Head of Category Management

At SEPHORA UK, beauty isn’t just what we sell - it’s who we are. It’s the freedom to express yourself, the thrill of discovering something new, and the power of belonging to a community that celebrates every identity. From our beginnings in France in 1969 to becoming part of the LVMH family, we’ve always pushed boundaries through creativity, innovation, and inclusivity.

Today, with nearly 500 iconic brands and our own SEPHORA Collection, we’re redefining the future of prestige beauty as we continue our bold expansion across the UK. If you’re ready to bring passion, energy, and a love for immersive retail experiences to one of the world’s most dynamic beauty markets, this is your moment to shape what comes next.

The Opportunity

In this high‑impact role, you’ll drive the strategic ambition for our Skin & Hair categories, leading a talented team to deliver winning category strategies, exceptional brand partnerships and a best‑in‑class product offering across both online and in stores.

You’ll be responsible for delivering the long‑term vision while staying close to the details that drive daily performance from assortment strategy and floor planning to commercial terms, trend analysis and promotional cadence. You’ll partner closely with Sephora Global and EU teams to bring forward an assortment that delights customers, fuels growth and positions SEPHORA UK at the forefront of beauty innovation.

If you’re excited by the intersection of strategy, creativity, operational excellence and brand collaboration, you’ll thrive here.

What you’ll be doing…

• Lead the team to build ambitious, insight‑driven category strategies for Skin & Hair, identifying key growth opportunities and long‑term priorities.
• Translate market data into clear, actionable plans that strengthen SEPHORA UK’s competitive position.
• Partner cross‑functionally to deliver 360° activation strategies and ensure cohesive storytelling across online and in‑store experiences.
• Define and oversee zoning and floor‑map principles, driving productivity, consistency and strong brand communication.
• Build and nurture senior‑level relationships with brand partners, acting as a trusted strategic collaborator.
• Negotiate commercial terms and drive continuous improvement across local contracts in partnership with EU teams.
• Lead compelling new‑brand pitches and deliver best‑in‑class brand launches aligned with customer and trend insights.
• Manage overall brand performance with clarity - driving growth, addressing under‑performance and rationalising the long‑tail assortment.
• Foster a high‑performing, collaborative team culture that champions innovation, ownership and continuous improvement.
• Streamline processes, remove barriers to execution and drive operational excellence across all category activities.
• Ensure strong alignment and communication with Global, EU and UK leadership teams to bring category strategy to life.
• Enable seamless execution of launches, activations and commercial plans through effective communication with all cross‑functional partners.

What you’ll bring…

With extensive experience in category leadership, you bring a strategic, data‑driven mindset and the ability to balance big‑picture vision with operational precision. You’re an inspiring people leader who thrives in fast‑paced environments, builds strong cross‑functional relationships, and communicates with clarity and impact. Curious, collaborative, and commercially sharp, you know how to turn trends into opportunity, partner effectively with brands, and create simple, scalable ways of working that elevate team performance and business results. You will also be able to demonstrate:

• Proven ability to build and execute insight‑driven category strategies.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience analysing market data and identifying growth opportunities.
• Expertise in leading cross‑functional 360° brand and category activations across online and in‑store.
• Experience developing floor‑map/zoning principles and managing productivity.
• Senior‑level brand partnership management, including negotiating commercial terms.
• Strong capability in launching new brands and managing the full lifecycle of brand performance.
• Ability to streamline processes, remove barriers and drive operational excellence.
• Experience aligning with global, regional and local leadership teams on category vision and execution.
• Confidence presenting category strategies, business reviews and commercial recommendations.

Beautiful Benefits at SEPHORA UK

When you join SEPHORA, you’re joining a team that we truly value - and our benefits reflect that. Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Private healthcare (including dental & optical), pension scheme and life insurance providing comprehensive cover to support your wellbeing.
• A generous employee discount across the world’s best beauty brands.
• Competitive pay that grows with you - including annual salary reviews based on your performance and our company results.
• Generous holiday allowance, plus the option to buy extra days.
• A paid day off on your birthday - because you deserve to celebrate!
• Access to a perks and wellbeing platform offering discounts and wellness support.
• And more!

Start a beautiful career with us. Together, we belong to something beautiful.

SEPHORA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace for all. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, advancement, or other employment practices. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating and fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.