Associate Consumer Insights Manager

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At Lactalis in the USA, we're committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive-whether you're just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we're proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values-Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone's unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis USA, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring an Associate Consumer Insights Manager based in Chicago, IL.

Job Summary
As an Associate Consumer Insights Manager, you will support the Consumer Insights Manager/Senior Manager in designing, executing, and delivering research that guides brand, innovation, and communication decisions. You'll work closely with agency partners, internal stakeholders, and global insights teams to ensure our research is rigorous, actionable, and aligned with global standards. This is a hands-on role with exposure to a wide range of methodologies and business challenges-perfect for someone ready to take the next step in their insights career.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Manage day-to-day execution of ad hoc research studies across concept, product, pack, copy, and brand health initiatives.
• Review marketing briefs and provide clarity and guidance before engaging agencies.
• Evaluate agency proposals to ensure strong methodological fit and alignment with business needs.
• Review questionnaires, toplines, and final reports to validate data quality, insights, and recommendations.
• Support global and regional research initiatives and ensure local alignment with global guidelines.
• Build strong relationships with Marketing, R&D, Category, and Global Insights teams.
• Serve as a bridge between global and local teams-translating global research standards into actionable local practices.
• Collaborate with the Americas Insights team to share learnings and support broader regional initiatives.
• Partner closely with research agencies to ensure timelines, quality standards, and deliverables are met.
• Develop strong working relationships with key vendors and internal stakeholders.
• Champion best-in-class research practices across the organization.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• Bachelor's degree is required.

Experience

• 3+ years of experience in consumer insights, ideally from a market research agency or CPG client-side insights team.
• Exposure to a variety of methodologies such as concept testing, product testing, copy testing, focus groups, or brand tracking.
• Familiarity with panel or syndicated data (Nielsen, IRI, Numerator) is a plus.

Certifications and specific knowledge

• Strong project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills-able to translate data into compelling stories.
• Relationship builder who thrives in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.
• Detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast-paced setting.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
• Openness to occasional travel, including potential trips to Paris for team meetings.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.

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