Global Director, Visual Merchandising & Experiential

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

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Share incentive plan

Health insurance

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is seeking a Director, Visual Merchandising & Experiential for Too Faced Global Creative to craft innovative global brand experiences across retail, pop-ups, events and installations.

Reporting to the VP Creative Director, you will translate creative direction into compelling consumer journeys, lead agencies and cross‑functional teams, and balance artistic ambition with feasibility and retailer needs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 to 10 years of Visual Merchandising, experiential design, retail design or related creative experience, preferably within beauty, fashion, luxury or other highly visual consumer brands.
• BA or BFA in Visual Merchandising, Interior Design, Architecture, Industrial Design, Environmental Design or related field.
• Exceptional conceptual thinker with demonstrated ability to create original physical experiences in highly competitive retail environments.
• Proven experience developing creative concepts across Visual Merchandising, pop-ups, events, retail installations and experiential activations.
• Strong understanding of consumer journey, spatial storytelling, retail environments and physical brand experience.
• Exceptional visual taste with a strong understanding of materials, lighting, graphics, fixtures, spatial composition and consumer interaction.
• Strong color-matching skills, with the ability to evaluate and match color across graphics, fixtures, materials, swatches, samples and final production.
• Ability to visualize and communicate concepts through mood boards, sketches, renderings, 3D visualization and presentation materials.
• Strong knowledge of fixture development, fabrication methods, materials and production processes.
• Experience creatively directing agencies, freelancers, fabricators, production partners and other external specialists.
• Ability to balance creative innovation with retailer requirements, feasibility, timelines and business objectives.
• Proficiency in relevant 2D and 3D design and visualization software, Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• Demonstrated proficiency with generative AI tools and emerging creative technologies.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to articulate creative vision clearly across internal teams and external partners.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple global projects and priorities effectively.
• Strong awareness of beauty, fashion, pop culture, retail, experiential design and emerging consumer trends.
• Portfolio required. Candidates must provide relevant work samples demonstrating Visual Merchandising, retail concepts, pop-ups, events, installations and experiential design, including examples of original thinking within complex or highly competitive retail environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop creative concepts for global visual merchandising, retail environments, pop-ups, events, installations and experiential activations.
• Partner closely with the Vice President, Creative Director to translate global creative direction into compelling physical brand experiences.
• Develop consumer journeys and spatial concepts that connect product, campaign and brand storytelling.
• Partner closely with the Director, Packaging Design and Director, 360 Creative from early launch development to ensure physical experiences are connected to the broader product and campaign story.
• Create and present concepts through mood boards, sketches, renderings, spatial studies, prototypes and other visualization tools.
• Develop global VM and experiential guidelines that clearly communicate design intent across retailers, regions and formats.
• Develop key global retail concepts and systems that can be adapted across different retailer environments and market needs.
• Collaborate with Regional, Retail, Store Design, Marketing, Consumer Engagement, Education and Communications teams to ensure cohesive brand expression.
• Lead and creatively direct agencies, freelancers, experiential partners, fabricators, production vendors and other external specialists.
• Review designs, renderings, materials, prototypes and production output to ensure the final experience maintains the approved creative direction and Too Faced brand standards.
• Balance creative ambition with retailer requirements, consumer behavior, budget, feasibility, materials and production considerations.
• Identify innovative technologies, materials, formats and interactive experiences that can elevate the consumer journey.
• Utilize generative AI and emerging creative technologies to support spatial ideation, visualization and concept development.
• Manage multiple global projects and priorities while maintaining a high level of creativity, quality and attention to detail.
• Stay current on beauty, fashion, retail, hospitality, entertainment and experiential trends.

Skills

Visual Merchandising

Experiential Design

Retail Design

Brand Storytelling

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

3D Visualization

Concept Development

Team Collaboration

Education

BA/BFA in Visual Merchandising/Interior Design/Architecture

Tools

3D Rendering Software

Prototyping Tools

Job description

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is seeking a Director, Visual Merchandising & Experiential for Too Faced Global Creative to craft innovative global brand experiences across retail, pop-ups, events and installations.

Reporting to the VP Creative Director, you will translate creative direction into compelling consumer journeys, lead agencies and cross‑functional teams, and balance artistic ambition with feasibility and retailer needs.