Datasets Intern - Fixed-Term Contract (6 Months, Full-Time)

Black Swan Data is a leading provider of data, software, and consulting services for the consumer goods industry. Our technology uses AI and social data to power the insight and innovation capabilities of brands like PepsiCo, General Mills and Mars.

 

We are a value-driven company that is committed to our employee’s wellbeing and growth. We believe that our people are our greatest asset, and we want to create an environment where they can thrive.

 

The Role at Black Swan

Datasets that Black Swan produce are the core of all our products. The Dataset team is responsible for the creation and maintenance of all these datasets. The Datasets Intern role is a unique blend of analyst, market researcher and communicator. This role is responsible for understanding the context and content of the existing and new datasets, we work to refine, improve and evaluate the datasets. We take a consultative approach to anticipate client needs, partnering with our clients and client facing teams to effectively understand these needs.

 

The role is part of Black Swan Data’s Accelerator Programme. The Accelerator Programme provides top talent with a balance of behavioural qualities and technical skills an opportunity to pave a career path within the Datasets team. The programme facilitates a 3-year career trajectory within the team.

 

During the six months you spend as an  Intern in the Datasets team, you will get to learn about social data curation, data cleaning techniques, taxonomy creation and management and how to turn social data into valuable consumer insights, while also having broader exposure to Insights and Data Science departments. You will be part of an engaging, fast-paced environment, working within a dynamic and social team. 

 

What you will be learning: 

• Collaborate with our experienced data analysis team to work with large datasets, refining, improving, and evaluating them to uncover valuable insights.
• Engage with internal stakeholders to understand complex data requirements and translating those into clear dataset parameters.
• Gain hands-on experience by liaising with client-facing teams, developing essential communication and teamwork skills.
• Analyse and iterate datasets to identify opportunities for optimization whilst maintaining data quality and accuracy through routine checks and validation processes.
• Master the use of our cutting-edge software, Trendscope.
• Develop a deep understanding of our industry domains and connect data trends to broader market trends.

 

Who you are

We want people fanatical about creating innovative solutions inspired by data. We know Black Swan’s DNA is different, it’s what helps us find new perspectives on our clients’ problems. Working in a fast paced, energized environment, our bar is set high, and an ability to build long lasting partnerships both internally and externally is vital. You don’t need to be perfect at doing all the tasks below, we want passionate people, who are keen to apply themselves and put the effort in to helping a great new team grow and achieve even more. 

 

Personal Attributes: 

• A passion for new solutions and challenging the status quo, with an interest in new emerging products and understanding the potential in data, technology and social media.
• An organised problem solver, able to prioritise and process large amounts of information.
• Good listening and communication skills (written and verbal), including ability to express thinking coherently.
• A healthy professional attitude, able to conduct themselves in a professional way being punctual, respecting others, being honest as well as reliable.  
• Ability to work both alone and collaboratively with other team members.
• Able to flag any issues to more senior colleagues where appropriate and ask for support
• Curious and asks the right questions. 

 

Desired skills and experience:

• No previous work experience required; we welcome interns and recent graduates.
• An aptitude for defining research questions, collecting and analysing data, and presenting results effectively.
• Comfort with applying basic quantitative analytics techniques to data, and an understanding of digital data sources like social media.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to formulate clear hypotheses and action plans.
• A genuine enthusiasm for exploring emerging research techniques and the potential of data and technology.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks and seek support when needed.
• An eagerness to learn new tools and adapt to a dynamic work environment.

 

Qualification: 

• A bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Marketing, Market Research, Information Management, Economics, Statistics).
• A strong interest in data analysis and a desire to develop expertise in this area.
• Strong communication skills to facilitate collaboration with non-technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with data manipulation tools such as Excel or equivalent software.

 

Bonus Points for:

• Previous experience or coursework related to data analysis or statistics.
• Exposure or interest in SQL, databases, script writing, or programming languages like Python or R.
• Multilingual skills.
• Advanced Excel skills.

 

We offer competitive compensation, a dynamic and collaborative work environment, and abundant opportunities for professional growth and advancement. 

  

What makes a Swan? 

We want people fanatical about creating innovative solutions inspired by data. We know Black Swan’s DNA is different, it’s what helps us find new perspectives on our clients’ problems. Working in a fast paced, energized environment, our bar is set high, and an ability to build long lasting partnerships both internally and externally is vital. 

We have made a difference at our core and that is embedded in our values. 

• We believe in long-term partnerships through transparency and honesty. 

• We believe in leaving the world in a better place than we found it. 

• We believe anyone can achieve great things. We do not put people in boxes. 

• We listen more than we talk. 

• We think 10% crazy is just about right! 

• Most importantly, and because you spend 60% of your waking time at work, we believe you should enjoy it. 

  

What We Offer? 

Hybrid Working – 2 days in the office per week (Thursday being our whole company connection day in the office). Some roles will also be eligible to apply for 100% remote working. 

Career Development - At Black Swan, we prioritise your development. We break new ground daily - and that provides every Swan with the opportunity to build career-defining skills and experience.  

Working environment - Because you spend 60% of your time at work, we try to make it enjoyable! You will benefit from our global benefits: Share options, staff referral scheme, wellness day, development day, flexible working, internal and online training initiatives, volunteering opportunities at whiteswan.org.uk, birthday half day, social events, and a flexible leave policy. 

Exciting Clients and Projects - We work with some of the world’s most pioneering CPG brands, and operate at the cutting-edge of our industry, solving our clients' problems with technology. 

Talented Teams - We employ the best talent in the market – as a Swan you will be exposed to highly skilled and multi-disciplined teams across 3 continents.