Sephora Category Specialist
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Compensation
- €40,000/year
- Department
- Merchandising, Buying & Planning
- Posted
- Sep 8, 2026
About Sephora
Sephora is a global prestige beauty leader, renowned for redefining the retail experience through creativity, inclusivity, and expert service. Founded in France and now part of LVMH, the company brings together an exceptional portfolio of beauty brands with a distinctive culture of discovery and innovation. As an employer, Sephora offers a dynamic, customer-centered environment where talent is encouraged to learn, experiment, and grow across retail, digital, merchandising, operations, and corporate functions. Its teams are united by a passion for beauty, entrepreneurship, and belonging, making Sephora a compelling workplace for professionals seeking impact within a fast-moving international brand.
Sephora Category Specialist role in Milan, Italy. Drive brand strategy, market analysis, and category performance. €40,000 annual salary.
Role & Responsibilities
- Analyze category performance through panel data and ad hoc studies, conducting weekly sell-out deep-dives to identify improvement opportunities and strengthen market position
- Develop and implement brand strategy recommendations aligned with Sephora's corporate objectives and local market dynamics
- Participate in development and execution of marketing initiatives, negotiating exclusive partnerships and collaboration opportunities with brand partners
- Adapt assortment and merchandising plans to address regional market needs in partnership with Sales and Merchandising teams
- Plan and coordinate key promotional animations with appropriate product assortment and current beauty trend alignment, working with the trade marketing function
- Negotiate supplier agreements and cultivate strategic partnerships to maximize brand visibility and shelf presence
- Monitor annual brand portfolio budgets and track implementation of agreed-upon action plans to achieve turnover and margin targets
- Facilitate cross-functional coordination across Animation (online and offline), E-Merchandising, Finance, and Supply Chain to optimize execution in stores and on the e-commerce platform
- Support product launches by defining forecasts and coordinating rollout activities across all channels
Qualifications
- Minimum 3 years of professional experience in category management, product management, or operational marketing
- Analytical acumen with strong numerical facility and comfort interpreting complex data sets
- Deep knowledge of beauty products, category trends, and consumer dynamics in the prestige beauty sector
- Fluency in Italian and English (both written and verbal)
- Demonstrated excellence in cross-functional communication and partnership development
- Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Initiative, autonomy, and ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
Skills
Experience
Minimum 3 years of professional experience in category management, product management, or operational marketing within the beauty, retail, or FMCG sectors. Proven track record of driving sales performance, implementing strategic initiatives, and managing cross-functional projects.
Education
Not specified in source; secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent) is typically the baseline for this role, though tertiary qualification in Business, Marketing, or a related discipline is strongly preferred.
Workplace
This position is based in Milan, Lombardy, Italy.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position is EUR 40,000 per annum.
Benefits
Competitive tailored welfare offerings in accordance with collective bargaining agreement (CCNL Commercio); complimentary beauty products; discounts on Sephora and LVMH merchandise; hybrid working arrangements and flexible hours; modern offices in central Milan with wellness facilities; annual convention and team-building activities; professional development and learning opportunities.
Culture
Sephora fosters a dynamic, inclusive workplace where creativity, curiosity, and a passion for beauty are encouraged at every level. As an employer, it is distinguished by its focus on empowerment, continuous learning, and a collaborative retail culture that celebrates individuality and client-centric innovation.
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 Sephora, 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 «Category Manager», «Product Specialist», «Brand Strategist», «Merchandising Specialist», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.