Innovation Solutions Executive (Nova) at MMR Research Worldwide

Description

We’re in search of an Innovation Executive who’s passionate about challenging the status quo, and excited by the opportunity to experiment with the application of tech advances. We’re looking for enthusiasm, creativity, superb organisational skills and an eye for detail - and passion, lots and lots of passion.

MMR who?

MMR is an independent, global consumer and sensory research agency specialising in food, drink, personal and household care research. We are industry leaders, guiding best in class innovation for our clients – partnering with well over 50% of the top 100 global food and drink brands

Our team of over 500 highly engaged, multi-disciplined employees are primarily dynamic research professionals, sensory experts and data scientists. We’re a diverse bunch, with backgrounds in R&D, insight, marketing, sensory science, data sciences and psychology. We also boast a true global reach with offices in South Africa, London, New York, Shanghai, Singapore, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Bangkok and Cali.

What else?

We are a “people first” company that prides itself on collaboration, honesty and mutual trust. Don’t take our word for it though, check us out on Glassdoor. You’ll see we’re currently rated at 4.8 out of 5 as an employer destination and a massive 97% of our employees would recommend working for us to a friend. Add to that 99% of our people approve of our CEO and you a general feel of what it means to be part of the MMR family.

We’re so proud of the work that we do. Next time you’re in the supermarket think about how those products made their way onto the shelves – chances are we influenced most of them along the way.

And Nova?

Nova is MMR’s tech innovation function – a team dedicated to exploring and developing new approaches to step change the way FMCG brands engage with their consumers to ensure more compelling propositions. From chatbots, to the use of in-home smart speakers, we are challenging traditional market research methods by utilizing the latest technological advances.

Requirements

We’re in search of an Innovation Executive who’s passionate about challenging the status quo, and excited by the opportunity to experiment with the application of tech advances. We’re looking for someone who can work as part of a tight team and independently, bringing enthusiasm, creativity, superb organisational skills and an eye for detail to a dynamic role.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing team, to shape and contribute to the identification and experimentation of new tech approaches and be at the forefront of innovation at MMR.

What you will be doing:

Exploration & Identify:

• Supporting investigation / research of new innovation streams, including potential supplier identification

• Assisting evaluation of suppliers / new tech opportunities, informing on software/tech benefits vs barriers (according to briefs / specs from the Nova Innovative Solutions Consultants)

• Providing feedback on experiences with suppliers and demos to inform experimental stages

• Attending online conferences, webinars, podcasts etc. and sharing relevant summaries with the Nova team

• Monitoring competitor activity in tech innovation space, highlighting areas of opportunity/threat

Experiment:

• Supporting day-to-day project management, liaising with the wider MMR teams and suppliers to ensure the smooth running of tech pilot projects

• Supporting data analysis and preparation of results – including liaising with suppliers when they provide outputs as part of their offer

• Ensuring workstreams are kept up-to-date from an admin perspective (e.g. timings being met and logging notes to detail progress) in Monday.com

• Contribute to critical appraisal of experiments, feeding in experience and opinions to help guide next steps of development

Commercial:

• Identifying potential conferences and opportunities to send papers / present – helping write content for submissions

• Helping to create content / summaries for various elements such as our regular client newsletter (Nova Partnership Initiative), LinkedIn, thought pieces / blogs etc.

• Helping to drive internal engagement through business updates and contributing to material for new launches

You know you’re right for this role if …

• You have a genuine interest in how new tech can improve how we engage with consumers and our clients

• You’re confident in dealing with suppliers and multiple support teams across MMR to run experiments and research projects (e.g. fieldwork procurement, stats, qual, research teams etc.)

• You’re creative and tenacious when it comes to exploring new tech advancements which might offer potential solutions for consumer engagement but the ability to apply a pragmatic and critical lens

• You’re highly organised to ensure projects and wider workstreams run to time and enjoy the challenge of juggling multiple and often very diverse initiatives at the same time

• You have a research grounding to ensure you’re able to hit the ground running

• You have an aptitude for experimentation / desire to help challenge the status quo to explore new tech approaches

Benefits

You will join our inclusive culture of world-class talent, where we are committed to your personal and professional growth through:

• Culture: We are a people first company that prides itself on collaboration, honesty and mutual trust. We’ve created an open, creative and non-hierarchical working environment. Not to mention the exciting secondment opportunities that are available across our global locations.

• Company Contribution: – MMR not only offer a competitive salary but also offer bonus schemes and

Health Care Insurance - Employees will be covered under the Company’s Discovery Health Medical Scheme, from their start date, subject to the Discovery eligibility entry requirement. Retirement Annuity Fund (RAF) - MMR will pay a contribution of 7% of your base salary to your RAF. (commence subject to you providing details of your retirement fund.)

• Wellbeing: Comprehensive benefit plans with your wellbeing at the forefront, inclusive of -

• Learning & Development: Offering second to none training to ensure our clients are working with market experts, to support this training and personal development programs are offered at every level. Working with top FMCG companies and the largest brands on the market we’re learning with the best! Growth opportunities are unlimited with access and opportunity to collaborate with our partner video, innovation, marketing and brand consultancy companies too.

MMR Academy – Academy, a modular training programme that covers a whole host of topics from sensory, statistics, presentation skills, quantitative and qualitative methods, time management and many more.

Training Funding Scheme - MMR offers all full and part time permanent employees the opportunity to participate in a Training Fund scheme where the company will sponsor employees for studies which directly contribute to the development of the business.

Here at MMR, we are about building a workplace for the future. We believe in equal opportunities and celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be natural, and be the best versions of themselves.