Key Account Director
Sales & Business DevelopmentPosted 19 Jul 2026
Advertised as “Key Account Director, Beauty Specialty”
Posted 19 Jul 2026
Advertised as “Key Account Director, Beauty Specialty”
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
No unique specialisation
This is a highly visible, strategic leadership role managing some of Puig’s most critical retail partnerships across Sephora US & Canada, Sephora @ Kohl’s, Bluemercury, and Cos Bar, spanning both Prestige and Niche brand portfolios. Reporting to the Head of Beauty Specialty Accounts, this role serves as the senior commercial lead and strategic partner across key accounts, responsible for driving sell-out growth, market share, and long-term brand equity within an increasingly competitive prestige beauty landscape. You will lead the end-to-end account strategy across a multi-brand portfolio (Carolina Herrera, Rabanne, Jean Paul Gaultier, Byredo, and Dr. Barbara Sturm), developing joint business plans, long-range growth strategies, and high-impact commercial initiatives tailored to each retail environment. This role partners cross-functionally with Marketing, E-Retail, Demand Planning, and Finance to ensure strong execution across all channels while navigating the nuances of specialty retail, omnichannel growth, and evolving consumer behaviors. It requires a strong balance of strategic vision, executive presence, and operational excellence.
This position is based in New York, NY; no relocation assistance is available.
Strategic Leadership & Business Growth
• Own and execute the account strategy across Sephora US & Canada, Sephora @ Kohl’s, Bluemercury, and Cos Bar for Byredo and Dr. Barbara Sturm, aligning with brand and commercial priorities
• Develop and lead annual and 3-year joint business plans, identifying growth drivers across assortment, distribution, and consumer engagement
• Drive sell-out performance, market share gains, and profitability, with full accountability for the account P&L
• Identify whitespace opportunities, including new distribution, category expansion, and innovation partnerships across key retailers
• Lead top-to-top engagements across accounts, influencing long-term vision, investment strategy, and brand positioning
Retailer Relationship Management
• Serve as the primary senior point of contact across key retail partners, owning relationships with stakeholders (VPs, GMMs, Buyers, Planning)
• Present brand strategies, launches, and business cases with strong storytelling, insights, and financial rigor
• Lead negotiations on joint business plans, exclusives, promotional investments, and margin strategy
• Partner closely with retailers to ensure strong alignment on brand priorities, launches, and in-store visibility
Commercial & Operational Excellence
• Oversee commercial planning across key moments (tentpoles, launches, exclusives), ensuring best-in-class execution
• Partner with internal E-Retail teams and agency partners to align digital activations with overall account strategy across channels
• Drive forecasting, allocations, and inventory strategy in partnership with Demand Planning and Sales Operations
• Lead gross-to-net management, promotional tracking, and financial performance analysis
• Ensure strong collaboration with field leadership to deliver best-in-class in-store execution and client experience
Cross-Functional Leadership
• Act as a central connector across Marketing, E-Retail, Finance, Demand Planning, and Education teams to ensure aligned execution
• Lead internal business reviews, forecasts, and strategic updates with senior leadership
• Mentor and guide junior team members, fostering a high-performance, collaborative environment
• 7–10+ years of experience in beauty, luxury, or consumer retail, with significant experience managing strategic/key national accounts
• Proven track record of owning and growing major retail partnerships (Sephora strongly preferred)
• Strong experience building and presenting joint business plans and long-term growth strategies
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead complex negotiations
• Strong financial and analytical acumen (P&L ownership, forecasting, profitability)
• Excellent communication and executive presentation skills
• High proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint (SAP a plus)
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
We welcome Creators Of All Kinds. If you are unsure of meeting all the requirements but trust you have the transferable skills to excel in this role, complete the application and our teams will get in touch if you are selected for an interview.