Vice President, External Innovation & Strategic Partnerships
About The Position
The Vice President will lead ELC’s External Technology Strategy, Key Partnerships, and Scouting initiatives. This role is central to identifying and leveraging external technologies that accelerate the company’s innovation agenda. By collaborating closely with internal teams and external partners, the Vice President will proactively source, assess, and translate high-value opportunities into strategic partnerships that drive growth and differentiation. The position is responsible for establishing streamlined processes that enhance the integration of ELC’s internal R&D and External Partners as well as the Innovation opportunities within the New Business Development (NBD) and New Innovation Ventures (NIV) frameworks. Focus areas include opportunities that deliver long-term competitive advantages such as proprietary ingredients, delivery systems, advanced process engineering, and IP-generating research—while maintaining agility in exploring emerging and adjacent technologies.
Requirements
- Advanced degree (PhD or Master’s) in Chemistry, Biology, Materials Science, Biotechnology, Engineering, or other relevant areas.
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in open innovation, R&D partnerships, external collaborations, or strategic innovation within the beauty, consumer goods, life sciences or materials industries.
- Proven ability to build global innovation ecosystems, source external technologies, and integrate them into consumer-facing products.
- Deep understanding of prestige beauty markets—including skincare, makeup, and fragrance—as well as consumer insights, trend dynamics, and the regulatory landscape.
- Strong track record of leading cross-functional teams within complex, matrixed global organizations; brings sharp business acumen and strategic thinking.
- Exceptional negotiation, communication, and influencing skills; trusted by internal stakeholders and respected across external innovation networks.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with agility and comfort in navigating ambiguity; consistently drives change, speed, and measurable impact.
Responsibilities
- Define and lead the global open innovation strategy and roadmap aligned with ELC’s ambition to be the “best consumer-centric prestige beauty company.”
- Build, manage, and activate a global network of external partners including startups, universities, labs, suppliers, platforms, and venture assets.
- Partner with internal teams to integrate external innovations into pipelines, ensuring brand fit, consumer relevance, safety, and scalability.
- Lead the management of the Open Innovation Portal for ELC to identify technology gaps and innovation opportunities.
- Conduct global technology and competitive landscape assessments in collaboration with external scouts.
- Identify and recommend platform innovations that advance strategic priorities.
- Develop frameworks for Go/No Go decisions and communicate outcomes to potential partners.
- Lead cross-functional due diligence for partnerships and IP acquisitions.
- Conduct technical and financial analyses; negotiate terms for licensing and joint ventures.
- Structure collaboration models and transaction frameworks that are commercially viable and scientifically sound.
- Develop and manage Statements of Work (SOWs), NDAs, and Master Agreements in partnership with Legal and Advanced Technologies (AT).
- Lead pilot projects, proof-of-concepts, launches sourced externally; oversee timelines, budgets, deliverables, and risk mitigation.
- Create and institutionalize processes linking New Business Development, AT, and R&D for scouting and diligence.
- Collaborate with Legal, Procurement, Finance, and Global Communications to streamline innovation workflows.
- Strengthen internal procedures to protect IP, ensure value capture, and safeguard confidential information.
- Establish and monitor KPIs including revenue from external innovations, number of partnerships, external spend leverage, and consumer adoption.
- Represent ELC externally at innovation forums, industry consortia, and scientific conferences to position the company as a thought leader.
- Communicate competitive insights and emerging technology trends across the organization.
Benefits
- In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for participation in a highly competitive bonus program with the possibility for overachievement based on performance and company results.
- The Estée Lauder Companies offers a variety of benefits to eligible employees, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance), wellness and family support programs, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plans, paid leave programs, education-related programs, paid holidays and vacation time, and many others.
- Many of these benefits are subsidized or fully paid for by the company.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
