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Executive Director, Product Development
Estee Lauder
New York, NY, United States
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Description
Executive Director, Product Development, Estee Lauder
PRINCIPLE OBJECTIVE:
Drive calendarized initiatives within the Estée Lauder Brand. Lead the day to day development activities of new innovative products that meet the overall EL brand strategy. Insure all products are launched on time and with high quality. Actively seek out new trends and opportunities that will further support and provide growth to EL Skincare business.
ACCOUNTABILITIES:
1)To work as a team player with Global Marketing, Packaging and R&D in initiating new Product Briefs.
2)To work with Marketing, Packaging and R&D in each step of the development process.
3)To lead presentations and Product Turnovers meetings with R&D to PR, Education, Creative, and other cross functional groups and regional teams (when appropriate).
4)To direct R&D in the detailed development of new or reformulated products.
5)To be the pulse of worldwide competitive activity and trends and ensure our launches are surpassing the competition
6)To attend industry conferences and lectures to keep informed of new product and packaging directions and trends.
7)To provide quality training and development for own staff members.
8)Coordinate sharing samples and getting feedback from senior management and the regions.
9)To keep Management informed of project status & related issues.
10)Drive a thorough understanding of current projects and technologies.
11)To oversee the entire product development process as follows:
•Identify new product opportunities for EL. Write concepts, positioning statements and Fact Sheets with innovative claims to support each new idea/innovation.
•Recommend a quality prototype/benchmark with Vice President/Direct Reports.
•Write and Create strong communication claims and ensure the formula contains all actives necessary to make those claims. Ensure those claims are supported by legal and through clinical and sensory (when appropriate) testing.
•Lead the navigation of activities to make process most efficient and effective. Trouble shoot and problem solve when necessary
•Lead communications with key counterparts (R&D) to support the development process.
•Responsible for the written documentation for each development program. Write and review Project Fact Sheets, Final Product Profiles, and powerpoint presentations (for roundtable mtgs, turnovers, etc).
•Approve Lab Standard, FVL, Pilot and First Production Batches (on-site if necessary).
•Share samples with management for approval.
•Review all PR bulletins, Education bulletins and Copy for alignment of communication as it was intended and ensure accuracy of content.
•Reformulate/Update existing Products, as necessary.
12)To work hand in hand with the following departments:
Marketing
•Actively contribute to calendar meetings, MKTG/PD statuses, etc.
•Participate in meetings to clearly communicate a product’s development progress.
•Attend status calls/meetings as the project lead to communicate and hear project updates. These include GPPD meetings, Regional conference calls (EMEA, APAC), R&D status calls, China lab status calls, etc
•Provide constant daily communication on major changes to a product that may affect the launch date.
R&D
•Attend R&D status days at Melville 2/x per month with the department
•Clearly direct aesthetic details of product to be developed.
•Participate in Brainstorming sessions/R&D Day meetings with creative input.
•Direct Claims Testing on desired claims.
•Review Safety/Sensory test requests and send out to R&D in a timely manner.
•Evaluate and approve sensory test questionnaires.
•Work with the Asia lab and/or outside contractors (when appropriate).
Packaging
•Provide clear direction to Packaging on all formulation aspects including ingredients, actives, viscosity, color, as well as formula limitations.
•Evaluate and approve proposed package submissions for evacuation, aesthetics, and functionality.
•Expand our packaging options by meeting with Suppliers (when appropriate).
•Coordinate obtaining stock componentry with packaging for launch samples (PR, Forecast, sensory testing, and Presentations.)
Education/Communication
•Write product profiles and present product details at Turnover meetings so that Education and PR can write their materials.
•Review and approve all Education and PR materials
•Answer all follow up qts from Education and PR after turnover
Creative (Copy, Advertising, Design)
•Present new products informally in copy brief mtgs.
•Review and approve all copy as it routes in a timely manner
•Supply product samples when necessary.
Qualifications
•12+ years related experience
•College degree/MBA preferred
•Strong presenter – able to communicate new ideas with passion and confidence.
•Highly flexible and adaptable to handle ever changing priorities.
•Highly detail oriented, responsive, and reliable.
•Sound knowledge/expertise of Skin – quick study of technical concepts.
•Ability to develop and implement new product strategies; Knowledgeable of the Product Development process.
•Proven track record of successful new product innovations; proven ability to develop innovative products from concept to launch.
•Hard worker and demonstrated leadership on a cross-functional basis.
•Is an effective negotiator – able to gain cooperation at all levels, inside and outside the department
•Experience in people management, training, and development.
•Experience in successfully organizing and managing multiple complex development programs.
•Excellent partnering/teamwork skills; proven ability to influence team members without direct reporting accountability.
•A broad and comprehensive understanding of the global skin care market preferred.
•Ability to establish priorities, procedures and policies effectively
•Excellent written and oral communication skills.
•Proficient computer skills – especially Powerpoint, Word, and Excel.