Overview
Discover greater levels of performance. With over 1,400 stores throughout the U.S. and an innovative omni-channel ecosystem, Ulta Beauty is revolutionizing the beauty retail experience. Ulta Beauty is expanding its digital capabilities, opening new stores on a continual basis and re-designing existing locations with the latest design and technological advancements for heightened guest experiences. We’re not just growing, we’re thriving through consistent innovation and a bold commitment to re-imagination. If you want the opportunity to build something strategic, to take ownership of your career trajectory, to apply your passion to operational excellence, Ulta Beauty provides the kind of stability and support few organizations can match. So be curious. Be flexible. Be more than you thought possible. The future is yours at Ulta Beauty.
The VP, International Merchandising will lead the international merchandising vision, strategy, and global brand relationships across categories and global markets as Ulta Beauty scales its international footprint. This executive will drive the vision behind market-specific merchandising and assortment strategies, ensure disciplined commercial performance (sales, margin, inventory productivity), and build foundational capabilities and “ways of working” within merchandising teams globally that enable repeatable, scalable execution across partnership models.
This leader will partner very closely with the VP, International Strategy & New Growth to translate the enterprise international ambition into market-by-market merchandising strategies that balance global consistency with local relevance. Together, they will ensure that the international go-to-market playbook and partner operating model are operationalized through brand partnerships, relevant assortment, omnichannel and services experiences, and performance management—delivering on commitments and strengthening the Ulta Beauty brand equity in every market.
A strategic, innovative merchant and inspiring people leader, the VP, International Merchandising will work across Merchandising, MP&I, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Digital, Stores/Field, and partner teams to deliver results and build enduring capabilities.
Core Job Responsibilities
International Merchandising Strategy & Market Development
- Develop and own global international merchandising strategies (across markets and categories) that drive profitable sales growth, increase market share, and strengthen differentiation across store and e-commerce channels.
- Partner closely with the VP, Head of International to translate the enterprise international strategy and performance ambitions into market-level merchandising goals, launch roadmaps, and annual business targets.
- Build a deep understanding of local customers, occasions, and purchase behaviors; integrate those insights into requirements for assortment architecture, pricing/value positioning, and activation decisions.
- Bring high-quality ideas that disrupt the beauty landscape through innovation, trend identification, and new brand/category whitespace opportunities.
Compelling, Localized Assortment & Brand Portfolio Leadership
- Determine and drive new brands/products/assortments that complement local assortment, improve local market productivity, and support differentiation, in partnership with global category merchandising leaders and the Chief Merchant.
- Lead strategies for priority brand portfolios and programs (including Ignite and Only at Ulta) for international markets—defining where standardization is required and where localization is critical.
- Build financially sound assortment plans grounded in customer insight, brand positioning, and market dynamics, while optimizing assortments across stores and digital.
- Drive meaningful exclusives, launches, events, education, and programs that grow share and improve profitability.
Financial Oversight & Performance Management
- Own financial outcomes for international merchandising scope, including sales, margin, shrink, turns, inventory, markdown effectiveness, and vendor profitability.
- Set sales and profit objectives and success KPIs in partnership with MP&I and Finance; ensure targets and market performance delivery versus commitments.
- Prepare and communicate performance readouts, insights, and recommendations through quarterly and annual business reviews with partners and senior leadership.
- Analyze sales, feedback, and historical performance to inform product decisions; elevate market learnings and implications back to enterprise merchandising leadership.
Franchise & JV Partner Enablement
- Serve as a key conduit between HQ merchandising and franchise/JV partner teams—immersing partners in the global merchandising vision, category strategies, standards, and executional priorities.
- Lead merchandising partner onboarding and launch readiness process, ensuring clarity on roles, brand standards, best practices as well as brand partner management and commercial expectations across channels.
- partner merchandising operating rhythms (KPI reviews, assortment governance, launch calendars, escalation paths), enabling timely decision-making and issue resolution.
- Champion partnership excellence—balancing advocacy for partner success with accountability to enterprise standards.
Global Merchandising Center of Excellence & “Ways of Working”
- Build and scale a global merchandising COE for international markets—processes, governance, checks and balances, playbooks, and performance cadences that enable repeatable execution.
- Collaborate with international leadership and enterprise functions to maintain and evolve the international go-to-market playbook as it relates to merchandising (brand partnerships, assortment approach, omnichannel experience, operational standards).
- Ensure priorities are integrated across HQ and local markets, enabling knowledge transfer, capability building, and best-practice sharing.
Brand Partnerships, New Brand Identification & Negotiation
- Support pitching and negotiation efforts for new brands in existing and new global markets; influence outcomes that improve profitability and long-term partnership value.
- Manage a portfolio of brand relationships as needed, acting as a critical influencer in negotiations and ensuring timely decisions and proactive communication.
- Partner cross-functionally to ensure brand readiness (data, supply, compliance, marketing support) to deliver successful launches and sustained performance.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Market Activation
- Establish strong partnerships across markets as well as cross-functionally at Ulta Beauty with MP&I, Merchandise Operations, Marketing, Digital, Stores/Field, Supply Chain, and Finance to bring strategies to life end-to-end.
- Collaborate with global marketing and market partners to build a relevant MAM calendar that supports market-specific objectives, launch cadence, and growth priorities.
- Model influence-over-authority leadership and systems thinking to remove barriers and accelerate execution across stakeholders.
Leadership & Culture
- Lead, inspire, and mentor a high-performing team of merchants; create development paths, succession plans, and clear accountability to outcomes.
- Foster an inclusive, values-led culture that empowers teams, reinforces ethical standards, and drives high performance and collaboration across geographies.
Executive Communication
- Communicate clearly and credibly across audiences; synthesize complex performance drivers into actionable insights, trade-offs, and recommendations.
- 15+ years of retail merchandising experience with progressive leadership scope; international experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing a growth-oriented business, developing category/brand strategies to drive sales and profit while operating with strong financial discipline.
- Proven ability to build scalable operating models and capabilities (COEs, playbooks, governance, performance rhythms), including experience supporting new ventures/market expansion through stabilization.
- Strong partnership capability across brand partners and retail partners -- franchise, licensing, JV, or third-party operating models; ability to influence outcomes without direct authority.
- Skilled negotiator with strong communication, relationship-building, and decision-making ability.
- High emotional intelligence and ability to style-flex approach based on brand, market, and business needs.
- Proven people leader with a track record of developing talent and building inclusive, high-performing teams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong executive presence.
- Travel required.
The pay range for this position is $285,000.00 - $300,000.00 / Year with the opportunity for eligible associates to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company’s bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, level, shift, geographic location, and business and organizational needs. Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits. Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits. For additional information concerning our benefits, visit our Benefits and Career Development page: https://learn.bswift.com/ulta
About
At
Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA),
the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.
