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
Content Direction. Strategise and schedule content according to the needs of clients and in line with current market and industry trends
Content Production. Deliver concisely written trend analysis reports showing a clear understanding of the subscribers’ needs
Content Research. Support the Director and Head of Insight on any content research for anchor forecast reports and collaborative projects
Content Presentation. Represent Insight for WGSN at client meetings, presentations, industry events and media engagements
Generate report ideas. Research, create and deliver business strategy and retail reports in written and video format to a prescribed schedule and deadline
Forecast the impact of social, technological, economic, environmental and cultural change around the world on consumer lifestyles and attitudes
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
Produce presentations and webinars of your research and deliver them internally and externally
Collaborate with the global WGSN Insight content team and specifically deliver tailored reports to the Director and Head of Consumer Insight
Work with WGSN’s consultancy business Mindset, when required, to deliver bespoke consumer insight to clients
Act as an ambassador for WGSN by speaking at global conferences and seminars
Work with the WGSN commercial teams to support client relationships by sharing and presenting our thinking
Take a lead in team meetings, putting forward new ideas and suggestions for content.
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
Demonstrate a deep understanding of the retail industry across multiple markets and categories
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
Strong level of experience in writing, editing and reporting through an extensive career path within consumer research, journalism or retail strategy
An understanding of the role data and analytics play in commercial success
Ability to analyse data and pinpoint trends that will impact the global retail sector
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
Ability to work across multiple time zones (please note that your manager will be based in the UK and team members in the US)
Experience in managing and leading a team with strong editing skills
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:
25 days of holiday per year - with an option to buy/ sell up to 5 days
Pension, Life Assurance and Income Protection
Flexible benefits platform with options including Private Medical, Dental Insurance & Critical Illness
Employee assistance programme, season ticket loans and cycle to work scheme
Volunteering opportunities and charitable giving options
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.