Experienced Director of Customer Strategic Insights – Leading Category Management and Guest Insights Projects for blithequark

Introduction to blithequark and the Industry

At blithequark, we are passionate about driving the marketplace with our customers through best-in-class insights, strategy, and storytelling. As a pivotal team within the Foodservice and On-Premise (FSOP) organization, we are dedicated to developing strategies and tactics that maximize opportunities for our customers, categories, and blithequark. The Customer Strategic Insights team is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Director to lead category management and guest insights projects, working closely with the Growth, Customer Marketing, and Sales organizations.

Job Summary

We are looking for a talented and influential leader to join our Customer Strategic Insights team as a Director. In this role, you will be responsible for leading category management and guest insights projects, working closely with cross-functional teams to drive business growth and customer satisfaction. As a Director, you will be a subject matter expert, leveraging your analytical and storytelling skills to inform customer business planning, assortment strategies, and customer commitment. You will also be responsible for syncing with internal stakeholders, including Human Insights, Retail Category Leadership, and Planning & Strategy Departments, to ensure consistent messaging and alignment.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading by example as a subject matter expert, utilizing FSOP analytics and data asset tools to drive insights and inform business decisions
• Generating insights and storytelling on the state of FSOP category and customer landscape, role-modeling the usage of analytic assets with customer teams
• Focusing on strategic and informed customer business planning, ongoing customer commitment, and assortment strategies with key portfolio customers
• Syncing with internal stakeholders, including Human Insights, Retail Category Leadership, and Planning & Strategy Departments, to ensure consistent messaging and alignment
• Aligning with Platform Services, Retail Category Leadership, and Human Insights to assure blithequark remains at the forefront of analytic and data assets in FSOP
• Influencing across the team, FSOP, and blithequark, leveraging your influencing skills to drive business growth and customer satisfaction

Essential Qualifications

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• 8+ years of work experience, preferably in CPG, with a strong background in category management, sales, or consulting
• A Bachelor's degree, with an MBA or other advanced degree preferred
• Regular customer engagement experience, with a strong ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders
• Experience owning and using primary research projects and budgets, with a strong understanding of research methods and analytics
• A mix of strong analytical, project management, and storytelling experiences, with the ability to communicate complex concepts and information to a wide audience

Preferred Qualifications

While not required, the following qualifications are preferred:

• Experience with Foodservice and On Premise, with a strong understanding of the industry and its trends
• Experience presenting to senior leaders, both internally and externally, with a strong ability to communicate and influence
• Prior consulting or category management experience, with a strong understanding of business planning and strategy development
• Proven track record of delivering sustainable results, with a strong ability to drive business growth and customer satisfaction

Technical and Functional Skills

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• Heavy usage of blithequark Foodservice data sources and subscribed platforms, including DINE, CBL, Circana, Datassential, Technomic, Mintel, Euromonitor, Placer.AI, MRI Simmons, and Statista
• Willingness to learn new tools and solutions, with a strong ability to become an active ambassador of new programs
• Advanced strategic thinking, including framing of issues, solutions, and paths to implementation
• Business planning, inclusive of corporate and customer needs and considerations
• Highly analytical, incorporating market and customer research, financials, customer and sales team feedback
• Ability to collaborate with key internal and external cross-functionals, effectively influencing a wide variety of stakeholders
• Strong ability to manage multiple deadlines from different stakeholders, with the ability to prioritize the highest leverage opportunities
• Effective communication and building relationships at all organizational levels, with the ability to champion initiatives end-to-end
• Leadership of fielding primary qualitative and quantitative research, connecting business needs to appropriate research methods, and extracting strategic, actionable value from studies
• Highly proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI, with experience integrating disparate data sources with compelling visuals and language

Career Growth Opportunities and Learning Benefits

At blithequark, we are committed to the growth and development of our employees. As a Director of Customer Strategic Insights, you will have the opportunity to:

• Work on high-visibility projects, driving business growth and customer satisfaction
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Growth, Customer Marketing, and Sales
• Develop and implement category management and guest insights strategies, leveraging your analytical and storytelling skills
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and developments, with access to training and development opportunities

Work Environment and Company Culture

At blithequark, we are proud of our inclusive and dynamic work environment. As a Director of Customer Strategic Insights, you will be part of a team that values:

• Curiosity, empowerment, inclusivity, and agility
• Continuous learning and development, with a focus on building capabilities and developing new skills
• Collaboration and teamwork, with a strong emphasis on communication and feedback
• Driving business growth and customer satisfaction, with a focus on delivering sustainable results

Compensation, Perks, and Benefits

At blithequark, we offer a competitive compensation package, including:

• A base salary range of $160,000 - $186,000, depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience
• A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position
• An annual incentive reference value percentage of 30, with the opportunity to earn more based on performance
• Access to training and development opportunities, with a focus on building capabilities and developing new skills

Conclusion

If you are a motivated and influential leader, with a passion for driving business growth and customer satisfaction, we encourage you to apply for the Director of Customer Strategic Insights role at blithequark. With a strong background in category management, sales, or consulting, and a proven track record of delivering sustainable results, you will be well-suited to this role. Don't miss the opportunity to join our dynamic and inclusive team, and contribute to the success of blithequark.