OLAPLEX, Inc. (Nasdaq: OLPX) is an innovative, science-enabled, technology-driven beauty company. We are founded on the principle of delivering effective, patent-protected and proven performance in the categories where we compete. We strive to empower our consumers to look as beautiful on the outside as they feel on the inside. We believe every person deserves to have healthy, beautiful hair, whether they are visiting a salon or caring for their hair at home.

OLAPLEX has been able to achieve phenomenal growth and we continuously seek exceptionally talented individuals who can support our innovation and creativity. Collaboration and flexibility are at the core of our commitment to each other and to the success of OLAPLEX.

About the Role: 

The Director, Innovation is responsible for developing new product launches and portfolio strategies, supporting core categories to drive long term growth and profitability and build brand equity globally. 

The Director, Innovation will serve as the key project leader for all new Hair innovations, driving the end-to-end journey from product ideation to positioning, market fit, to global launch turnover to GTM team, in partnership with R&D, Strategy, Analytics & Insights, Sales, Global & Trade Marketing, Brand, Finance, Creative, Education, Communications, Legal, Regulatory and Operations teams. This role will be responsible for articulating new product positioning, developing concepts, claims, benefits, and driving these project proposals through the stage gate process, with the support of the team members, and cross functional partners.

Responsibilities: 

PRODUCT, PORTFOLIO & INNOVATION STRATEGY 

• Support the creation of a 3-year Innovation roadmap that drives business and reinforces brand equity, based upon market analysis, consumer insights, and commercial opportunities, collaborating cross functionally with Sales, Education, Brand, R&D and Strategy, Analytics & Insights teams
• Support the execution of portfolio roadmap including product architecture, pricing strategy, and SKU management
• Lead repackaging updates: Collaborate with Sales, Operations, Marketing, Creative and regulatory teams to strategically plan and execute updates to existing packaging.  Optimize design, messaging, brand consistency, claims, costs and operational efficiency

PRODUCT INNOVATION

• Partner with cross functional departments to develop and align on all new retail and pro product launches / reformulation / repackaging strategy, in line with brand, financial and sustainability goals
• Infuse innovation, and encourage creativity and cross- department collaboration. Partner with R&D and creative team on new product concepts, names, positioning and claims. Brief agencies if needed or organize internal brainstorming sessions
• Partner with Marketing and sales teams to Develop new product sizes and sampling strategies, in alignment with financial targets and core business strategies
• Ownership of Stage Gate meetings: Oversee presentation of all new launches updates /proposals for both Retail and Pro to Management in monthly Stage Gate meeting. Leverage expertise of cross functional partners (finance, etc) to support presentation
• Monitor, Manage and optimize performance of new products once in the market, collaborating with GTM team to update messaging playbook / PDP copy as needed distributing to cross-functional teams
• With cross functional team input, track and analyze OLAPLEX product launch performance for key learnings and future application

CLAIMS & TESTING

• In partnership with Management and R&D, Support development of a strategic brand claims roadmap that is relevant and ownable for OLAPLEX 
• Work with R&D, Legal and Regulatory to develop desired product claims for efficacy testing and final claim list for each product launch. Partner with Marketing to ensure claims address communication and retailer objectives.
• Lead Concept/Panel/HUT/Claims testing initiatives and analysis for all launches to evolve and optimize claims and positioning as needed. Partner with SA&I team to ensure study methodology and questions are set up to capture our key learning priorities

FINANCE / COGs

• Drive COGs analyses and propose suitable formula/packaging/sizing/pricing in accordance with financial objectives and consumer /pro expectation
• Partner with finance on COGs and international pricing strategy to ensure financial viability on new projects 
• Partner with Sales & Marketing teams to collect global volume estimates and project net sales for new projects

ARTWORK

• Oversee the timely completion of all artwork, working with R&D, Creative, legal and regulatory departments to ensure compliance. Manage the complexities of regional variants and translations
•  Cascade artwork to marketing and communication teams in time for all asset development and creative layouts

PRODUCT COMMUNICATION: LAUNCH DOSSIERS & PDP

• Prepare compelling Sales sheets to guide forecasting for Sales / Marketing / DTC teams
• Produce best-in-class dynamic product marketing presentations for Internal and external use, in accordance with brand codes and aesthetic. Include the launch strategy/trends,  product features, benefits, claims, ingredients, price, sizes and packaging to support Marketing, Education, Sales & Customer Service 
• Collaborate with GTM team on development of  all PDP copy (in partnership with creative and regulatory teams). Ensure consistency of message across all packaging and PDP
• Identify opportunities to update existing product communication to optimize consistency or claims
• Oversee the availability of material for photography and retailer/press needs

BRAND & MARKET ANALYTICS 

• In partnership with the SA&I team, analyze market trends and brand/product performance to inform innovation / portfolio decisions: conduct in depth market & competitive analysis to identify white space opportunities and develop unique product propositions based on market and category trends. Leverage findings from consumer insights, social listening, CRM data, sales
• Closely monitor trends and new launch activity to Identify innovation opportunities for OLAPLEX. Identify competitor best practices across all touch points, including product and packaging Innovation, Claims, Sampling, and consumer experience

About You:  

• 10+ years of relevant Product Marketing & Development experience with demonstrated expertise within the beauty industry; 3+ years of supervisory experience
• Highly comfortable working in a fast-paced environment that requires agile thinking and problem-solving skills
• Strong leadership ability: dynamic, flexible with a positive attitude and a sense of team spirit
• Strong collaborator: Ability to work and align with cross-functional teams and key stakeholders to achieve brand goals
• Creative thinker, problem solver and resourceful
• Exceptional organizational skills, ability to prioritize, and a proven ability to multi-task and manage complexity
• Strategic and analytical thinker 
• Strong ability to analyze and interpret numbers and develop financial plans
• Passion for beauty
• Pays close attention to the market (social activity/ innovations)
• Keen aesthetic sensibility, with high attention to detail and accuracy

We'd love to have you apply, even if you don't feel you meet every single requirement. What's most important to us is finding authentic and accountable people who feel connected to our mission and values, not just candidates who check off all the boxes. We are looking for someone who will bring all their expertise, learn, and grow with us.

Our Total Rewards: 

The annual base pay for this position is $130,000 - $160,000 with eligibility for an annual bonus. The actual base pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, years of relevant experience, skill level, functional expertise, certificates or other professional licenses held and geographic location.

• Competitive compensation 
• Work/Life Balance: Flexible paid time off, 11 paid holidays, and flexible work schedules
• Wellness: Company Contribution to Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance for Employees and their Families, Company Paid Employee Life Insurance, Optional additional Life Insurance, and Short and Long-Term Disability Coverage Options, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account with Company Reimbursement
• Parental Leave: Up to 18 weeks for all new birthing-parents and up to 10 weeks for all non-birthing new parents 
• Financial Well-being: Roth and 401k plans: 100% match up to the first 4% and is immediately vested
• Professional Development Reimbursement Program: Career development is as important to us as we know it is to you! 
• Culture: Our team has an “attitude of gratitude” and a shared passion for our brand. Join our culture committee and/or DE&I champion team to play a role in building and sustaining our “secret sauce" 
• Products: Twenty (20) free products per year, plus a friends and family discount 

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

At OLAPLEX, we support and stand up for our community with our talent, content, messages, and product offering. We strive to build and nurture a culture where a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion is instinctive. Our deep sense of passion and pride in what we do, both as individuals and as a company, unifies our shared commitment to 'do well and do good'. We recognize and celebrate different ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds and know they create a stronger and more creative work environment.  

OLAPLEX is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other characteristics protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.