Head of Marketing - NARS

Head of Marketing – NARS UK & Ireland

MISSION:
Lead the marketing and media strategy for NARS UK & Ireland, acting as a holistic brand guardian with a full end-to-end customer journey mindset. Drive brand growth and commercial success by anticipating market and category shifts, translating insights into actionable data, and applying a SUK business lens to decision-making.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & BRAND GUARDIANSHIP

• Collaborate with the Brand General Manager to adapt the Global Marketing plan into a structured and executable strategy for the UK & Ireland.
• Assess local market requirements and design tailored programmes in partnership with Trade Marketing and Global teams to optimise commercial opportunities and drive brand growth.
• Formulate a comprehensive launch strategy by retailer, working closely with Commercial counterparts to maximise all potential business opportunities.
• Act as a holistic brand guardian, anticipating market and category shifts, understanding broader business challenges and P&L impact, and applying a SUK business lens to decision-making.
• Demonstrate heightened self-awareness of impact on others, paired with a risk-taking and challenger mindset to drive change and optimise outcomes.

MEDIA & CONTENT

• Oversee media budget development and coordinate the annual media briefing process with the UK agency.
• Manage the execution of UK media activities across all platforms, including digital, print, and outdoor.
• Define and execute media content strategy, including influencer assets, ensuring local relevance and brand alignment.
• Participate actively in PR influencer program discussions and implementation, ensuring alignment with media strategy for each launch.
• Work cross-functionally with Retail Media, PR, and Digital team contacts to design comprehensive media plans supporting new product launches, campaigns, and tailored initiatives.
• Coordinate with the UK Head of Communications on commercial opportunities involving UK Makeup Artist Ambassador.
• Apply strong P&L literacy to ensure strategic alignment and budget efficiency.

FORECASTING & STOCK MANAGEMENT

• Proactively drive S&OP process optimisations and multi-function collaboration to improve Forecast Accuracy and Fill Rate.

• Deliver comprehensive insights and establish robust forecasting benchmarks by leveraging in-depth retail performance analytics, product data, NPD trends, competitor rankings, and UK consumer insights to support accurate newness forecasting.
• Supervise all merchandising forecasts overseen by the Visual Merchandising team to ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Collaborate with the Trade Marketing team to manage and optimize sampling forecasts and planning initiatives.
• Coordinate with the UK Commercial team and European Logistics team to update catalogue forecasts—including both saleable items and testers—according to business requirements, forecasted marketing activities, new store openings, and retailer-driven activations.
• Partner with the UK Communications team to incorporate pre-series requirements and makeup artist relations into the overall forecasting process.

VISUAL MERCHANDISING

• Collaborate with the Visual Merchandising team to develop and implement local initiatives including retailer sites, window displays, counter decoration, and display units.
• Provide UK merchandising competitor examples and feedback to support product launch planning and visual merchandising implementation.

PRICING & COMPETITION

• Track pricing strategies throughout the industry and manage the annual pricing review for the UK & Ireland, including recommendations for new products.
• Coordinate a competitor monitoring system that covers marketing, events, online activities, and public relations to maintain awareness of competitor actions and launch schedules.

LEADERSHIP & TEAM DEVELOPMENT

• Lead and develop a high-performing team, tailoring development plans and managing succession planning.
• Proactively structure the organisation to maximise performance and engagement.
• Demonstrate strong inter-departmental negotiation and influencing skills to drive alignment across teams.
• Apply advanced influencing capabilities with EMEA stakeholders to foster positive, collaborative relationships.

PROFILE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Significant marketing experience with strong progression, ideally in premium colour cosmetics.
• Commercially savvy, solutions-focused, passionate and compelling.
• Strong influencing, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Resourceful, positive, and able to work at pace and with ambiguity.
• High attention to detail and organisation.
• Alignment with Shiseido’s Trust8 principles: Think Big, Take Risks, Hands On, Collaborate, Be Open, Act with Integrity, Be Accountable, Applaud Success.

THE BENEFITS YOU’LL LOVE

• 26 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday day off       
• Holiday buy – up to 5 days
• Day off when you get married or move house
• Generous contributory pension scheme – match up to 8%
• Annual performance related bonus
• Private medical insurance with Vitality
• Enhanced parental allowance
• Generous product allocation & discount
• Life Assurance up to x4 your salary
• Flexible & hybrid working
• Wellbeing programmes
• Annual performance and development reviews so you know your career is going in the right direction

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered. We believe that a diverse workforce enhances our creativity, innovation, and overall success.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability or religion and are proud to promote a culture which supports and appreciates people from all backgrounds. We are always open to flexible working, part time arrangements and any adjustments which you might need to get the best experience whilst at work.

We are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities and ensuring that our hiring practices reflect our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

We are proud to be recognised as a  disability confident employer and have a number of internal employee forums which promote advocacy for our teams. If you need any support or adjustments during your application, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to support you.

Once you have applied for the role, our in house recruitment team will screen your CV. We will do our best to get back to all candidates who apply, however in some cases it may not be possible due to the high volume of applications. If you have not heard back from us within 30 days of your application, unfortunately this may be you have not been successful on this occasion.

If your CV is shortlisted, then you will be contacted by our recruitment team. They will arrange a pre-screening call, to explore your motivation, suitability and role expectations. After the pre-screen, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. Successful applicants will be invited to at least 1 interview. Preferably, we would like to meet you in person and give you the opportunity to test your commute as well as see your potential place of work! In some cases, we may invite you to an assessment centre or to present your ideas in the form of a business presentation.

Please note: If you do not have the right to work in the UK and would require sponsorship for this role then you must ensure you meet UKVI requirements for the position which may include having a degree level qualification. Please reach out if you need further information on this and whether we offer sponsorship.

KEEN TO KNOW MORE?

• Click here to learn more about our brands
• Click here to learn more about Our Principles and The Shiseido Philosophy