are changing. You'll also lead qualitative and mixed-method research, turning complex consumer insight into clear, compelling recommendations that influence decisions across commercial, innovation, strategy and leadership teams. There will be travel involved as part of the position, and due to both the location of the site and the requirements of the role, a full UK driving licence is strongly preferred. Key Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of consumer and shopper motivations, needs, barriers and decision-making
• Explore the human and behavioural drivers behind how and why shoppers make decisions
• Apply behavioural science and consumer psychology to insight projects
• Develop shopper frameworks around needs, tensions, missions and mindsets
• Take ownership of the company's in-house consumer/shopper panel
• Ensure the panel maintains a strong and representative demographic mix
• Develop an ongoing insight programme incorporating pulse surveys, qualitative research and trend sensing
• Use consumer research to test hypotheses and identify emerging behavioural shifts
• Plan and deliver qualitative and mixed-method research, including interviews, online communities, ethnography and workshops
• Translate complex and sometimes unstructured consumer insight into clear, actionable findings
• Manage external research partners where required
• Monitor cultural, category and behavioural trends affecting shopper expectations
• Help distinguish meaningful emerging consumer needs from short-term trends and fads
• Feed shopper insight and foresight into product development, innovation and strategic discussions
• Turn research findings into clear, compelling and accessible stories
• Present recommendations to stakeholders and influence decision-making
• Act as an internal voice of the shopper across commercial, innovation, strategy and leadership discussions
• Travel as required to support research, insight and wider business activity Requirements We're looking for someone with:
• Proven experience within consumer insight, shopper insight, market research or behavioural insight
• Strong experience leading qualitative research and interpreting findings
• A genuine understanding of the motivations and human drivers behind consumer behaviour
• Experience managing consumer panels, communities or similar research groups
• Ability to turn research and insight into meaningful commercial and strategic recommendations
• Excellent storytelling and presentation skills
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing ability
• Confidence communicating insight to people across different areas and levels of a business
• A relevant degree or equivalent professional experience within Psychology, Economics, Behavioural Science, Market Research, Consumer Insight or a related discipline
• Comfortable travelling when required
• Full UK driving licence strongly preferred due to the site location and travel involved in the position Desirable Experience The following would be advantageous but are not essential:
• Experience within FMCG, retail or another shopper-led category
• Exposure to behavioural science, psychology or decision-making frameworks
• A Master's degree or further professional qualification within a relevant discipline Skills & Qualities
• Naturally curious about people and what influences their decisions
• Empathetic and intellectually rigorous
• Strong qualitative research mindset
• Confident challenging assumptions using evidence and insight
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and developing early-stage ideas
• Able to think strategically while still delivering short-term value
• Collaborative while maintaining the independence and integrity of consumer insight
• Able to simplify complex information
• Strong storyteller
• Confident influencing senior stakeholders
• Commercially aware without being overly reliant on sales-performance metrics What's On Offer
• Circa £60,000 per annum, depending on experience
• Car allowance
• Up to 10% annual bonus, dependent on performance and company success
• 30 days' holiday including bank holidays
• Holiday entitlement rising to 33 days with service
• 5% company pension contribution
• Life insurance
• Annual pay reviews
• Opportunity to take ownership of an established in-house consumer/shopper panel
• Strategic influence across product development, positioning and innovation
• Exposure across commercial, innovation, strategy and leadership functions
• Opportunity to shape how consumer and shopper understanding is used across the wider business
• Scope to develop a continuous programme of consumer insight rather than focusing solely on one-off research projects How to Apply This role is being recruited by Halmer Group on behalf of our client. Due to the volume of applications we receive, if you have not heard from us within 14 days of submitting your application, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful. Reference: 899