Market Insights Specialist

As part of DFA's Insights & Optimization (I&O) team, collect, analyze, and translate market, industry, operational, and business information into actionable insights that support decision-making, strategic planning, and business performance. Serve as a resource within assigned insight domains, with an initial emphasis on dairy markets, dairy industry insights, supply-and-demand, and strategic and operational research. Partner with stakeholders across the Cooperative to connect insights to recommendations, planning activities, and measurable business outcomes. Own workstreams from question framing through analysis, recommendation, communication, and follow-through. Support recurring and on-demand insight needs, analytical models, scenario analysis, mapping, and research activities while leveraging technology to improve speed, quality, and impact.

• Compile and synthesize insights from domestic and global dairy markets, DFA information, customers, suppliers, competitors, and industry sources using primary and secondary research.
• Analyze market, industry, operational, category, customer, and member information to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and implications for DFA.
• Develop and manage dairy market data and insights, supply-and-demand analysis, industry benchmarking, cooperative analysis, and market outlook development.
• Research and evaluate trends that could influence milk supply, dairy demand, customer requirements, or strategic opportunities.
• Support recurring and on-demand business questions by framing the issue, gathering relevant information, conducting analysis, and developing decision-oriented recommendations.
• Translate findings into effective communications, including but not limited to presentations, reports, dashboards, models, maps, and executive-ready materials that clarify business implications, risks, opportunities, and trade-offs.
• Monitor changing market and industry conditions and communicate timely implications to team members, leadership, and business stakeholders.
• Partner across commercial, operational, planning, and support functions to translate insights into recommendations, planning activities, and actions that improve business performance.
• Support the development and delivery of executive, employee, member, customer, and industry-facing insight materials.
• Support measurement and communication of outcomes resulting from business recommendations and insight initiatives.

• Support strategic scenario analysis, capacity assessments, network analysis, data visualization, and other planning activities where market and operational insights intersect.
• Build and maintain analytical models, datasets, benchmarks, databases, and reporting tools.
• Use technology, such as AI, automation, and other research tools to improve research, monitoring, synthesis, reporting, and repeatable insight workflows.
• Identify opportunities to improve recurring insight processes through stronger documentation, data quality, standardization, and practical automation.

• Manage assigned workstreams independently, coordinate with contributors, meet deadlines, and escalate risks or decisions appropriately.
• Uphold the team's quality promise of relevant, accurate, timely, consistent, and impactful work across all deliverables.
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities and share knowledge across the Cooperative.
• The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee but are not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required.

• Undergraduate degree in economics, agricultural economics, agribusiness, dairy science, business, analytics, marketing, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and practical experience.
• Two to five years of experience in market research, business insights, economic analysis, strategic analysis, agriculture, food and beverage, or a related field.
• Experience working with multiple data and research sources to develop business insights and recommendations.
• Experience in dairy, agriculture, food and beverage, commodity markets, or a related industry preferred.
• Working knowledge of dairy markets, the dairy supply chain, milk pricing, milk components, Federal Milk Marketing Orders, or dairy trade flows preferred.
• Experience with analytical models, data visualization, mapping, market research platforms, or business intelligence tools preferred.
• Certification and/or license may be required during the course of employment.

• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to connect market, operational, competitive, and business information.
• Ability to frame an ambiguous business question, identify the information needed, conduct analysis, and develop a practical recommendation.
• Ability to analyze large or varied datasets and distinguish the most decision-relevant findings.
• Strong research skills and the ability to assess the credibility, consistency, and limitations of different sources.
• Ability to build and maintain analytical models, maps, benchmarks, reports, and executive-ready presentations.
• Ability to think through scenarios, trade-offs, supply-and-demand dynamics, and potential business implications.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to translate technical or market subjects into understandable business implications.
• Executive communication and storytelling skills, with an emphasis on clarity, relevance, and decision support.
• Demonstrated ability to independently own a moderately complex workstream from question framing through recommendation and follow-through.
• Ability to partner effectively across functions and incorporate stakeholder expertise while maintaining analytical objectivity.
• Comfort using AI and Copilot to accelerate research, synthesis, analysis, and reporting, with appropriate validation of outputs.
• Knowledge of and skill with Microsoft Office Suite and company computer systems; experience with data visualization, mapping, market research, or business intelligence tools preferred.
• Strong organization, prioritization, and project-management skills, with the ability to balance recurring and on-demand work.
• Curiosity, learning agility, attention to detail, and willingness to develop deeper dairy market and industry expertise.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak English.

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans