Category Insights Manager (EMEA)

About the role

The Advocate Group is recruiting, on behalf of an iconic global FMCG business, a Category Insights Manager based in West London. The role shapes how the organisation understands shoppers, customers and category performance across EMEA, turning complex data into clear stories that drive action.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and lead the EMEA category and shopper insights agenda, identifying growth and commercial performance opportunities.
• Analyse NielsenIQ and other syndicated data to uncover category trends, shopper behaviours and commercial opportunities.
• Turn complex datasets into clear presentations and recommendations for senior stakeholders, sales teams, retailers and external partners.
• Lead end-to-end shopper research projects, from defining business questions and briefing agencies to analysis and delivery of actionable insights.
• Deepen understanding of shopper journeys, purchase drivers and barriers across channels, markets and retail environments.
• Manage relationships with external research providers and partner with Commercial, Trade Marketing, Consumer Insights and Category Development teams.

Required profile

• Strong experience in Category Insights, Shopper Insights or Customer Insights, ideally within FMCG.
• Expert-level NielsenIQ knowledge and experience using syndicated retail data to inform commercial decisions.
• Proven experience leading research projects and managing external agencies or data providers.
• Confident influencing senior stakeholders and collaborating across a matrix or HQ environment.
• Proactive, commercially minded and comfortable shaping the research agenda with autonomy.

Required skills

• Highly analytical, able to interrogate large datasets and spot meaningful trends.
• Excellent presentation and storytelling skills.
• Experience with Kantar, Circana, IRI, dunnhumby or similar platforms is advantageous.

Salary is £50k - 56k per year plus discretionary bonus and benefits; the position is full-time and hybrid.