Director, Shopper Consumer Insights

Advantage Sales & Marketing dba Advantage Solutions•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

At our Company, we grow People, Brands, and Businesses! We are seeking a Director, Shopper–Consumer Insights, a strategic leader responsible for shaping the shopper and consumer insights agenda for a diverse portfolio of CPG clients. This role leads a team of insight professionals, aligning analytics and storytelling with client priorities, revenue goals, and long‑term growth strategies. The Director champions insight‑driven decision‑making, synthesizing complex data into strategic narratives, and ensuring the integration of shopper perspectives into planning, innovation, and go‑to‑market execution. Take this opportunity to join North America’s leading business solutions provider and build your career working with amazing people in a growing industry! Apply today! What we offer: Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life) 401(k) with company match Training and Career Development Generous Paid Time-Off Responsibilities: The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.
15–20+ years of experience in shopper insights, consumer insights, category management, or CPG‑related analytics.
CPG industry experience is required—preferably with manufacturer-side insights, retail-facing analytics, or selling/category management roles.
Experience leading teams of seven or more insight/analytics professionals.
Demonstrated experience as a working director capable of both leadership and hands‑on analytic work.
Advanced PowerPoint skills and proven ability to present confidently to groups of all sizes.
Strong consultative skill set with experience managing revenue, client relationships, and service expansion.
Approximately 25% travel expected.
8+ years experience in relevant field
25% travel expected.
Well-organized with strong attention to detail and accuracy
Ability to work confidently with and present to clients, customers, and internal leadership
Ability to prioritize business requests, manage resources, meet deadlines, and deliver against a budget
Ability to represent the company in a professional manner
Creativity with a passion for visually compelling presentations
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Forward-looking, strategic thinking ability
Ability to sell services to clients and customers
Consulting and influence skills with retailers, clients, and direct reports
Experience managing and negotiating with syndicated data providers
Ability to lead clients through shopper-based strategic category planning
Advanced proficiency in common business productivity tools
Deep experience applying shopper panel and geodemographic data across multiple analytic methodologies
Strong understanding and application of category management principles
Ability to integrate multiple data sources into a comprehensive solution
Passion for self-development and development of others
Demonstrated ability to manage, lead, mentor, and inspire

Responsibilities

Strategic Insights & Storytelling Develop strategic shopper, channel, and customer-specific stories that translate complex data into clear “So what? Now what?” business recommendations.
Build retailer‑aligned narratives that integrate innovation pipelines, shopper behavior, and category dynamics.
Create high-quality presentations centered on storytelling, clarity, visualization, and strategic implications.
Present insights confidently across a range of settings, including virtual presentations, client meetings, and large in‑person audiences.
Analytics & Data Leadership Leverage POS, panel, shopper loyalty, and secondary industry data to create comprehensive insights solutions.
Operate as a working director, comfortable pulling, navigating, and validating data when needed.
Guide team members on analytical methodology, data interpretation, and integration of multiple data sources.
Support initiatives related to assortment opportunities, customer planning, new item development, and customer-specific insights storytelling.
Client Leadership & Business Management Manage a client portfolio valued at approximately $2M+, providing consultative leadership and identifying opportunities to expand services.
Partner with clients and internal stakeholders to understand business objectives, influence strategy, and deliver insights that support growth goals.
Participate in client interviews, discovery sessions, and capability presentations as a subject matter expert.
Drive consultative selling by identifying needs, scoping opportunities, and positioning new service solutions.
Support contract conversations, revenue planning, and business development discussions.
Team Leadership & Development Lead a mid-sized team of insight professionals, providing coaching, development, and performance leadership.
Promote best‑in-class analytic standards and consistent value‑creation measurement.
Foster a collaborative, insight‑driven team environment focused on excellence and strategic influence.
Facilitate cross-client sharing of best practices and thought leadership.
Professional Expertise & Collaboration Maintain hands-on responsibility for select clients while supporting broader team deliverables.
Continue building professional skills through industry education, networking, and staying current with shopper and consumer insights trends
Leverage and organize data for insight driven analytics in support of new item initiatives and assortment opportunities across multiple shopper insight clients
Integrate point-of-sale, panel, and geodemographic data alongside shopper data to create a comprehensive solution
Track and guide processes across direct reports, reinforcing the importance of value creation measurement with clients and customers
Engage with customers, clients, and internal stakeholders to understand strategies and objectives
Maintain hands-on responsibility for an appropriate number of clients and customers
Sell analytic program capabilities and services to current and prospective clients
Participate in new client interviews as a subject matter expert
Create insight driven presentations integrating multiple data sources with actionable and quantifiable tactics and strategies
Develop presentations focused on storytelling, flow, visualizations, and clear headlines
Provide guidance to direct reports on analytic processes, data integration, and data interpretation
Coordinate and facilitate regular best practice sharing meetings with clients
Build and maintain professional skills through educational opportunities, professional publications, and industry networking