Senior Manager, Wella EHN & GTS North America

Position Title: Sr. Manager, Wella THN & GTS North America

Location: NY, NY U.S.A

Reports to:  Vice President R&D

Direct Reports: Floor leader GTS NY, THN Manager UK (Dotted) and all GTS hair stylists

Scope / Brands:  All Global and Regional Brands with a focus on NA

ABOUT THE WELLA COMPANY 

Together, WE enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves. 

Wella Company is one of the world’s leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nixon and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders. 

For additional information about the Wella Company, please visit www.wellacompany.com.  

THE ROLE 

The Role

This position aims to enhance the integration of our product development with the North American market. Additionally, it seeks to expand these insights across both Retail and Professional innovation and market analysis, thereby enabling more effective project briefs for R&D and the implementation of innovations in North America and Globally. Furthermore, the role includes playing a pivotal leadership role for the NY GTS, guiding and inspiring the team to achieve excellence and drive forward our strategic initiatives. This leadership aspect is crucial for fostering a collaborative environment and ensuring that our goals are met with the highest standards of quality and innovation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

GTS

• Team Leadership: Lead and manage a team of six direct reports, focusing on efficiency, capability growth, and skill development. Foster a collaborative and supportive team environment, encouraging open communication and teamwork. Together with HR ensure the floor leader is supported to fulfill their role in GTS. This includes staffing, temporary surge solutions, and providing performance reviews and talent retention are executed with excellence, driving an 80% engagement score. Demonstrate strong emotional intelligence (EQ) to manage team dynamics and resolve conflicts effectively.

GTS

• Strategic Collaboration: Work closely with R&D formulation, product development, and packaging teams to understand project goals and design product testing plans to establish FFU success criteria and qualify product performance. Collaborate with the Product Development Director to ensure salon testing results meet claims substantiation requirements.

GTS & THN

• Operational Oversight: Supervise the NY Global Test Salon to ensure completion of timely and accurate testing according to design. Conduct validation and training to align hair stylists and provide actionable feedback to R&D regarding product formulation changes. Manage the EHN Panel in North America, recruiting and maintaining a panel of external salons based on projects and learning needs to support Wella Research, including managing NDAs.

THN

• Insight Generation: Lead and execute research with hairdressers, including scheduling, moderating online and offline interviews and workshops, managing the Online panel research tool [BEX], analyzing data, and sharing recommendations with teams and management. Continuously research and monitor the local market, analyze and share market trends with the Global R&D team, and contribute to the EHN Newsletter with competitive developments in North America.

THN

• Communication and Networking: Convey how project teams can develop innovation in North America and effectively communicate research insights. Network and liaise with the NA Education and Go to Market teams to ensure robust input from the region on project briefs and buy-in to learning and qualification plans between CMI, R&D, and MKT.

THN

• Subject Matter Expertise: Act as the internal expert in specific areas of expertise, taking on additional responsibilities related to Salon/Stylists needs and product performance insights for both Professional and Retail

Qualifications:

Educational Background: Possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in science, focusing on Sensory Science and/or Cosmetic Chemistry. Demonstrated experience in sensory testing and management is essential.

Salon Experience: Demonstrated experience collaborating with external salons within a product development context. For example, I partnered with top salons to test and refine a new hair color formula, ensuring it met professional and client expectations.

Talent Development: A passion for nurturing talent, with experience training and mentoring stylists within and outside the organization. For instance, I developed and led a training program for junior stylists, enhancing their skills and boosting their confidence.

Problem-solving Skills: A relentless determination to identify and address challenges, consistently delivering innovative solutions while overcoming obstacles. For instance, a new method was devised to reduce product testing time, significantly increasing salon efficiency.

Proactive Approach: I actively seek opportunities for skill enhancement and constantly explore novel ways to fulfill responsibilities to enhance the salon's capabilities. For example, I attend industry conferences and workshops to stay updated on the latest trends and techniques.

Communication Skills: Exceptional communication skills are essential for cultivating and maintaining strong client relationships and ensuring satisfaction and loyalty. For instance, effectively communicating with clients to understand their needs and preferences results in a high rate of repeat business.

Commitment to Excellence: Take immense pride in the meticulous execution of responsibilities and derive genuine enjoyment from working collaboratively within the salon team to produce exceptional products and results. For example, I consistently received positive feedback from clients and colleagues for attention to detail and teamwork.

Computer Proficiency: Fundamental computer skills and adeptness in navigating proprietary databases to accurately input data and results, contributing to the organization's information management. For instance, I efficiently managed client records and product inventories using the salon's database system.

Innovative Mindset: Follow established test procedures and propose inventive improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. For example, a new testing protocol was suggested and implemented, reducing the time required for product evaluations by 30%.

Multitasking Capability: I can multitask efficiently, effortlessly adapting to additional responsibilities as necessitated by evolving business needs.

High Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Possess a very high level of emotional intelligence, enabling the individual to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as empathize with and effectively respond to the feelings of others. This quality is crucial for building strong relationships, fostering a positive work environment, and ensuring successful collaboration within the team. For instance, effectively resolved conflicts among team members, promoting a harmonious and productive work environment.

We disclose the compensation range for positions in compliance with local law. Actual salaries will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to location, experience, skills and in comparison to internal incumbents currently in similar roles. Pay Range: $116,250 - $155,000 salary per year. The range listed is just one component of Wella Company's total rewards package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonus plan or variable pay, depending on the role. In addition, Wella Company provides a rich variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance, life and disability insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, paid holidays and paid time off (PTO).

NOTICES 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, please email NA.Recruiting@wella.com. This email account will not respond to inquiries regarding the status of a candidate’s application.

[For CA located postings ONLY]: Qualified Applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Information regarding your rights: Know Your Rights and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.