Beauty Communications Director / Senior Director

OVERVIEW

The Beauty Communications Director / Senior Director (dependant on experience) for Karla Otto London (minimum 10 -12 years’ experience) will craft and successfully deliver truly innovative and best-in-class client media & communication strategies, programs and initiatives that support our clients’ overall business objectives. Additionally, as a senior lead for Karla Otto London and the Global Beauty & Wellness Division, they will proactively contribute to winning new business for this vertical in the UK market.

The successful candidate will be passionate about / possess strong knowledge of current global trends not just in beauty (skincare, make-up, fragrance, haircare, wellness and beauty tech), PR and influencer marketing, but will also have a keen interest in the wider cultural and luxury landscape. 

Extremely well connected, they will have strong senior level relationships with beauty & wellness media across consumer, trade, print, and digital, (they’ll be on speed dial), plus influencers, industry experts (make-up artists, hair stylists, aestheticians), and brands.

Experience and confidence in liaising and building trust with brand founders and executives / senior management (both internally and externally) are also critical success factors in this role.

A true team player and committed mentor, this individual will be collaborative and never short of creative and innovative PR and communications ideas. Exceptional copywriting and subediting skills are paramount, as are excellent organisational and diplomacy skills, and meticulous attention to detail.

RESPONSIBILITIES, TASKS, SKILLS

Key areas of responsibility included, but not limited to:

Internal Focus

• Working closely with the Vice President, Strategy, Global Beauty to further develop the Beauty & Wellness department at Karla Otto London – a focus on new business acquisition, with a large emphasis on collaborating with senior stakeholders to develop pitch decks and crafting communications scopes of work etc. Managing and mentoring a high performing London Beauty Communications Team Supporting the Vice President, Strategy, Global Beauty in continually enhancing the external profile and reputation of the Beauty & Wellness division at Karla Otto London

Client Focus

• Support team to ideate and develop truly innovative communications strategies that execute a brand’s vision Work closely with clients to develop compelling PR programs that drive brand awareness and purchase behaviour. Maintain ongoing, senior-level contact with key beauty directors, editor in chiefs and editors at major long and short-lead publications, and websites.
• Remain ahead of all news at the intersection of beauty and wellness, digital and culture in order to advise clients on new opportunities and emerging PR strategies, as well as competitors and opportunities relevant to the beauty & wellness space
• Impressively lead pitches, answering client RFPs and winning exciting new business for the agency Proactive new business outreach Brilliant articulation of concepts in written and verbal form—delivering error-free copy with creative flair within tight deadlines Support the team in developing pitch calendars that both align with their editorial focus and support client brand strategy Pitch and secure high level, in-depth feature placements and story ideas to senior editors Support the team in editing PR materials and secure client sign-off as appropriate.
• Support the team on gathering data insights from campaigns and reporting on effectiveness
• Strong attention to detail and numerical proficiency i.e. overseeing administrative tasks, including invoicing, collaborating with the Karla Otto finance and legal teams Familiarisation with the use of Fashion GPS software for all its application areas (database, mailings, events, sending products and samples). Develop creative and strategic paid advertorial concepts and lead on brokering these deals on behalf of your clients

KEY ATTRIBUTES

• At least 10-12 years’ experience working in beauty editorial and/ or beauty PR communications Past agency or freelance experience essential Undergraduate degree (or above) in communications, arts or media Strong relationships with senior UK beauty & wellness media across print, and digital, plus industry experts (make-up artists, hair stylists, aestheticians), influencers and brands Excellent knowledge of the beauty & wellness industry as a whole – key ingredients, the science, micro trends, history, culture, NPD etc Luxury sensibility Excellent copywriting, subediting and communication skills A strategic, creative and innovative thinker with an open attitude and innate sense of curiosity High level execution skills and meticulous attention to detail, both aesthetically and organisationally Experience and passion in managing and mentoring a team Confident to secure impactful, high level editorial placements Deep understanding of the beauty & wellness landscape across both traditional media and social media (namely Instagram and Tiktok) Visionary and opportunistic approach to new business development A positive, can-do attitude who can work under pressure and likes to solve problems - a real team player who will excel in a dynamic and fast-paced environment Confident to present pitches and strategies to founders or at senior board level Ability to juggle multiple projects and work to stringent deadlines Excellent diplomacy and negotiation skills Fluent in English (mother-tongue) Proficiency in Keynote, PowerPoint, Word and Excel (FashionGPS and Lefty an advantage also) Must be eligible to work in the UK