VP Analytics

How would you like to work with leading global companies to launch game changing products such as a new energy drink, ice cream flavor, new organic foods? Would you like to help a company name a new product and design its packaging? How about helping companies identify new trends in makeup and personal care? Do you wonder what it would be like to help a beverage company determine product pricing to maximize margin for beer sold in a bar versus a liquor store? These are just a few of the business questions our company helps our customers solve every day. Nielsen Innovation Practice is seeking a VP Analytics – Market Research to join our company. Position Description This position is responsible for ensuring that Nielsen consistently and proactively deploys industry-leading analytics and is capable of supporting continued hyper growth. Responsibilities fall into three broad categories (1) team leadership and development, (2) technical leadership for all client work and project leadership for custom projects and (3) extended member of product development team. Specific responsibilities include: Lead Advanced Analytics Team • Recruit, train and develop team members across multiple geographies to deploy current and develop future best practices in analytic solutions • Manage the allocation of analytic resources to ensure successful support of Sales and Research delivery teams Support Sales Teams and Custom Research Studies • Consult with sales to design, sell and deliver custom studies for Fortune 500 clients • Represent and champion Nielsen at high level meetings with clients and partners in support of education and business development • Contribute strategic thought, unique insights and analytical support (including project leadership as needed) for high profile, custom client studies Drive Quality and Productivity Improvements in Analytics • Define and review technical standards • Develop analytical methods, best practices and systemic processes that enable standardization and automation Support Existing and New Product Development • Collaborate with the Product Management team in identifying and defining new products • Coordinate and consolidate feedback from Sales, Research and clients to help improve and validate new and existing research tools • Develop new methods for modeling, analyzing and visualizing/representing quantitative data Qualifications Education Requirements • Degree in statistics, econometrics or equivalent field, PhD preferred Job Requirements • 10+ years of supplier-side experience in custom and productized market research solutions • Proven capability translating a wide range of client needs into actionable solutions • Experience working in FMCG/CPG, Life Sciences or Financial Services industries required • Superior technical competencies and previous direct responsibility for the design, coding and execution of discrete choice models, conjoint models, monte carlo markov chain models, hierarchical Bayesian toolkits, segmentation methods, clustering algorithms, optimization algorithms, latent class and other E-M models, econometric models (including linear and non-linear regression), ensemble methods, and computationally intensive methods (bootstrapping, boosting, etc.) • Expertise in R, S-Plus and/or SAS required. Proficiency in Stata, Matlab, and SPSS a plus. About Nielsen Innovation You’re highly driven, team-oriented and psyched to work with cutting-edge technologies and we’re changing how the world’s leading consumer companies innovate. Let’s get to know each other. The Nielsen Innovation Practice is a forward-thinking, rapidly growing, market research division of the Nielsen Company. That means we maintain an unbeatable client list, create best-in-class solutions and have access to incredible resources—without sacrificing the benefits of a smaller, leaner, close-knit company. We celebrate curiosity and creativity, and encourage openness and collaboration. Through a blend of innovative market research technologies (such as evolutionary algorithms and predictive analytics) and client consulting, we help major consumer products companies dramatically improve their outcomes at every stage of the innovation lifecycle. We identify breakthrough product ideas, messaging that inspires action, fresh package designs and optimal launch strategies. Modernize the brand and bottle design for an iconic beer company? Check. Discover the next big energy drink? Check. Optimize the core messaging for a major brand’s World Cup advertising campaign? Check. Nielsen is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action-Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, marital status, protected veteran status or any other protected class.