Associate Design Director, ELC Global Communications

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products, and is a steward of luxury and prestige brands globally. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD, Smashbox, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD, and BALMAIN Beauty.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Associate Design Director, Global Communications serves as a key creative partner, helping to evolve and execute the visual expression of Global Communications across a wide range of internal and external channels.

This role combines hands-on creative execution with strategic influence, bringing fresh thinking, innovative design approaches, and a forward-looking perspective to the team. The Associate Design Director will play a key role in evolving the visual identity of Global Communications, helping redefine design standards, refresh brand guidelines, and create scalable creative systems that enhance the impact and effectiveness of communications globally.

The ideal candidate is a proactive self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and thinks beyond individual projects. They anticipate needs, embrace emerging technologies, and continuously seek opportunities to elevate creative quality and effectiveness.

As a partner to the Executive Director and cross-functional stakeholders, this individual balances exceptional creative execution with strategic thinking, strong project management, and a commitment to continuous innovation.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Creative & Design Excellence

• Concepting, design, and execution of creative initiatives across websites, presentations, digital communications, social media, video, events, and print.
• Bring fresh creative thinking and strong visual storytelling that elevates the quality, impact, and effectiveness of Global Communications.
• Ensure all creative work reflects a high standard of design excellence, attention to detail, and alignment with brand objectives.
• Translate complex business and communications objectives into engaging and effective creative solutions.
• Contribute to a culture of creativity, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Lead through influence, initiative, and expertise, serving as a role model for creative excellence and professional ownership.

Brand Evolution & Design Systems

• Partner with the Executive Director to evolve and modernize the visual identity of Global Communications.
• Refresh and maintain brand guidelines, templates, and creative standards to ensure a contemporary, consistent, and scalable visual experience.
• Develop reusable creative assets and systems that improve efficiency while maintaining a high standard of design excellence.

Project Management

• Independently manage multiple projects from concept through execution, establishing timelines, managing priorities, and ensuring successful delivery.
• Maintain visibility into upcoming initiatives and proactively plan for future creative needs.
• Effectively manage stakeholders, communicate project status, and identify risks or dependencies early.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve creative workflows, project execution, and team efficiency, developing practical solutions that enhance effectiveness and scalability.

Innovation & AI

• Explore, evaluate, and implement emerging technologies, AI tools, and creative workflows that improve efficiency and creative output.
• Continuously assess creative output and recommend opportunities for optimization and improvement.
• Partnership & Collaboration
• Partner with communications teams, regional teams, agencies, and external vendors to deliver high-quality creative solutions.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and creative feedback to junior designers and creative contributors.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 7+ years of experience in graphic design, visual communications, art direction, or a related field.
• Expertise with Adobe CS, Figma, Canva, After Effects, and video editing software.
• Proficiency with Adobe Firefly, Figma Weave, ChatGPT and other gen AI tools.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional design craftsmanship and innovative creative solutions.
• Agency and/or in-house brand experience required.
• Deep understanding of luxury branding, visual storytelling, and premium design aesthetics.
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute projects from concept through completion with minimal oversight.
• Proven track record of proactively identifying opportunities to improve creative quality, workflows, and team effectiveness.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience developing and evolving brand guidelines, templates, visual systems, and scalable creative assets.
• Experience leveraging AI tools and emerging technologies within creative workflows.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across creative, business, and technical disciplines.
• Ability to think strategically while remaining hands-on and execution-focused.
• Bachelor's degree in Design, Visual Communications, or a related discipline.

SUCCESS PROFILE:

The ideal candidate

• Thinks beyond the assignment and sees the bigger picture.
• Takes initiative without waiting for direction.
• Brings solutions, not just completed deliverables.
• Balances creative excellence with business objectives.
• Anticipates needs and proactively addresses challenges.
• Continuously seeks opportunities to improve both the work and the way work gets done.
• Brings fresh ideas and pushes creative thinking forward.
• Embraces new technologies and actively drives innovation.
• Operates with a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and partnership.

Pay Range:

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $87,550.00 to $143,800.00 . Exact salary depends on several factors such as experience, skills, education, and budget. Salary range may vary based on geographic location. 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.

In addition, 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is Company's policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. The Company will endeavor to provide a reasonable accommodation consistent with the law to otherwise qualified employees and prospective employees with a disability and to employees and prospective employees with needs related to their religious observance or practices. Should you wish to apply for this position or any other position with the Company and you believe you require assistance to complete an application or participate in an interview, please contact View email address on aiapply.co.

Michigan Applicants: Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for employment must notify the company in writing of the need for an accommodation within 182 days after the date the person with a disability knew or reasonably should have known that an accommodation was needed.

Philadelphia Applicants: Philadelphia's Fair Chance Hiring Law

Rhode Island Applicants: The company is subject to chapters 29-38 of title 28 of the general laws of Rhode Island and is therefore covered by the state's workers' compensation law.