Senior Manager Strategic Insights

We are looking for a Senior Manager Strategic Insights, reporting to our CMO to lead the strategic insights capability within Marketing, transforming complex business questions into evidence-based recommendations that shape brand, client, digital and commercial decision-making.The successful candidate will frame the right strategic questions, structure hypotheses, direct analytical work, interrogate the underlying data and assumptions, and turn findings into clear, compelling stories for senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Thought PartnershipPartner with senior leaders to frame the most important brand, client, digital and commercial questions facing the business.Translate broad or ambiguous issues into structured hypotheses, analytical questions and decision frameworks.Connect disparate signals across customer behaviour, retail, digital, CRM and market context to identify opportunities and risks.Insights & Analytics LeadershipSet priorities for the Brand Insights team and ensure analytical work is linked to strategic business decisions.Brief and guide analysts on data requirements, methodologies, definitions and quality checks.Interrogate findings and underlying premises; challenge correlations, assumptions and incomplete interpretations.Manage recurring reporting needs while creating capacity for higher-value strategic analysis.Executive StorytellingSynthesize complex quantitative and qualitative findings into clear recommendations for non-technical senior audiences.Develop compelling presentations with strong narrative structure, sharp visuals and explicit implications.Support the CMO and CEO in preparing selected leadership, Executive Committee and Board presentations.Capability BuildingDevelop the two analysts through clear briefs, coaching and higher analytical standards.Help evolve the function into a more proactive Strategic or Brand Insights capability, with stronger emphasis on business questions, interpretation and decision support.Strengthen the connection between first-party data, consumer understanding and strategic decision-making across the organisation.Ideal Candidate ProfileApproximately 7-10 years of experience in strategy consulting, consumer/brand strategy, commercial strategy, strategic analytics or a comparable insight-led role.Exceptional structured problem-solving: able to define the question before looking for the answer.Strong commercial judgement and curiosity, with the confidence to challenge assumptions and senior stakeholders constructively.Highly data-fluent: understands data structures, definitions, caveats and analytical logic well enough to direct and challenge specialist analysts.Outstanding PowerPoint and executive storytelling skills; able to turn complex analysis into a persuasive point of view.Strong people leadership and coaching skills, with experience managing or directing analysts.Comfortable moving between strategic ambiguity, detailed analysis and senior-level communicationOnly shortlisted candidates will be contacted.Zimmermann is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment on the basis of their individual capabilities and qualifications ensuring a strong corporate commitment to diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.