The CMI Manager leads Komari’s consumer and market insights function, cultivating a deep, dynamic understanding of Ethiopia’s beverage landscape. This role translates emotional drivers, taste shifts, and consumption moments into actionable insight that guides brand strategy, innovation, and commercial decision-making.

Purpose of Role

To embed consumer and market insight at the heart of Komari’s strategic and innovative processes, ensuring every product and brand decision reflects lived experience, emotional connection, and cultural relevance. The CMI Manager will build in-house research capabilities, lead exploratory and evaluative studies, and guide the business toward emotionally intelligent, market-ready growth.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Consumer & Market Insight Leadership

• Design and lead research programs exploring emotional associations, regional taste preferences, and consumption rituals.

• Build Komari’s proprietary insight infrastructure, including brand trackers, sensory labs, and consumer dashboards.

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative studies (focus groups, ethnographies, U&A, segmentation, taste panels) to inform brand and innovation strategy.

Strategic Guidance & Portfolio Support

• Synthesize research findings into strategic recommendations for category expansion, brand positioning, and pipeline prioritization.

• Define screening criteria and evaluation protocols based on consumer relevance and emotional fit.

• Monitor shifts in taste, mood, and consumption context to inform long-term planning and portfolio evolution.

• Lead internal storytelling and reporting to ensure insights are accessible, actionable, and embedded across teams.

Capability Building & Cross-Functional Influence

• Build and mentor a team of insight analysts, sensory evaluators, and research coordinators.

• Develop training programs to build internal fluency in emotional mapping, sensory testing, and behavioural analysis.

• Champion inclusive, representative research practices that reflect Ethiopia’s diverse consumer base.

Insight-Driven Development Support

• Collaborate with R&D, brand, and commercial teams to translate insights into product briefs and innovation strategy.

• Oversee rapid iteration cycles (gulp/bottle tests, concept testing) to validate emotional connection and flavour familiarity.

• Ensure consumer truth guides development, not just technical feasibility.

Governance & Budget Oversight

• Manage CMI budget across foundational research, sensory testing, and capability building.

• Ensure compliance with ethical standards, documentation integrity, and strategic clarity.

• Track KPIs including concept relevance, emotional resonance scores, and insight-to-launch conversion rates.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in [relevant field, e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Computer Science, Research, etc.]. 

• 5+ years of experience in R&D, in market research, preferably in the FMCG or beverage sector.

• Demonstrated success launching consumer-validated products with emotional and cultural relevance.

• Proven ability to scale internal technical capabilities and manage complex project portfolios.

• Strong cross-functional communication, team leadership, and research design skills.

• Experience building dashboards, consumer insight processes, and rapid iteration cycles.

• Strategic thinker with ability to execute under ambiguity and shifting market conditions.

How To Apply

Those who meet the above requirements can submit their CV to THIS LINK

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply