Head of Strategic External Innovation & Partnerships

The Estée Lauder Companies; Melville (NY); On-site; USD 175,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plans

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

The Estée Lauder Companies seeks an Executive Director, Strategic Innovation & Partnerships to lead external science sourcing and strategic supplier collaborations. You will align R&I, Legal and Procurement to translate innovations into differentiated capabilities and competitive advantage.

Requires 15+ years in R&I or ingredient innovation, deep cosmetic science expertise, and a proven record in beauty industry partnerships. Competitive base salary plus bonus and equity opportunities.

Qualifications

• MS/PhD/PharmD in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Pharmacology, Cosmetic Science, Dermatology, Materials Science.
• 15+ years of experience in R&I, Advanced Research, Ingredient Innovation.
• 5+ years experience in the Beauty industry.
• Proven track record building external innovation and/or strategic partnership programs.
• Deep expertise in cosmetic science, formulation, claims, regulatory, and commercialization pathways.

Responsibilities

• Champion a Strategic External Innovation Mindset Across Advanced Technologies.
• Identify needs with pillar scientific leaders and align with external partners.
• Build and manage a portfolio of external partners and opportunities with a scorecard.
• Develop Strategic Scientific Partnerships that Create Competitive Advantage.
• Drive Cross-Functional Alignment between external partners and internal stakeholders.

Skills

External innovation leadership

Strategic partnerships

Influence senior stakeholders

Cosmetic science expertise

Regulatory/commercialization knowledge

Beauty industry experience

Education

MS/PhD/PharmD in Chemistry/Biochemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Pharmacology/Cosmetic Science

Job description

The Estée Lauder Companies seeks an Executive Director, Strategic Innovation & Partnerships to lead external science sourcing and strategic supplier collaborations. You will align R&I, Legal and Procurement to translate innovations into differentiated capabilities and competitive advantage.

Requires 15+ years in R&I or ingredient innovation, deep cosmetic science expertise, and a proven record in beauty industry partnerships. Competitive base salary plus bonus and equity opportunities.