Role overview
We are looking for a Senior Consultant (Maternity Cover) to join our dynamic, ambitious and close-knit consultancy team.
Working closely with our team of global consultants, you will be responsible for working with a defined set of clients, developing commercial solutions that address their needs and leading project teams to deliver inspiring, market-leading insights.
This role is a 6-month fixed-term maternity cover contract.
This is an office-based role out of our London office.
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
In order to succeed in this role, you will need to demonstrate:
- Proven experience of working in Trend Forecasting, and confident in translating macro, cultural and consumer trends into thought-provoking insight across key industries of Food & Drink, Fashion, Beauty and Interiors.
- A strong background in consulting, ideally within an agency environment, with extensive experience leading and delivering consultancy to senior clients across projects that blend qualitative and quantitative research to deliver exemplary solutions.
- You will be an excellent collaborator, highly commercial, and seen as a trusted industry expert who delivers thought leadership and considered solutions to clients across industries and complex briefs.
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
- Work with the Director and Mindset Senior Leadership to deliver the defined Consultancy strategy to clients, ensuring the appropriate methodologies and frameworks are employed for all project teams.
- Work closely with the Account Management and Sales teams to lead and develop key high-value accounts, proactively seeking to broaden commercial opportunities with clients.
- 'Expert' in the client relationship - able to articulate client needs & motivations, business objectives and ROI, and flex confidently across industries as needed.
- Own & manage a defined set of accounts, delivering against complex, strategic briefs.
- Lead qualitative and quantitative primary and secondary research across a variety of methodologies, to provide actionable trend forecasts that will benefit our clients' future business
- Develop research methodologies and design project frameworks to individual project requirements, training and overseeing junior team members on methodologies where applicable.
- Accountable for the relevancy and quality of the work delivered to selected clients, evaluating feedback to maintain and improve standards
- Travel nationally and internationally to deliver high-value consulting projects to clients. Work across time zones with a diverse set of clients.
This list is not exhaustive and there may be other activities you are required to deliver.
Skills, experience & qualifications required
- Agency experience is a must, demonstrating an understanding of the operational models that underpin commercial success for consultancy.
- Proven experience working with clients in one or more of WGSN’s focus industries (Food & Drink, Fashion, Beauty, Interiors), and confident in delivering insights to senior client stakeholders.
- Strong knowledge of consumer behaviour, cultural insights, and marketing trends, with the ability to pinpoint trends that will have a great impact across industries.
- A solution-minded approach, with experience in working across multiple research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to develop thought-provoking insight.
- Analytical problem-solving skills with experience in solving unstructured problems involving quantitative data, through a structured and hypothesis-driven approach.
- A critical thinker, able to consider both strategic and tactical implications. Highly skilled verbal and written communicator.
- Ability to lead project teams, prioritise workload, and support other members of team. Comfortable and proficient in leading projects and initiatives across multi-functional teams and multiple time zones.
- Technical skills: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace. A basic knowledge of data visualisation software such as Tableau is an advantage.