Associate Director, Premium Retail (UK/Ireland)

Position Title: Associate Director, Premium Retail

Location:  Wimbledon (Hybrid 2 days)

Reports to: TBC

Scope: Premium Retail

ABOUT THE WELLA COMPANY

Together, WE enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves.

Wella Company is one of the world’s leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders. For additional information about the Wella Company please visit www.wellacompany.com.

We are actively looking for an Associate Director of Premium Retail who will partner with the likes of Sephora, Boots Premium Beauty, Selfridges, Fenwicks, John Lewis department stores, specialty beauty retailers, and emerging premium channels.

We are looking for a someone who will lead the Premium Retail account team while remaining directly engaged in strategic customer relationships, critical negotiations and priority growth opportunities.

The role combines strategic leadership, P&L ownership, customer negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration to drive sustainable growth, market share gains, and exceptional consumer experiences.

Commercial Performance & Financial Accountability

• Own Premium Retail Channel P&L, delivering revenue, gross margin, profitability and market share objectives
• Develop annual business plans and multi-year growth strategies for the Premium Retail channel.
• Lead forecasting, budgeting and commercial planning processes.
• Monitor key performance metrics and drive actions to close performance gaps.
• Identify growth opportunities through distribution expansion, assortment optimization and new business development.

Customer Leadership & Joint Business Planning

• Plan, develop, agree and implement an annual Joint Business plan with the customer
• Create business plans with the customer and activate contingency plans when needed
• Build relationships with the specified customers at all levels of customer business
• Liaise with the Senior buying teams
• Be first point of escalation for all accounts in the portfolio, establishing strong relationships with Senior Buyers and Category Directors across the portfolio

Channel Growth & Premium Retail Execution

• Develop and execute a differentiated Premium Retail strategy aligned to brand objectives.
• Define channel priorities across assortment, merchandising, innovation and consumer activation.
• Identify white-space opportunities and emerging premium retail channels.

Cross-functional & Omnichannel Collaboration

• Partner with eCommerce and Digital teams to create seamless omnichannel consumer experiences.
• Support growth across retailer.com platforms, marketplaces and social commerce channels.
• Drive digital shelf excellence, content optimization and retailer media activation
• Collaborate closely with Marketing to deliver integrated brand plans.
• Agree promotional forecast with Demand Planning to support the achievement of Forecast Accuracy objectives

People Leadership & Capability Development

• Responsible for management and coaching of Senior & National Account Managers
• Responsible for developing annual team and individual objectives
• Responsible for leading by example and exuding positive growth mindset and culture

• Drive a positive ‘can-do’ customer-centric culture within the wider team and the direct reporting channel
• Ensure team applies across their accounts all the details listed above for their respective accounts

THE WELLA IDEAL FIT

• Significant experience in Premium Retail, Beauty, Luxury, FMCG or Consumer Goods, with demonstrated success managing premium retail customers such as Sephora, Boots Premium Beauty, Selfridges, Fenwick, John Lewis and other prestige beauty retailers
• Proven track record of delivering sustainable sales growth and market share gains.
• Strong sales and customer management background with experience leading strategic customer relationships and joint business planning
• Proven experience managing and developing high-performing sales teams, including Senior National Account Managers and National Account Managers.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in P&L management, budget planning, forecasting and customer profitability management.
• A hunter, not a maintainer — builds from scratch, sees white space, and moves with urgency. 
• Consumer-first and commercially sharp; a full business owner rather than a channel manager. 
• Experience leading commercial trade term agreements, annual Joint Business Plans and senior-level commercial negotiations
• Demonstrated track record of delivering sustainable sales growth, market share gains and profitable business performance.
• Proven negotiator with a results-focused mindset and ability to influence senior customer stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with excellent Excel, financial and forecasting skills.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain and Digital teams to deliver commercial objectives.
• Minimum expectation is a candidate operating at Senior National Account Manager level or above, with experience leading key customers and coaching direct reports.
• High awareness of what it takes to win in the premium retail environment, balancing commercial performance, brand equity and customer needs.
• Relevant undergraduate degree preferred.

WHAT WE OFFER

• 25 days holiday + additional day off for your birthday (not including bank holidays)
• 3 days’ personal leave for your own signification life events
• 2 paid days off for volunteering/charity work
• Optional Wella Pension Scheme (8% employer contribution, 3% employee contribution)
• Optional Family Private Medical Insurance Cover
• Income Protection
• Life Insurance (8x base salary up to 2 million payable in the event of your death in service of Wella)
• Staff Discount (80% of all hair products, 40% OPI, 1 x 50% ghd)
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Gym Benefits
• Eye Tests
• WOW Program (Bonus following exit from KKR, eligible after successful probation. For permanent employees only)
• Workplace/Nursery Benefits
• 4 weeks working remotely abroad
• Early Friday Finish during Summer

EEO OPPORTUNITIES

The Wella Company wants to meet the aims and commitments set out in its equality policy. This includes not discriminating under the Equality Act 2010 and building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce in encouraging equality and diversity.

We offer equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals without regard to race, religion or belief, color, national origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Wella Company with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at: https://www.wellacompany.com/consumer-affairs

We strongly believe that cultivating a diverse workplace gives a company strength. The combination of unique skills, abilities, experiences and backgrounds creates an environment that produces extraordinary results. EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled.

English - Please click on this link to review the Notification of Equal Opportunity Rights poster