The role
We’re looking to hire a Senior Strategist based in London to join WGSN Insight’s Global, specialising in retail strategy and consumer behaviour.
This is a 12-month fixed-term contract to cover the maternity leave of an existing employee.
Working at WGSN
Together, we create tomorrow
A career with WGSN is fast-paced, exciting and full of opportunities to grow and develop. We're a team of consumer and design trend forecasters, content creators, designers, data analysts, advisory consultants and much more, united by a common goal: to create tomorrow.
WGSN's trusted consumer and design forecasts power outstanding product design, enabling our customers to create a better future. Our services cover consumer insights, beauty, consumer tech, fashion, interiors, lifestyle, food and drink forecasting, data analytics and expert advisory. If you are an expert in your field, we want to hear from you.
Role overview
The ideal candidate will have expertise in shopper behaviour, retail trends, business strategy and the future of online and physical commerce. They will be exceptionally articulate in written English and visual communication and be highly skilled in interpreting global market shifts.
The role involves writing content in English.
Leading a team of strategists, they will research and write best-in-class analysis and forecast reports, feeding into Insight’s global content strategy. They will contribute to and manage projects, providing direction in their area of expertise by building and maintaining strong, global cross-department relationships. They will be a retail industry expert and a go-to resource for our team and our clients.
The team
Insight is WGSN’s fast-growing consumer trends content platform. Its mission is to ensure that WGSN’s clients capitalise on the business opportunities emerging from changing consumer attitudes and behaviours.
Key accountabilities
1. Content Direction. Strategise and schedule content according to the needs of clients and in line with current market and industry trends
2. Content Production. Deliver concisely written trend analysis reports showing a clear understanding of the subscribers’ needs
3. Content Research. Support the Director and Head of Insight on any content research for anchor forecast reports and collaborative projects
4. Content Presentation. Represent Insight for WGSN at client meetings, presentations, industry events and media engagements
5. Generate report ideas. Research, create and deliver business strategy and retail reports in written and video format to a prescribed schedule and deadline
6. Forecast the impact of social, technological, economic, environmental and cultural change around the world on consumer lifestyles and attitudes
7. Define the actions needed to capitalise on those changes and direct clients on how to evolve their propositions to stay relevant to customers in a fast-changing market
8. Produce presentations and webinars of your research and deliver them internally and externally
9. Collaborate with the global WGSN Insight content team and specifically deliver tailored reports to the Director and Head of Consumer Insight
10. Work with WGSN’s consultancy business Mindset, when required, to deliver bespoke consumer insight to clients
11. Act as an ambassador for WGSN by speaking at global conferences and seminars
12. Work with the WGSN commercial teams to support client relationships by sharing and presenting our thinking
13. Take a lead in team meetings, putting forward new ideas and suggestions for content.
14. Uphold a strong relationship with content teams in different regions and across territories to ensure consistency of trend messages across the company
This list is not exhaustive and there may be other activities you are required to deliver.
Skills, experience & qualifications required
15. Demonstrate a deep understanding of the retail industry across multiple markets and categories
16. Exceptional knowledge of the global market around consumer behaviour, generational shifts and retail shifts across the industry, from fashion and beauty to consumer technology, social commerce and e-commerce platforms
17. Strong level of experience in writing, editing and reporting through an extensive career path within consumer research, journalism or retail strategy
18. An understanding of the role data and analytics play in commercial success
19. Ability to analyse data and pinpoint trends that will impact the global retail sector
20. Excellent organisation, communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work within an international team to ensure production standards, reports or outputs are of a consistently high standard and submitted on time
21. Ability to work across multiple time zones (please note that your manager will be based in the UK and team members in the US)
22. Experience in managing and leading a team with strong editing skills
23. Experience in copywriting, journalism or strategy
What we offer
Our benefits and wellbeing package offers flexible benefits you can tailor to your own personal needs, including:
24. 25 days of holiday per year - with an option to buy/ sell up to 5 days
25. Pension, Life Assurance and Income Protection
26. Flexible benefits platform with options including Private Medical, Dental Insurance & Critical Illness
27. Employee assistance programme, season ticket loans and cycle to work scheme
28. Volunteering opportunities and charitable giving options
29. Great learning and development opportunities