Cultural Researcher – innovation project

Main Duties

About us

We are an innovation agency focused on helping brands create bold, culturally relevant products, platforms and experiences. We work across food and drink, partnering with major global brands to develop ideas that connect with real people in the real world.

About the project

We are currently working on a fast-paced, culturally-led project for a major brand, focused on shaping a future pipeline of concepts grounded in next-generation behaviours, signals and cultural shifts.

The work blends cultural exploration, strategic development and creative thinking — moving from understanding what is happening in culture to defining territories and translating them into tangible ideas.

Main duties

• Explore and track next-generation culture, behaviours and emerging signals across digital and real-world environments
• Identify and surface relevant trends, creators, formats and movements that are shaping culture now
• Support the cultural deep dive through hands-on research, including platform analysis, social listening and community exploration
• Generate and curate a constant stream of cultural references, case studies and stimuli for the wider team
• Translate observations into clear and concise insights, tensions and provocations
• Contribute to the development of cultural territories by grounding thinking in real behaviours and signals
• Support the recruitment and coordination of a small cultural collective (e.g. diary tasks, prompts, feedback)
• React to and sense-check territories, concepts and ideas as they evolve
• Prepare materials and inputs for working sessions and workshops
• Work closely with senior team members to support the development of project outputs

Skills and Experience Required

Skills & experience

• Strong interest in youth / next-generation culture, with a good understanding of how trends emerge and spread
• Highly active across relevant platforms (e.g. TikTok, Instagram, Reddit or similar), with awareness of key creators, formats and communities
• Ability to identify meaningful cultural signals beyond surface-level trends
• Good research skills, with the ability to independently explore, gather and organise information
• Strong curatorial instinct — able to select and present the most relevant and interesting examples
• Ability to translate observations into clear, simple insights and takeaways
• Comfortable working at pace and managing multiple inputs at once
• Collaborative mindset, with the ability to work closely with senior team members and respond to feedback
• Clear written and verbal communication skills

Desirable:

• Previous experience in an agency, strategy, insight or research role (including internships)
• Experience with social listening tools or cultural research methods
• Interest in food, drink or youth-focused brands

Disability Confident Employer

We can confirm that we are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 1-3) who can welcome a wide-range of disabled applicants within our level of training.

Equal Opportunities Statement

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and caring responsibility. We are committed to offering a working environment where everyone is valued and feels appreciated.