Director, Global Innovation

Unilever; Carson (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid in-office

Company bonus plan

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

Dermalogica, part of Unilever, seeks a Director of Global Innovation in Carson, CA, to set the future category and product strategy for the global brand. You will oversee the skincare portfolio, drive disruptive platforms, and collaborate with R&D, Operations, Creative and Education to ideate, develop, and execute market-leading launches.

This high-visibility role emphasizes balancing future thinking with rigorous attention to timelines, delivering an innovation pipeline that attracts new

Qualifications

• Experience defining category strategy and building multi-year roadmaps within beauty/personal care organizations.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Leadership of large teams and external partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Develops the future category strategy for the total global brand, translating trend signals and market data into a multi-year innovation vision.
• Owns the innovation P&L and oversees pipeline investment, stage-gate reviews, and senior sign-off.
• Tracks innovation KPIs and manages a cross-functional team from R&D to marketing for Go-to-Market plans.

Skills

Innovation strategy

P&L ownership

Cross-functional leadership

Brand marketing

Job description

Director, Global Innovation

Department: Marketing - Global

Location: Carson, CA

Dermalogica continues to lead the professional skincare industry with distribution in over 80 countries. Our entrepreneurial spirit, hands‑on environment, and fast‑paced culture encourage employees to be their best, bringing innovative solutions to reach the skincare professional and consumer. We are highly energetic, passionate, and results oriented. You will find that Dermalogica is a very special place, with tremendous opportunities ahead for us, all building upon a record of achievement.

In 2015 Dermalogica was acquired by Unilever, one of the world‑s largest and most successful consumer goods companies. While Dermalogica continues to operate as a stand‑alone entrepreneurial business, we now have enviable access to cutting edge capabilities and resources to help us win in our markets.

The challenge is to build on the legacy of our brand, our experienced team, and our industry‑leading education to deliver profitable growth. One of the key elements for our success, and critical for our growth, is bringing in the right people to join our team. We invite you to come and make a real difference and grow your career with the global leader in skincare.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Dermalogica is seeking a Director of Global Innovation to set the future category and product strategy for the total global brand and to oversee all aspects of Dermalogica-s retail product pipeline and portfolio. The successful executive is highly collaborative, working closely with R&D, Operations, Creative and Education on ideation, development and execution.

While portfolio management is core to this role, our focus is on maximizing innovation by using Unilever resources to develop skin care innovations and future innovations to solve tomorrow‑s skin concerns, and to build a differentiated innovation pipeline that drives new customer acquisition.

Innovation in this role also goes well beyond product and extends into creating the overall story that will allow our introductions to truly shine and differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

As a brand founded on innovation, this role has a high profile, and our ideal candidate is able to balance future thinking and creativity with a laser‑focus on details and timelines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops the future category strategy for the total global brand, translating trend signals, consumer insight, and market/competitive data into a multi‑year (3‑year+) innovation vision spanning core renovation, adjacent innovation, and disruptive/breakthrough platforms.
• Leads the development of skin care innovations and future innovations - new technologies, actives, and formats - that keep Dermalogica ahead of emerging skin concerns and consumer needs.
• Builds and manages an innovation pipeline explicitly designed to drive new customer acquisition, identifying white‑space opportunities that bring new consumer segments and channels into the brand.
• Develops the innovation roadmap based on company strategic direction and market insights, trend understanding, customer needs, etc.
• Owns the innovation P&L and business case: holds decision rights on pipeline projects within delegated investment thresholds, chairs stage‑gate reviews, and escalates major bets to executive leadership for final sign‑off.
• Is accountable for the financial performance of the innovation pipeline - investment vs. return, launch timing, and portfolio risk.
• Oversees implementation of the innovation roadmap as a cross‑functional lead and managing a team to create new product formulation with R&D; packaging development, Go to Market Plans, and development of all Global Marketing support materials.
• Tracks and reports innovation KPIs - % of net sales from new launches, new‑to‑brand customer acquisition, retention/repeat rate of new‑customer cohorts, and innovation ROI.
• Cultivates external and cross functional innovation partnerships - ingredient suppliers, Unilever, R&D, and contract manufacturers, trend forecasters, global markets - to bring emerging technology and science into the pipeline faster.
• Works with education to ensure that product training pieces are on‑point and up to date.
• Maintains current product line with recommendations and execution for upgrading of packaging and formulas as well as phase‑outs.
• Develop and manages budgets for product line launches, promotions, and ongoing maintenance.
• Analyzes profit margins and recommends an annual pricing plan that includes competitive analysis.
• Ensures claims substantiation, efficacy data, and regulatory compliance are in place for every innovation across all global markets.
• Recruits, trains and manages a large team of Marketing Talent, Innovation leads and Managers.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES

• A passion for skin care, and an intuitive sense for the prestige skin care user.
• Very strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated experience defining category strategy and building multi‑year innovation roadmaps within a global beauty, personal care, or skin care organizations.
• Working knowledge of skin biology, active ingredients, and claims/regulatory considerations across major global markets.
• Comfortable working with market and consumer data tools (e.g., Nielsen, NPD, or equivalent) to translate data into innovation opportunities; familiarity with AI‑enabled trend‑forecasting or ideation tools is a plus.
• Proven success in entrepreneurial or start‑up situation: new product line or new category, new channel of distribution or new venture.
• High energy personality with strong initiative, with strong team building and leadership qualities.
• Self‑motivated individual who will champion his or her team. One who also requires a minimum of supervision. An individual who embraces change.
• Strong communication skills: verbal, written, interpersonal and presentational.
• Strategic in planning, prioritization and execution of tasks.

This position will be based out of the corporate headquarters in Carson, CA with applicable hybrid in‑office work guidelines.

The expected annual base salary range for this position is $140K to $170K. The exact base salary is determined by various factors including experience, skills, education, and budget. This role is eligible for participation in our company bonus plan, rewarding personal performance and company results.

_Dermalogica is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive culture where all employees are valued, supported, and empowered to succeed._