Consumer & Culture Strategist

Job description

### The Role WGSN Mindset is looking for a **Consumer & Culture Strategist**to support leading regional and global consultancy based activities in the APAC Region. ### 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 foundation of WGSN is our passionate experts. We are looking for a strategic, insight-driven and client-focused Consumer & Culture Strategist to deliver world-class advisory services that help clients navigate future opportunities and drive meaningful business impact. With proven experience in research, analysis and strategy, the Consumer & Culture Strategist will lead and manage assigned client projects, delivering high-value consulting solutions across fashion industries and markets. They will combine strong analytical thinking with a deep understanding of trends, consumer behaviour and market dynamics to develop actionable insights, innovative methodologies and compelling strategic recommendations that exceed client expectations. The Consumer & Culture Strategist will act as a trusted partner to clients, confidently leading conversations, presentations and workshops while building engagement across all touchpoints. They will demonstrate authority in research and storytelling, applying rigorous methodologies, proprietary data and trend intelligence to create impactful and commercially relevant outcomes. Working collaboratively across the wider WGSN and Mindset business, the Consumer & Culture Strategist will build strong cross-functional relationships with Account Management, Client Services, Sales, Data and Content teams to ensure the successful delivery of projects and the continued evolution of the Mindset offer. They will also play an active role in fostering team culture, mentoring junior colleagues and championing WGSN and Mindset standards internally and externally. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent organisation, communication and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams across international teams and time zones while maintaining operational excellence throughout project delivery. The ideal candidate would have experience within consumer research, consumer insights, semiotics and culture, trend and foresight / innovation fields. ### The team You will be part of a dynamic and high-performing team, made up of 40+ consultants, strategists and trend researchers who bring together bespoke solutions for a wide range of clients across the globe. You will be working with industry experts and thought leaders with backgrounds in creative strategy, product innovation, design, marketing, buying and merchandising, data analytics and of course, trend forecasting. ### Key Accountabilities - Lead and manage assigned client projects, ensuring all deliverables are insightful, strategically relevant and aligned to client objectives. - Conduct and lead qualitative primary and secondary research across a variety of methodologies, delivering strategic analysis and actionable recommendations that support clients’ future growth opportunities. - Develop compelling research frameworks, methodologies and storytelling approaches that ensure best-in-class consulting outputs and maximise client impact. - Build trusted client relationships by leading client conversations, maintaining clear communication across all project touchpoints and confidently presenting strategic recommendations with evidence-backed reasoning. - Translate client business goals into clear research objectives and strategic deliverables, ensuring all outputs are aligned to client needs, industry context and market dynamics. - Actively utilise WGSN’s proprietary data and insight tools to develop compelling solutions and identify trends that will impact client businesses and markets. - Ensure all projects are delivered on brief, on time and to the highest strategic and creative standards, maintaining operational excellence and adherence to internal processes and approvals. - Lead project management across assigned workstreams, coordinating cross-functional teams, managing freelancers where required and proactively identifying efficiencies and solutions to project challenges. - Collaborate closely with Account Management, Client Services, Marketing, Data and Content teams to strengthen project delivery and contribute to the evolution of Mindset methodologies and capabilities. - Contribute to the development of Mindset’s research sources, expert networks and intellectual property by proactively identifying new methodologies, sources and emerging market innovations. - Participate in peer reviews and provide support and mentorship to more junior colleagues, contributing to team development, collaboration and a positive team culture. - Champion diversity, equity and inclusion by ensuring inclusive thinking, research approaches and representation are embedded across client work and team collaboration. - Represent WGSN and Mindset as a brand ambassador internally and externally through professional communication, thought leadership and contribution to wider business initiatives. - Deliver engaging and authoritative presentations, workshops and client-facing sessions that communicate complex ideas in a clear, relevant and inspiring manner.This list is not exhaustive and there may be additional responsibilities required as part of the role. ### Skills, experience & qualifications required - Extensive experience within consumer research, consumer insights, semiotics and culture, trend and foresight / innovation fields. - Agency experience is a must, demonstrating an understanding of the operational models that underpin commercial success for consultancy and the ability to implement strategy for an organization. - Exemplary communication and project management skills across various internal and external key stakeholders navigating multiple workstreams and priorities - Strong knowledge of consumer behaviour, cultural insights, and marketing trends, with the ability to pinpoint trends that will have a great impact across industries. Awareness and ability to identify the differences and nuanced expression of trends at a regional and global level. - A creative, innovation-driven and solution-minded approach, with experience in working across multiple research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to develop thought-provoking insight. - A high level of understanding of the role data and analytics plays in commercial success, with an ability to direct data analysis and pinpoint trends that will impact the market. - A critical thinker, able to consider both strategic and tactical implications. Highly skilled verbal and written communicator. - Ability to lead teams, prioritise workload, and support other members of the team. Comfortable and proficient in leading projects and initiatives across multi-functional teams and multiple time zones. - Commercial acumen and experience of contribution to revenue generation, working with Enterprise and Global client teams. - Technical skills: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Google Slides / PPT report development. A basic knowledge of aesthetic image selection and data visualisation software such as Tableau is an advantage. To reach candidates from diverse industry backgrounds, this single opportunity is advertised under three titles: *Fashion Strategist*, *Beauty Strategist*, and *Consumer & Culture Strategist*. You only need to submit one application for the role that best aligns with your background. ### What we offer Our benefits and wellbeing package offers flexible benefits you can tailor to your own personal needs, including: - 20 days’ annual leave - Private Medical Insurance - Health & Fitness Subsidy benefits - Rental Reimbursement tax benefit if applicable - Employee Assistance Programme - Great learning and development opportunities ### More about WGSN WGSN is the global authority on consumer trend forecasting.We help brands around the world create the right products at the right time for tomorrow’s consumer. ### Our values - We Are Everywhere The future is everything, it happens everywhere. WGSN is the world-leading forecaster because we track and analyse consumer behaviours, product innovation, design and creativity, everywhere. - We Are Future Focused We utilise our global resources and intelligence to research, source and analyse quantitative and qualitative data to produce our forecasts. Everything we do is focused on working with our customers to create a successful and positive tomorrow. - We Are Rigorous We source, review and assess quantitative and qualitative data to produce robust, actionable forecasts. To provide credible insights and design solutions for our clients, it is essential that rigour runs through everything we do. ### Our culture An inclusive culture is one of our key priorities. We want our people to truly be themselves and thrive. We love having a diverse team of people who bring new ideas, different strengths and perspectives & reflect the global audience we work with. ### Inclusive workforce We are committed to supporting the environment and sustainability, including ensuring our pension plan defaults to sustainable options and striving to be net zero by 2030. Recognising great performance is a key part of our culture. Our Awards schemes recognise and reward the brilliant achievements of our people. We have a truly flexible working environment with a wide range of flexible, hybrid and agile-working arrangements. Conversations about flexible working have always been - and will continue to be - actively encouraged here. We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to perform their best when interviewing, so if you require any reasonable adjustments that would make you more comfortable during the process, please let us know so that we can do our best to support you.