About Estée Lauder Companies
The Estée Lauder Companies is a global leader in prestige beauty, founded in 1946 by Estée and Joseph Lauder and built on an enduring belief in creativity, high-touch service, and entrepreneurial spirit. As an employer, the Group offers talent the scale of an international house with the energy of distinctive brands across skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care. Its culture values innovation, inclusion, learning, and responsible growth, inviting professionals to shape consumer experiences from laboratory to counter, digital platform to boardroom. Employees join a purpose-led organization where heritage, artistry, and scientific excellence meet to define the future of luxury beauty.
The Visual Merchandising Development Manager supports the development and production of high-quality, three-dimensional visual merchandising systems for prestige cosmetics retailers, working with brand designers, project managers, procurement, and vendors; the role does not design displays. Responsibilities include technical and engineering review, vendor and timeline management, value engineering, approvals, and testing, with 0–5% travel. The anticipated annual base salary is $87,550–$143,800, depending on experience, skills, education, budget, and geographic location; the role is also eligible for a performance- and company-results-based bonus.
Role & Responsibilities
- Review visual merchandising design renderings and collaborate with the Program Manager and Indirect Procurement to select vendors, ensuring systems and updates are cost-effective, sustainable, and easy for customers to install.
- Evaluate design intent and conduct technical analysis; assess materials and manufacturing processes, and develop mechanical and material concepts for production that achieve the brand design.
- Work with selected vendors to assess design intent and material selection, identify sustainable solutions, and discuss engineering alternatives.
- Review, correct, and approve vendor engineering proposals.
- Value-engineer parts to achieve cost savings and record the savings.
- Provide clear direction and technical recommendations based on cost targets, regulatory requirements, environmental legislation, consumer safety, and quality and aesthetic needs.
- Manage vendor development timelines to ensure the quality of primary display structures, secondary printed parts, and protective outer packaging for distribution.
- Under the direction of the RDDC, NA Group Executive Director of Development, approve or amend vendor-submitted engineering drawings, prototypes, pre-production samples, pack-outs, decoration, and final first production; coordinate with Program Managers to deliver the first-off in time for launch dates.
- Review testing protocols and results to ensure display durability and quality throughout its in-store lifespan.
Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of visual merchandising construction and development methods, preferably in prestige cosmetics, including injection molding, vacuum-forming, acrylic fabrication, metal fabrication, decoration processes, and LED lighting.
- Ability to read technical and engineering drawings and provide direction on them.
- Excellent team player with strong analytical, negotiating, and communication skills; able to work across multiple departments with excellent follow-up and organizational skills.
- Ability to multitask, think creatively, establish priorities, and remain flexible in a changing environment.
- Work with vendors to develop progressive, sustainable solutions.
- Value-engineer with vendor engineers to find cost-effective solutions within brand budgets.
- Decision-making ability and self-reliance.
- Sketching ability is a plus.
- 0–5% travel.
- Ideally, education in Mechanical Engineering or Industrial Design.
Skills
Experience
5 years in the display industry preferred
Education
Ideally, education in Mechanical Engineering or Industrial Design
Workplace
This position is based in New York, New York, USA.
Explore jobs in New York or in the USA.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 87,550 to USD 143,800 per annum.
Benefits
Eligible employees may receive medical, dental, and vision insurance; wellness and family support programs; life and disability insurance; retirement savings plans; paid leave programs; education-related programs; paid holidays; and vacation time. Many benefits are subsidized or fully paid by the company. The role is eligible for a competitive bonus program, with potential overachievement based on performance and company results.
Culture
The Estée Lauder Companies fosters a collaborative, inclusive workplace where creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and a passion for prestige beauty are deeply valued. As a global house of distinctive brands, it offers employees an environment that encourages innovation, professional growth, and a shared commitment to excellence and consumer inspiration.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Estée Lauder Companies, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Visual Merchandising Development Lead», «Retail Display Development Manager», «Visual Merchandising Project Manager», «Point-of-Sale Display Development Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.