Director, Internal & Executive Communications, North America

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

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Health insurance (medical, dental, and

Retirement savings plans

Job summary

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. in New York seeks a Director of Internal & Executive Communications for North America to drive an integrated, forward-looking strategy that aligns with business priorities and strengthens executive visibility.

The role requires a sophisticated communicator who can engage a diverse workforce across channels, manage change communications, and partner with HR, Legal, and regions to ensure consistent, credible messaging.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field.
• 10+ years’ experience in corporate communications, internal communications, public affairs and/or issues management.
• Experience in beauty, wellness, personal care, retail, luxury or related industry preferred.
• Agency experience, a plus.
• Experience in organizational transformation and change communications.
• Experience advising senior executives in high-stakes situations.
• Ability to operate at pace, manage multiple priorities in ambiguous environments.
• Proven ability to influence across a matrixed organization.
• Strong leadership, team management and stakeholder management capability.
• Sound judgement and calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an internal communications strategy across the region to inform, inspire and connect employees to ELC's mission and direction.
• Lead internal communications across leadership messaging, live events, digital channels, and emerging platforms.
• Stay ahead of information consumption with a modern, platform-aware approach to tools and cadence.
• Partner with HR, Legal, IR and other regions to ensure message alignment and discipline across the enterprise.
• Design and lead initiatives that promote business priorities, culture, retention and contributions with regional leaders and stakeholders.
• Strengthen executive visibility and provide timeliness and usable materials for leadership communications across channels.
• Prepare executives for employee engagements and internal events with presentations, speeches, and talking points.

Skills

Strategic communications

Executive communications

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Crisis/Issues management

Editing/writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field

Tools

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Microsoft Teams

Airtable

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, Internal & Executive Communications, North America will drive an integrated, forward-thinking internal communications strategy across the region, supporting business priorities and strengthening the company’s reputation amongst our most important audience: our team. The role will translate business priorities into clear and credible internal communications; amplify the Company's transformation and growth agenda; strengthen executive visibility; and enhance employee engagement.

This role demands a sophisticated communicator who understands how to reach, engage, and inspire a diverse workforce. The role will build modern, channel-appropriate strategies that ensure employees feel informed, connected, and part of a larger mission.

Responsibilities

Internal Communications & Employee Engagement

• In collaboration with the region VP, develop and execute an internal communications strategy that ensures employees are informed, inspired and connected to ELC's mission, values and direction
• Lead internal communications that cover the full internal channel mix including leadership messaging, live events, digital communications (email, intranet, digital screens, etc.), and emerging platforms
• Stay ahead of how employees consume information; bring a modern, platform-aware mindset to the selection and use of communication tools, formats, and cadences
• Partner cross-functionally with HR, Legal, IR and other regional and global Communications counterparts to ensure message alignment, consistency, and discipline across the enterprise
• Design and lead integrated initiatives that promote business priorities, strengthen culture, enhance retention and celebrate contributions, in partnership with regional business leaders, HR, ID&E, Global Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability, Breast Cancer Campaign, regional ERGs, etc

Executive Communications

• Strengthen executive visibility of the region’s extended leadership group, through authentic communication initiatives, across all channels
• Lead effective cascades of global, regional and functional messages, equipping the region’s leaders with usable and timely communications materials and support
• Prepare executives for employee engagements and internal events. Develop executive presentations, speeches, talking points, town hall messaging, video scripts, etc

Story Mining & Narrative Development

• Develop clear, insight-led narratives on key regional announcements and programs. Ideate event topics, curate content, shape the internal dialogue
• Successfully parse business performance, industry and consumer data to support key narratives, in partnership with the region’s Dir, External Corporate Comms

Change & Issues Management

• Guide internal communication efforts during organizational change or sensitive people-related matters, ensuring clarity, transparency, and trust across all audiences
• Own the internal commmunications component during people-related crisis scenarios including safety incidents, workforce matters, or sensitive events
• Coordinate closely with External Comms, Legal, and HR to ensure aligned messaging across all internal and external audiences

Leadership & Project Management

• Maintain a year-long internal communications/editorial calendar
• Produce internal events, including vendor sourcing and management, tech oversight, etc
• Standardize internal protocols, including vetting processes, people news, etc
• Manage a departmental budget, including planning, forecasting, vendor management, and expense tracking
• Measure effectiveness across channels and continuously refine the strategy based on reach, engagement and employee feedback

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

Core Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field
• 10+ years’ experience in corporate communications, internal communications, public affairs and/or issues management
• Experience in beauty, wellness, personal care, retail, luxury or other related industry preferred
• Agency experience, a plus
• Experience in organizational transformation and change communications
• 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

• 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

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $124,200.00 to $214,450.00. Exact salary depends on several factors such as experience, skills, education, and budget. Salary range may vary based on geographic location. In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for participation in a highly competitive bonus program as well as participation in the share incentive plan. In addition,

In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for participation in a highly competitive bonus program with the possibility for overachievement based on performance and company results. 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, paid leave programs, education-related programs, paid holidays and vacation time, and many others. Many of these benefits are subsidized or fully paid for by the company.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is Company's policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. The Company will endeavor to provide a reasonable accommodation consistent with the law to otherwise qualified employees and prospective employees with a disability and to employees and prospective employees with needs related to their religious observance or practices. Should you wish to apply for this position or any other position with the Company and you believe you require assistance to complete an application or participate in an interview, please contact [e-mail].

Michigan Applicants: Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for employment must notify the company in writing of the need for an accommodation within 182 days after the date the person with a disability knew or reasonably should have known that an accommodation was needed.

Philadelphia Applicants: Philadelphia's Fair Chance Hiring Law

Rhode Island Applicants: The company is subject to chapters 29-38 of title 28 of the general laws of Rhode Island and is therefore covered by the state's workers' compensation law.