Strategic Innovation & Partnerships Leader

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 leave programs

Education-related programs

Job summary

Estée Lauder Companies is seeking an Executive Director, Strategic Innovation & Partnerships to serve as the senior scientific catalyst connecting Priority Pillar leaders with external providers. Lead seamless collaboration to access external science, driving proactive partnerships and translating capabilities into differentiated technologies.

The role spans R&I, Procurement, and Legal/IP, shaping governance and engagement models from discovery to commercialization readiness, with international

Qualifications

• MS or PhD or PharmD; PhD/PharmD strongly preferred in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Pharmacology, Cosmetic Science, Dermatology, Materials Science or related field.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Priority Pillar scientific leaders to identify future scientific needs and innovation opportunities for external partnerships.
• Influence internal scientific teams to engage partners strategically as sources of innovation, capabilities, and co-development opportunities.
• Drive proactive external innovation by identifying and cultivating relationships with suppliers whose roadmaps align with ELC's priorities.
• Build and manage a transparent portfolio of external partners, tracking status, priorities, risks, milestones, and value.
• Help establish a culture of scientific scouting and external engagement within the strategic Supplier ecosystem.
• Create visibility into emerging supplier pipelines and future innovation roadmaps to strengthen ELC's portfolio.

Skills

Strategic leadership

External partnerships

Technology scouting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

MS/PhD/PharmD

Job description

Estée Lauder Companies is seeking an Executive Director, Strategic Innovation & Partnerships to serve as the senior scientific catalyst connecting Priority Pillar leaders with external providers. Lead seamless collaboration to access external science, driving proactive partnerships and translating capabilities into differentiated technologies.

The role spans R&I, Procurement, and Legal/IP, shaping governance and engagement models from discovery to commercialization readiness, with international