Country
United Kingdom
Job Family
Commercial
We show the world what people want.
Join GfK and help us shape tomorrow. As an NIQ company, we are the world's leading consumer intelligence firm, delivering the Full View™ on consumer behavior. We work to enable manufacturers and retailers better understand what consumers really want. Our name has inspired trust for over 89 years because we take pride in discovering new pathways to sustainable growth for our clients, our people, and our planet.
We are always looking for open-minded people who will grow with us, push boundaries, and pioneer disruptive methods in market research, data science, technology, and AI. If you share this passion to drive things forward and the integrity to insist on doing things the right way, we'll equip you to take your future into your own hands and play a leading role in our story.
Job Description
Background
The Commercial Product team sit within the International Retail Global CoE with a core purpose to champion retailer needs into the wider business in order to drive an improved value proposition to market through retail first positioning and product.
As an experienced commercial professional, the Retail Strategic Portfolio Development Manager is the key interface between the Retail division and our Commercial and Tech & Product Management functions; supporting the definition of future Retail products, ensuring retailer needs are constantly represented and considered in technology ecosystem planning and development, and that the Retail vertical benefits from a fair share of support resource and focus.
The role holder will focus on the now but also have a keen eye on the future, and direct how we get ahead of the curve as a retail vertical in evolving our offer, owning a programme of activity that will allow us to close the gaps in the portfolio, be on the front foot in our direction and drive innovation in our offer – taking resources we have in house and building from them, testing new ideas with clients, defining the growth investments of the future and also having that eye on the market to understand and give options on how we may close gaps in our offer (Build, Buy, Partner).
While the role is predominantly internal, client awareness and centricity is hugely important. A strong understanding of the retail sector and our role within it, with a ‘retailer first’ mindset of how data is used, is critical to succeed. Direct client and partner contact will be key for authenticity, maintaining and using internal and external feedback loops for validation of thinking against end user needs as needed, but ultimately taking the call on how we deliver value.
As a cross-functional global role in a global company, they will work across a wide variety of teams, cultures, and legacy positions. Prioritising the wide array of competing needs with be critical - variances based on legacy, country, region, culture, language and more must be understood and addressed, but assumptions based on local experiences may be challenged; not all requirements are equal, and the status-quo can and should be tested. .
The role holder balances the needs of both the client and business in the short term with the needs of the future, and is able to clearly communicate a plan of action to strike this balance.
Key Activities
- Creation and ownership of an ongoing process to maintain existing retail portfolio audit
- Feed short term product opportunities to product enablement, drive portfolio gap closure and sunsetting where required
- Ownership of a ‘product catalogue’ enabling RV team knowledge of offer
- Identify wider market trends, translate for action and innovate / evolve portfolio options
- Understand the “so what?” of retail; identify, design, and develop new product concepts that deliver answers retailers need, today and in the future
- Drive Retail First portfolio strategy by identifying opportunities to close portfolio gaps (Build / Buy / Partner options)
- Rollout and test new product concepts and the enablement of retail teams
- Lead on combination product requirements for retail (T&D/FMCG data) into Tech, Product and Ops
- Implement proof of concept trials and explore partnerships with retailers / tech / academics to inform future value and opportunity
- Set targets and deadlines to enable short, mid, and long-term retail product roadmaps, both on-platform and off
- Understand how retailer needs vary and be able to define critical vs nice to have; assess continuing “local” deliveries and the reasons for them
- Evaluate current retailer requests and complaints / perceived shortfalls in our offering
- Strong communication skills, build wide ranging internal relationships to support growth
- Enable efforts to retain, grow and develop our presence within our client base
- Develop and use the right level of material to communicate experiences, benefits and long term vision across a variety of audiences – stakeholders at all levels, partners and external parties
- Understand the market landscape and what our competition offer, act accordingly to re-think plans where needed
- Think strategically and tactically – ensure we deliver the right customer journeys, maintain and establish new relationships with relevant third parties in the market to keep abreast of developments
Sills and Experience Required
- Deep understanding of client’s organisation and retail sector
- Knowledge of the client’s business and industry context
- Understanding of the varied needs, goals, day to day activities and decision drivers across client roles
- Recognition of global variances; experience may not travel, willing to learn
- Ability to work with other experts to develop truly outstanding client analysis tools
- Ability to build lasting client relationships
- Deep understanding of the value of NIQ’s proposition and future potential
- Liaison with stakeholders for current and developing opportunities
- Ability to identify revenue opportunities and support developing sales strategies
- Product management experience and knowledge of agile development methodologies
- Ability to translate requirements into specific action items
- Lateral leadership to all stakeholders to develop and deliver on vision
- Communication / interaction skills / authority
- Quick learner / adaptable / positive attitude
- Client oriented attitude / willingness to go the extra mile
- Pragmatic, identifies the path to get things done
- Willing to challenge existing practices and processes
- Warmth / empathy / ability to build sustainable relationships
We are an ethical and honest company that is wholly committed to its clients and employees. We are proud to be an inclusive workplace for all and are committed to equal employment opportunity, focusing on all of our employees reaching their full potential.
We respect and value every employee regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, personality, experience, culture, faith, socio-economic status, or physical or mental disabilities.
We endorse the core principles and rights set forth in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the Social Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, promoting the universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality, and solidarity.
Learn more about how we are driving diversity and inclusion in everything we do on: https://www.gfk.com/about-gfk/diversity-and-inclusion
At GfK we work collaboratively with our colleagues but offer a flexible working approach, including dividing our time between office & remote working as well as the opportunity to flex our working hours around team core hours.
We offer an exciting work environment that brings people together. We encourage an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit and make use of the latest digital technologies. We are looking for self-starters, who accept challenges and create solutions.
Can there be a better place to take center stage in the digital revolution? We are excited to get to know you!
