Manager, Makeup and Fragrance Category Marketing, Estee Lauder NA

OVERVIEW

We are seeking a strategic, creative and results-driven Manager who balances accuracy with speed and care to join Estee Lauder’s Makeup and Fragrance Category Marketing team. This role will join a high-performing team that drives innovative go-to-market strategies that combine business acumen, excellence in execution, strong collaboration and a consumer-centric lens. The category marketing team is equal parts left and right brained when creating the brand’s integrated, omnichannel marketing and reporting efforts for these categories within the U.S.

This Manager role leads our regional forecasting, reporting and GTM execution. This role collaborates across commercial, creative, events, media and influencer teams to create an impactful brand experience that drives product interest and trial—and ultimately grows our market share. The ideal candidate is a brand builder and category enthusiast with regional expertise, consumer obsession, analytical mindset and a proven ability to deliver results in a complex, omni-channel environment.

Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Forecasting, Financial & Performance Management:

• Serve as key operational leader on forecasting process and ambition-setting for all New Product Launches, working collaboratively with global business planning, account leads/planners and brand senior leaders to gain alignment.
• Leverage a balance of category expertisie and pop-culture obessession to monitor and analyze category, brand, and competitive performance within the region, leveraging a rich combination of industry insights across product, consumer, macro societal trends to inform strategy and optimize performance.
• Work with the Executive Director and Director to develop and manage seasonal Category Merchandise Financial Planning (MFP), Long Range Plan, Category P&L and monthly reconciliation across key cost centers.
• Drive retail and net sales growth by managing launch calendar, assortment strategy, and key performance indicators across channels.
• Lead weekly post-mortem analysis of launches and campaigns to inform future planning in collaboration with Retail, Demand Planning and etc.

Go-to-Market Planning & Execution:

• Uphold and champion a growth-minded, collaborative, and disruptive approach that leverages insights, KPIs and culture to drive sustainable results.
• Meaningfully contribute to-end go-to-market planning process for new product launches, hero accelerations, and seasonal campaigns across all channels (retail, DTC, specialty).
• Lead assigned briefing process for North America photo shoots, select VM distortions, category and assortment strategy, and sampling, media/PR, education/events and retailer specific activations etc in collaboration with Assistant Manager.
• Monitor and identify trends that enrich go-to-market strategies and inform potential new ways of achieving business impact.
• Partner with global and NA brand teams to ideate and capture localize product launches, storytelling, and 360° marketing programs, meeting notes, and drive next steps when needed.

Brand & Consumer Experience:

• Ensure that every touchpoint of the consumer journey reflects the brand's identity and prestige codes.
• Use consumer insights and data to refine strategies and ensure campaigns are driving customer acquisition, retention, and brand loyalty.
• Comfort with proposing product innovation gaps and opportunities when applicable.
• Work closely with Global and CFX teams to track and support execution of tentpole brand experiences and consumer activations that align with Category strategy, conceptual national campaigns and key objectives.

Cross-Functional Partnership:

• Build strong relationships with EL Sales Team and retail partners and collaborate on joint business plans, exclusives, and high-impact programs.
• Collaborate with e-commerce and retailer dotcom teams to optimize online presence and drive digital sell-through.
• Act as the key point of contact between North America and Global Brand, Sales, Finance, and Operations teams to ensure regional alignment and excellence in execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or related field; MBA a plus
• 5+ years of progressive marketing experience, with a strong focus on prestige or luxury beauty, ideally in North America.
• An entrepreneurial spirit with a bias for action and comfort in fast-paced, high-growth, ever-changing environments.
• Data-informed mindset with the ability to analyze campaign results, define insights and adjust strategies accordingly.
• Advanced PowerPoint skills; must be able to craft C-suite powerpoint presentations and reporting recaps.
• Makeup and pop-culture obsessed with a firm grasp on business and personal use of key social media/digital platforms: TikTok, IG, Substack, Twitch, etc.
• Deep understanding of the North American consumer, retail landscape, and omni-channel strategies.
• Proven experience with 360° marketing plan execution and retail activations.