Director, External Corporate Communications, North America
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.About the role
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products, and is a steward of luxury and prestige brands globally. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD, Smashbox, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD, and BALMAIN Beauty.
Description
The Director, External Corporate Communications, North America will drive The Estée Lauder Cos. external relations across the region, leading integrated communications programs that support business priorities and strengthen the company’s reputation. The Director will work in close partnership with brand and cross-functional teams in the region and globally.
This role requires strong judgement in high-profile situations, experience navigating a highly matrixed organization, the ability to deliver at pace, and a proven track record of advising senior leaders. You are deeply executing the strategies you help shape, and translating business priorities into clear, compelling and credible external communications. You are able to anticipate issues, see around corners and proactively position the organization and our leaders.
This position will be based in New York and will report to the Vice President, Corporate & Brands Communications, The Americas.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Corporate Media & Executive Positioning
• Support the development of a North America corporate media strategy, positioning The Estée Lauder Cos. and regional leaders across key topics such as beauty & luxury, consumer trends, retail, and digital and social commerce.
• Design and deliver integrated initiatives across earned, owned and digital channels, in partnership with relevant brand and cross-functional teams in the region and globally.
• Foster relationships with top-tier U.S. and Canada corporate media and event organizers.
• Prepare and advise senior executives for media and speaking engagements.
• Submit regional leadership for relevant talent awards and rankings.
• Draft and oversee outputs including (but not limited to): executive briefings, talking points, pitches, award submissions, press releases, opinion pieces, stakeholder communications, etc.
Story Mining & Narrative Development
• Develop clear, insight-led narratives on industry topics and for major regional announcements, partnerships and milestones.
• Embed with regional brands and business teams to story mine opportunities, together with the VP.
• Successfully parse business performance, industry and consumer data to support key narratives.
Industry Relations
• Build relationships with relevant industry and stakeholder organizations.
• Manage executive and company participation for relevant board seats, membership initiatives, awards programs and annual calendar of events.
Issues Management & Reputation
• Provide counsel to leadership on reputational risk, including vetting proposed brand activations, partnerships and spokespeople, according to established company vetting procedures.
• Track emerging trends and issues that may pose a reputational impact to our company or brands.
• Serve as the secondary point of contact for issues management and crisis communications across the Americas.
• Maintain alignment with Legal, Government Affairs, Crisis, Corporate Citizenship & Sustainability and other key cross-functional teams.
Qualifications
Core Experience
• 10+ years’ experience in corporate communications, public affairs and/or issues management.
• Experience in beauty, wellness, personal care, retail, luxury or other related industry.
• Agency experience, a plus.
• Experience advising senior executives in high-stakes situations.
• Ability to operate at pace, manage multiple priorities and work effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Proven ability to influence across a highly matrixed organization.
• Strong leadership, team management and stakeholder management capability.
• Sound judgement and calm under pressure.
Tools & Platforms (Hands-on Proficiency)
Publishing & Collaboration
• Microsoft Office suite, including PowerPoint (visual storytelling)
• SharePoint (or si
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