Mintel is an international leader in providing consumer market research and competitive intelligence tools as well as in delivering customized consulting solutions to top-tier organizations. With group headquarters in the United Kingdom, and U.S. headquarters in Chicago, Mintel has been a market leader for over 50 years. 

Mintel seeks an Associate Principal, Insights – Food & Drink to be part of our Chicago-based Mintel Food and Drink team. The Associate Principal role serves as a future-focused expert for a variety of Mintel’s clients, delivering insightful, high-impact content and client engagement that shapes strategic thinking. With deep category expertise, this role focuses on synthesizing data and trends to craft compelling analyses that help clients anticipate change and stay ahead of their competitors. A successful candidate is a self-starter who is adept at telling the story behind the data. You will be comfortable sharing insights in a variety of formats, including written content, and both remote and in-person presentations. 

This is a hybrid role based in Chicago. Travel may be required based on client and engagement need.  

What You Will Be Doing: 

• Creating Insightful, Topic-Based Dialogues: You will work with Mintel’s international client base of major global food and drink manufacturers, retailers, and ingredient and packaging suppliers. You will lead forward-looking client engagements by presenting insights in person and via webinars and analyst calls. [Approximately 50% of your time]
• Translating Data into Actionable Insights: You will deliver insights and analysis at the category and broader consumer level through monthly articles and presentations. [Approximately 50% of your time]
• Identifying Key Market Trends: You will pinpoint trends and developments within the Food and Drink industry and analyze all of Mintel's combined data holistically. As a Subject Matter Expert, you will also speak at conferences, briefings and major industry events.
• Building Strong Relationships: Collaborating with a wide range of colleagues across the company, including the commercial side of the business, our consulting division and several other teams. You will also act as a spokesperson for Mintel on topics related to food and drink externally, including interviews with trade press and other media. 

Who We Are Looking For: 

• A Researcher: You should have substantial prior experience in relevant research, marketing, shopper or consumer insights, branding or consulting roles within the food and drink space. You have the ability to identify patterns in data and understand what these patterns mean for consumers and brands, with proven success creating high-quality, actionable content.
• A Lateral Thinker: You are always searching for creative ideas and original solutions. You are able to spot innovations and connect the dots from a wide range of data sources to see how broader trends and themes are emerging. 
• Commercially Minded: You understand what our clients care about. You are dedicated to quality, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in your work to elevate Mintel as a top consumer insights company. You are experienced working directly with clients, understanding their challenges and helping to shape client growth opportunities.
• Naturally Curious: You are naturally curious and great at navigating internal and external data, asking second and third level questions to see the patterns behind data to craft expert analysis to be used by clients.
• Self-Directed: You take initiative to solve problems and uncover opportunities. You have a self-sufficient work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit and are naturally self-motivated. You welcome the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and work autonomously to manage and prioritize multiple projects at once.
• Great Communicator: You have extremely polished verbal and written communication skills and can adapt your communication style to internal and external partners. You are a confident public speaker with strong stage presence, comfortable engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
• A Collaborator: You bring energy to the table that encourages and develops internal relationships. You seek opportunities to collaborate with peers in your department and across the organization to ultimately elevate our clients' experience. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets 

The below reflects the range of base salary for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, skills, experience, and qualifications. The salary range for this role is: $80,000 USD to $100,000 USD.  

Alongside salary, Mintel offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical/dental/vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, employer paid life and disability insurance, 401(k) with employer match and paid time off. We are invested in our employees' wellbeing, which is why we also offer flexible working hours, ClassPass subsidy, mental health benefit through Modern Health, paid volunteer time off, paid birthday leave and paid parental leave. 

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