User and Market Insights Analyst (Hybrid - Vernon Hills, IL)

The Mom Project is excited to partner with Rust-Oleum in their search for a User & Market Insights Analyst. This role is hybrid in Vernon Hills, IL.

Rust-Oleum Corporation is a worldwide leader in protective paints and coatings for both home and industry. We offer a wide range of products, including decorative fashion paints, durable industrial roof repair coatings, and, of course, our famous rust-fighting formula that started it all.

Rust-Oleum has always been built on a simple idea: protect what matters. As Senior Director of Human Resources, you will carry that belief into the people side of business- protecting, strengthening, and elevating the culture that fuels employees across the organization.

This role is responsible for gathering and sharing user and market insights for a diverse set of brands across multiple product platforms. These insights will be used to inform and support strategic business decision making, product and value proposition, design (including new product development), brand positioning and strategy, pricing, demand generation, and go-to-market strategy. This role reports to the Sr Director, Insights.

Responsibilities:

• Overall – facilitate insights of market, brand, channel, and end-user working with internal and external teams/agencies. Work closely with Product Management, Marketing, Sales, R&D, and other cross-functional teams that impact the user experience journey to execute research that identifies and addresses key knowledge gaps in end-users and markets. Lead insights initiatives and analysis in support of critical strategic planning activities to support the growth and profitability of Rust-Oleum with the goal to deliver 10%+ CAGR or 3X market pace (whichever is greater) for each business segment and platform.
• Insights – qualitative and quantitative user research. Through primary and secondary research, identify end-user needs, wants, problems, likes, and dislikes with respect to target home improvement and professional applications. Execute market analysis and research activities, including trend, macro market, industry, and competitive understanding. Conduct research activities via internal and external data sources; manage external agency partners. Primary research examples include segmentation, concept testing, packaging evaluation, shopper journey, brand awareness, brand health index, net promoter score, price elasticity, plus other key research types.
• Design & Oversight - Determine the appropriate methodology and provide oversight on the data collection process and analytic work plan to ensure all available information is generated to support business objectives. Leads research initiatives and ensures projects meet time and budget parameters.
• Analytics - Analyze, interpret, and synthesize findings from primary and secondary research sources, drawing conclusions that are measurable, impactful, and accessible.
• Business Application – Act as a business partner cross-functionally to bring the end-user and market perspective to strategy, planning and portfolio decisions. Leverage and interpret insights to identify business opportunities that drive profitable growth and competitive advantage; gain internal support to act upon these opportunities. Convey analysis and recommendations via presentations and written reports. Responsible for developing and maintaining an insights database that informs and provides resources to the organization.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Research, Data Science, Statistics, Behavioral Research or User Research preferred.
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Strong storytelling skills and business acumen to weave together insights from multiple data sources into compelling recommendations.
• Strategic thinker; ability to utilize data and analytics to make informed business decisions; ability to translate data into meaningful information for Rust-Oleum and customers.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to conduct business analysis on market, product performance, and competitive landscape, among other areas
• Experience moderating focus groups and conducting in-depth interviews preferred.
• Consumer Packaged Goods and/or Hardware & Home Improvement industry experience a plus.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and ERP Systems (SAP, Business Objects, etc.).

Rust-Oleum is an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, or any other protected class.