Executive Recruiting and Employment Brand Manager

Ulta Beauty, Inc. • Bolingbrook, IL

14d • 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. The role partners with senior leadership to build a strong, diverse leadership bench and promote Ulta Beauty as an employer of choice through a compelling executive talent narrative.

The manager leads executive searches for VP, SVP, and other critical enterprise leadership roles, translates business growth strategy into executive hiring plans, and builds diverse leadership pipelines aligned with succession priorities. The role advises senior leaders, provides market and talent intelligence, and leads candidate intake, calibration, and selection discussions.

The manager owns and evolves the executive employment brand strategy in partnership with HR, Communications, and Marketing. Responsibilities include shaping the Executive Value Proposition, ensuring consistent storytelling across search materials and candidate interactions, equipping leaders with talent-attraction messaging, and strengthening Ulta Beauty’s position as a destination for diverse executive talent.

The role delivers a high-touch executive candidate experience from outreach through offer and onboarding; sources talent directly and through search partners; builds pipelines across retail, digital, consumer products, and adjacent industries; and monitors competitors, talent trends, and brand perception. It also manages retained search firm relationships, drives consistent recruiting processes and governance, and uses metrics and insights to improve recruiting and employment-brand outcomes.

The position has normal office demands and is identified as hybrid. The stated pay range is $106,000 to $170,000 per year, with the opportunity for eligible associates to earn additional compensation under the company’s bonus plan. Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off and health, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits.

Requirements

• 8–12+ years of executive recruiting experience in corporate recruiting and/or retained search.
• Proven success placing VP-level or more senior leaders in complex, fast-paced organizations.
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Deep sourcing expertise and established executive talent networks.

Nice To Haves

• Experience contributing to or leading employment branding or Executive Value Proposition initiatives.
• Experience in retail, beauty, consumer, or omnichannel organizations.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Marketing and Communications on employer brand.
• Background supporting transformation, growth, or digital innovation environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end executive searches for VP, SVP, and critical enterprise leadership roles across enterprise functions.
• Translate Ulta Beauty’s growth strategy into forward-looking executive hiring plans.
• Build and maintain diverse, high-quality leadership pipelines aligned with succession-planning priorities.
• Identify emerging leadership trends across retail, beauty, and consumer industries.
• Advise Executive Committee members and senior leaders on executive talent.
• Lead intake, calibration, and selection discussions focused on capability, leadership behaviors, and culture alignment.
• Provide market insights, talent intelligence, and competitive positioning.
• Own and evolve the executive employment brand strategy in partnership with HR, Communications, and Marketing.
• Shape and articulate an Executive Value Proposition aligned with 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 employment brand externally through thought leadership, executive talent mapping, industry engagement, and search-firm alignment.
• Equip senior leaders with messaging and narratives to attract top talent.
• Assess market perception and strengthen Ulta Beauty’s positioning as a destination for diverse executive talent.
• Deliver a high-touch executive candidate experience that reflects Ulta Beauty’s brand and values.
• Ensure candidate interactions reinforce the company’s culture of inclusivity, authenticity, and guest obsession.
• Drive seamless execution from outreach through offer and onboarding.
• Use direct sourcing, industry networks, and executive search partners to identify top-tier talent.
• Build deep talent pipelines across retail, digital, consumer products, and adjacent industries.
• Monitor competitor activity, talent trends, and brand perception to inform recruiting and employment-brand strategies.
• Manage and optimize relationships with retained executive search firms.
• Ensure search partners represent Ulta Beauty’s brand effectively and deliver diverse, high-caliber candidate slates.
• Track partner performance, drive accountability, and align partners with strategic priorities.
• Drive consistent, efficient executive recruiting processes with strong governance.
• Track and report pipeline health, slate diversity, time-to-fill, acceptance rates, and brand engagement.
• Use data and insights to improve recruiting outcomes and employment-brand effectiveness.

Benefits

• Eligible associates may earn additional compensation under the company’s bonus plan.
• Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off.
• Full-time positions are eligible for health, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed