Executive Recruiting and Employment Brand Manager

Ulta Beauty, Inc.•Bolingbrook, IL

38d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Recruitment & Employment Brand Manager is a strategic talent leader responsible for identifying, attracting, and securing top executive talent while elevating Ulta Beauty’s employment brand in the external market. This role partners closely with senior leadership to build a strong, diverse leadership bench and amplifies Ulta Beauty’s reputation as an employer of choice through a compelling, differentiated executive talent narrative.

Requirements

8–12+ years of executive recruiting experience (corporate and/or retained search)
Proven success placing VP+ leaders in complex, fast-paced organizations
Experience contributing to or leading employment branding or EVP initiatives
Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders
Deep sourcing expertise and established executive talent networks
Experience in retail, beauty, consumer, or omnichannel organizations
Background working cross-functionally with marketing/communications on employer brand
Experience supporting transformation, growth, or digital innovation environments

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end executive search for VP, SVP, and critical enterprise leadership roles across all enterprise functions
Translate Ulta Beauty’s growth strategy into forward-looking executive hiring plans
Build and maintain diverse, high-quality leadership pipelines aligned to succession planning priorities
Identify emerging leadership trends across retail, beauty, and consumer industries
Serve as a trusted advisor to Executive Committee members and senior leaders
Lead intake, calibration, and selection discussions with a focus on capability, leadership behaviors, and culture alignment
Provide market insights, talent intelligence, and competitive positioning
Own and evolve Ulta Beauty’s executive employment brand strategy in partnership with HR, Communications, and Marketing
Shape and articulate a compelling Executive Value Proposition (EVP) aligned to Ulta Beauty’s purpose, growth, and culture
Ensure consistent, high-impact storytelling across executive search materials, candidate interactions, and external touchpoints
Partner to activate the brand externally (e.g., thought leadership, executive talent mapping, industry engagement, and search firm alignment)
Equip senior leaders with messaging and narratives to effectively attract top talent
Continuously assess market perception and strengthen Ulta Beauty’s positioning as a destination for diverse executive talent
Deliver a high-touch, “white-glove” executive candidate experience that reflects Ulta Beauty’s brand and values
Ensure every candidate interaction reinforces Ulta Beauty’s culture of inclusivity, authenticity, and guest obsession
Drive seamless execution from outreach through offer and onboarding
Leverage direct sourcing, industry networks, and executive search partners to identify top-tier talent
Build deep pipelines across retail, digital, consumer products, and adjacent industries
Monitor competitor activity, talent trends, and brand perception to inform both recruiting and employment branding strategies
Manage and optimize relationships with retained executive search firms
Ensure partners effectively represent Ulta Beauty’s brand and deliver diverse, high-caliber candidate slates
Track performance, drive accountability, and align partners to strategic priorities
Drive consistent, efficient executive recruiting processes with strong governance
Track and report key metrics (pipeline health, slate diversity, time-to-fill, acceptance rates, brand engagement)
Leverage data and insights to continuously improve both recruiting outcomes and employment brand effectiveness