At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead premium retail growth and strengthen brand equity in the beauty industry.
- Company: Join Wella Company, a global leader in beauty with iconic brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, remote work options, and generous staff discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values equality and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the beauty sector while driving innovative strategies.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in commercial leadership within beauty or FMCG required.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
Position Title
Director, Premium Retail (UK/Ireland)
Reports to
- General Manager UK & Ireland
- 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 .
THE ROLE
The Director, Premium Retail Channel is responsible for leading and accelerating profitable growth within premium beauty retail accounts while strengthening brand equity and consumer engagement.
This role owns the channel strategy, customer partnerships, commercial performance, and execution excellence across premium retail partners such as Sephora, Boots Premium Beauty, Selfridges, Fenwicks, John Lewis department stores, specialty beauty retailers, and emerging premium channels.
The role sits on the UK leadership team, reporting to the General Manager Northern Europe.
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.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own full 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 & Account Strategy
- Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key retail partners.
- Lead negotiations and Joint Business Plans with Premium Retail partners, ensuring customer strategies deliver mutual value and unlock strategic growth opportunities.
- Steer pricing, promo and assortment governance across channels, safeguarding profitability, brand equity and channel differentiation while balancing in‑year growth.
- 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.
- Partner with e Commerce 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
- Cross-functional collaboration & leadership
- Collaborate closely with Marketing to deliver integrated brand plans.
- Govern forecasting accuracy and collaborate closely with Supply/IBP to ensure availability, healthy inventory, service levels and cost to serve optimisation.
- Build strong cross‑functional partnerships with Marketing, Education, Finance, Digital/Mar Tech and Global/Regional teams to land strategies, media, assets and activation.
- Champion talent development, capability building and a high‑trust culture grounded in, Speed, Simplification. Accountability and Intensity
- Act as a visible, values‑led leader on the Country Leadership Team, providing strategic input beyond the channel/brand remit.
Key Skills Required
- 10+ years of commercial leadership experience within Beauty, FMCG, Luxury or Consumer Goods.
- Proven track record of delivering sustainable sales growth and market share gains.
- Strong commercial negotiation and customer management expertise.
- Experience owning and managing a P&L.
- Successful track record in a Senior Sales position as well as P&L ownership and management
- Experience in Consumer Sales in Professional or FMCG is required
- Strong analytical, thinking and problem‑solving skills
- Multi-market coordination experience; comfortable leading across markets without always having direct authority.
- Excellent communication and executive presence; comfortable influencing at leadership-team level.
- Mindset
- 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.
- Decide Fast and Decisively: Uses evidence, insights and guardrails to make trade‑offs between promo intensity, GM, equity protection and customer needs.
- Communicate with Clarity: Simplifies complex strategies; provides concise updates to senior stakeholders; encourages open, inclusive dialogue.
- Leadership & Talent Development: Creates psychological safety, coaches for performance, and builds future‑ready capabilities.
- Highly strategic & analytical with growth‑mindset orientation
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
- 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.
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Director, Premium Retail (UK/Ireland) employer: Wella Operations US LLC
Wella Operations US LLC is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in the heart of Wimbledon. Employees benefit from a hybrid working model, competitive remuneration, and opportunities for professional growth, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the grocery sector. Join us to be part of a team that values creativity and results while working with iconic brands like Clairol, Silvikrin, and Shockwaves.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Premium Retail (UK/Ireland)
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
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✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Wella Operations US LLC!
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Premium Retail (UK/Ireland)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Wella Operations US LLC, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Wella Operations US LLC and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Wella Operations US LLC that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wella Operations US LLC
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
