Director, External Corporate Communications, North America

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 124,000 - 214,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid holidays and vacation time

Education-related programs

Bonus/incentive program

Job summary

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. in New York, NY is seeking a Director of External Corporate Communications for North America. This role leads regional external relations, partnering with brands and cross-functional teams to shape credible external narratives and protect reputations.

Based in New York with a hybrid work model, you will advise senior leaders, navigate a matrix organization, and drive high-profile communications programs across beauty and luxury brands.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in corporate communications, public affairs or issues management.
• Experience in beauty, wellness, retail, luxury or related industry.
• Agency experience is a plus.
• Experience advising senior executives in high-stakes situations.
• Ability to operate at pace in a matrixed organization.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management ability.

Responsibilities

• Develop NA corporate media strategy and executive positioning for regional topics.
• Design integrated initiatives across earned, owned and digital channels.
• Advance relationships with top-tier media and event organizers.
• Prepare senior executives for media engagements and speaking opportunities.
• Draft outputs: briefings, talking points, pitches, press releases.

Skills

Corporate communications

Public affairs

Crisis communications

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Editorial judgment

Writing

Tools

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Microsoft Teams

Airtable

MuckRack

CreatorIQ

Job description

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 similar intranet CMS)
• Microsoft Teams
• Airtable, a plus

Industry Resources & Analytics

• MuckRack
• CreatorIQ (Tribe), a plus
• Familiarity with Circana, Nielsen, or similar data sets, a plus

Editorial & Strategic Thinking

• Exceptional writing and editing skills with strong editorial judgment.
• Proven ability to turn complex business topics into clear, engaging content.

Portfolio or work samples required (writing, editorial placements, etc.).

Location: Hybrid – ELC North America office in New York (4 days per week)

Pay Range

Anticipated Base Salary Range $124,200.00 to $214,450.00 (Depending on qualifications, skills, experience and/or budget), based on a 40 hour work week (range to be scaled accordingly). In addition, The Estée Lauder Companies offers a variety of benefits to eligible employees, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance), wellness and family support programs, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plans, education-related programs, paid holidays and vacation time. In addition, the Company maintains highly competitive incentive compensation programs (role eligibility may vary based on terms of the respective plan(s)). You may be eligible to participate in the applicable Commission/Bonus Plan, under the plan guidelines in effect at the time of hire. Additional details regarding the commission plan will be provided as part of your onboarding.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal-opportunity employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodations for job applicants with disabilities are available on request.

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