Position Title:  Research Manager - Brand & Portfolio Insights (Sub-Saharan Africa)

As the Research Manager – Brand & Portfolio Insights, you will direct the Consumer Insights agenda across the Sub-Saharan Africa cluster. You will engage actively alongside senior collaborators to identify strategic business questions and turn them into important research and insight solutions.

You will develop a deep understanding of consumer behaviour across various product categories and demonstrate insights that support commercial growth, portfolio development, brand strategy, and consumer engagement. Collaborating with local, regional, and central teams, you will lead consumer research initiatives, bring together multiple data sources, and simplify complex information into clear, actionable recommendations that guide business decisions at the highest level.

This position is crucial for promoting consumer-focused decision making and aiding the expansion of the Smoke-Free Product (SFP) and Combustible Category (CC) portfolios across the region.

Your day to day

Consumer Insights Strategy & Research Leadership

• Develop and own the consumer research and insights strategy for the Sub-Saharan Africa cluster.
• Collaborate with business leaders to resolve strategic priorities and outline research methods that address major business challenges and opportunities.
• Build and lead all aspects of exploratory and data-driven research programmes that generate actionable consumer insights.
• Combine insights from various data sources, such as consumer research, behavioural data, market intelligence, and performance metrics.
• Translate complex findings into clear insights that guide strategic and commercial decision-making.

Smoke-Free Products (SFP) Portfolio

• Drive critical thinking and insight generation to support the growth of the Smoke-Free Products portfolio.
• Identify consumer needs, behaviours, motivations, and barriers across the consumer journey.
• Deliver coordinated reporting, workshops, and issue-based analyses to support awareness, trial, conversion, retention, and advocacy.
• Drive initiatives aimed at growing user acquisition, improving conversion rates, reducing abandonment, and strengthening Brand Net Promoter Score (NPS).
• Champion a multi-category consumer understanding across the SFP portfolio.

Combustible Cigarettes(CC) Portfolio

• Partner closely with the regional CIA CC lead to ensure delivery of relevant insights for the market. While not directly leading CC ad‑hoc projects, provide strong local market context, cross-category perspective, and sensitivity to ensure insights generated are commercially relevant and actionable.

Consumer & Market Tracking

• Serve as the market representative for global and regional tracking programmes.
• Provide mentorship on category representation, methodology, local market nuances, and brand relevance.
• Leverage key trackers and performance measures to identify emerging trends, opportunities, risks, and consumer difficulties.
• Synthesize findings from diverse data inputs to build a complete view of market performance and consumer behaviour.

Collaborator Engagement & Strategic Influence

• Act as a trusted strategic advisor to senior collaborators across Marketing, Commercial, Digital, Finance, External Affairs, IT, and Legal.
• Promote a strong culture of consumer-centricity throughout the organisation.
• Evaluate assumptions and inform business decisions using evidence-based insights.
• Present research findings and strategic recommendations to local leadership and management teams.
• Act as the main Consumer Insights liaison for the local Management Team and guide insights throughout all Smoke-Free Product categories across the region.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide leadership, mentoring, and direction to the insights team.
• Set clear priorities, performance expectations, and development plans.
• Champion a culture of curiosity, continuous learning, and commercial competence.
• Work closely with regional and central insights teams to guarantee that market priorities are incorporated into wider initiatives.
• Drive excellence in research execution, insight generation, and collaborator engagement.

What We’re Looking For

• A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in Statistics, Mathematics, Market Research, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Communications, Business, or a related area.
• A Master’s Degree or equivalent experience is advantageous.
• At least 5 years of experience in Consumer Insights, Market Research, Analytics, Brand Strategy, Marketing, Business Intelligence, or a related commercial function.
• Experience gained within a market research, consumer insights, data analytics, or business intelligence environment such as Nielsen, Ipsos, Kantar, or similar research organisations is highly desirable.
• Experience coordinating and delivering qualitative and quantitative research initiatives spanning multiple markets and consumer groups.
• Proven track record in interpreting customer actions, brand performance assessment, category management, portfolio strategy, and business-related decision processes.
• Experience translating complex data and research findings into clear, practical mentorship for senior collaborators.
• Consistent track record to influence cross-functional teams and operate effectively within a matrix organisation.
• Experience bringing to bear a variety of data inputs, including consumer research, market tracking, behavioural data, and digital performance metrics to generate business insights and recommendations.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent storytelling, presentation, and insight communication capabilities.
• Expertise in consumer research techniques, data examination, and tools for generating insights.
• Strong collaborator management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage senior leaders.
• Commercially minded with extensive knowledge of consumer-centric business strategies.
• Highly collaborative, curious, and committed to resolving challenges.
• Passion for understanding consumer behaviour and translating insights into business impact.

Why Join PMI?

Help build the future of a smoke-free world. Influence strategic decisions across diverse and fast-growing markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. Work alongside dedicated teams from local areas, broader regions, and worldwide locations. Drive significant business impact through data, research, and consumer understanding. Develop your career in a truly international, innovative, and passionate organisation.

PMI welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences, regardless of age, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, religion or belief, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
We encourage applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups and have equivalent experience in PMI or a related field. Employment Equity laws and principles will be considered during the candidate selection process to promote diversity and the exchange of ideas.