Branding and Label Design Research Manager

Branding and Package Design Research
Manager

Customer Insights

Job Summary
:

Provide
expertise to uncover actionable insights that improve H-E-B’s business
initiatives by interviewing consumers to explore attitudes, behaviors, and
reactions to proposed concepts or ideas.

Specifically,
this individual will manage and conduct all consumer, branding and package
design research in support of our H-E-B brands (to include CM, H-E-B, and
control brands exclusively sold at our stores).

Essential Functions / Process
Responsibilities include the following; other duties may be assigned as
necessary

– Develops key insights into customer needs to support and guide corporate
strategy

– Serves as the subject matter expert in qualitative methodologies, including
focus groups, in-store shop a longs, diary studies, online communities/groups,
ethnographical studies, etc., and responsible for taking qualitative research
to the next level

– Manages conversations with customers forward toward business goals

– Proactively works with Research Managers and Analysts in planning and design
of consumer research projects to maximize department resources

– Collaborates with outside qualitative partners to develop and maintain an
updated customer research knowledge base

– Understands and develops research proposals and project scope for all
consumer research for all levels of the organization with minimal direction

– Creates clear, concise and evocative reports that tell the customer story

– Participates in and influences project kick-offs / creative sessions with
development teams, designers, and Senior Leaders

– Informs and influences brand and
product line briefs, including articulation of the product / brand positioning

– Thinks
through problems and analyze issues accurately, as well as anticipates
obstacles or setbacks; setting contingency plans as necessary with minimal
supervision

– Creates and manages positive relationship with internal clients

– Develops effective and efficient procedures for getting work done

– Ensures projects are executed on-time and within budget

– Collaborates on projects across departments that involve Hispanic planning,
marketing, procurement or other areas

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND KEY
COMPETENCIES PREFERRED

Education and Experience preferred

– Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Consumer/Market Research, Sociology,
Psychology or related field required

– Master’s Degree preferred

– 5 or more years of experience and strong working knowledge in consumer
research – qualitative research

– Proficiency in MS Office products

– Experience with database management software a plus

– Basic knowledge of syndicated data including Scarborough, Simmons, IRI and
Nielsen panel data a plus

Competencies preferred

– Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret data, identify trends
and provide relevant and actionable recommendations to research

– Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills

– Moderate facilitating / moderating or interviewing skill set

– Ability to build relationships easily and has personality that engenders
trust quickly

– Active listening skill set – carefully and attentively listening to others-
opinions and ideas, without interrupting

– Ability to exhibit appropriate non-verbal behaviors to show receptivity to
others- spoken messages (smiling, nodding, eye contact)

– Not shy, and able to talk to customers and recruit on the spot if necessary

– Ability to be light hearted and know when to be serious and invoke proper
humor

– Flexible with ability to understand when process is less important than
outcome

– Team-oriented

– Proven success managing multiple projects under tight deadlines

– A strong cultural awareness of Texas communities, specifically South Texas,
preferred

– Bilingual preferred

PHYSICAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

– Function in a
fast-paced, retail, office environment

– Travel by car or airplane with overnight stays for multiple days

– Lift 30 lbs or more on a regular basis

– Work extended hours