Position Purpose

We are looking for an experienced strategist to support the shaping and delivery of our Regional organization’s long-term strategy, improvement initiatives and growth enabling projects.

The purpose of the Strategy Manager role is to develop and oversee regional priorities in alignment with Aesop’s global strategic vision. Through cross-functional collaboration, they will influence regional stakeholders to achieve strategic goals. This role will also generate analyses and insights to further drive growth expansion initiatives within the region.

Key activities include supporting business wide projects, driving key strategic planning processes and helping to provide analytics and assessment across of number of key cross-functional initiatives. Responsibilities include driving key market economic, industry-specific and business analysis to deliver recommendations and insights which can be utilised to help drive growth and operational efficiencies across the region.

Importantly, this role will support specific strategic growth and innovation explorations to support Aesop’s continued customer driven evolution, our sustainability journey and Net Zero ambition, and enable scaling of our signature customer experiences across new channels and geographies. This role also works in cross-functional partnerships to provide consulting style support to our internal functions.

This role reports into the General Manager and will work alongside Regional Cross-Functional Teams such as Marketing, Finance, Human Resource, Training, Retail, Digital, Wholesale, as well as Global functions such as Global Strategy & Growth and Global Retail.

Position Responsibilities

Regional Strategic Planning

• Assist the GM with the development, communication, and execution of Aesop regional strategy and initiatives
• Adapt Global Strategic initiatives to suit the Regional Strategy; Assess regional opportunities and needs to support Global strategy
• Understand and monitor micro and macroeconomic environments, the competitive landscape and key competitor and retail trends and ensure these are reflected in strategic plans
• Creation and management of a Regional Calendar to capture key events, key projects, and initiatives across the Americas market; support GM in prioritization of such projects and initiatives, working with key stakeholders in region and Global.
• Provide analytical support to Regional Head Office functions and country teams during strategic planning, strategic delivery and other business critical projects
• Assess and challenge established thinking to propose improvements to existing ways of working
• Development of Business Cases and strategies with appropriate research and insight
• Influence senior stakeholders to develop and deliver business priorities

Project & Programme Management

• Effective Project & Programme Management to achieve strategic vision.
• Support implementation of Global/Regional strategic initiatives in the Americas: Establish a framework for teams to deliver key projects, including the establishment of a Project Board and Project Team; Provide robust data analysis, tracking support and strategic insights, as well as “post mortem” analysis and adjustments if needed.
• Collaborate with regional stakeholders to ensure that the Regional Strategy is being adhered to.

Regional Meeting and Communication Structure

• Establish and manage a Regional Meeting & Communication structure to foster transparency and collaboration across all levels of the business.
• Support GM in preparation and delivery of all strategic and commercial meetings, offsites etc.

Growth Expansion

• Support the GM and Regional team in all projects relating to New Market Entry and Portfolio Expansion
• Identify growth opportunities in existing and new markets and channels
• Research and analyse industry trends to further drive the Regional Strategy
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to create a framework and platform for driving and measuring Like-for-Like growth within D2C channels

Reporting & Analysis

• Analyse performance vs forecast and identify any variances, causes for variance and recommend actions to remedy variances working in partnership with RGM, Head of Finance and Head of Commercial.
• Understand and drive best practice in retail KPI measurement and reporting in the company, ensuring alignment with the company’s vision and business model
• Create analyses to share Regional-specific insights in preparation of the Global and Regional Trade Meetings
• Support with routine reporting including the Regional Monthly Management Report, Quarterly Business Reviews, etc
• Create ad-hoc analyses as needed, including but not limited to Business Plans, New Market Strategic Plans, etc

Social & Sustainability, DE&I

• Helps to drive Aesop Social, Sustainability and DE&I strategy and implementation of new programmes supporting global and regional priorities

Position Requirements

• You possess a strong strategic thinking toolkit, strong financial skills
• You enjoy driving high quality analysis, presentations and projects
• You enjoy learning and exploring new ways of working and solutions that are pragmatic and balanced
• Relevant tertiary education and experience
• Top-tier Management Consulting background preferred (2/3+ years), or relevant experience in strategic, business or financial planning, relevant industry experience
• Highly advanced Excel and Powerpoint (slidewriting) skills
• Experience working in a global organisation advantageous
• Experience of working with various levels of stakeholders
• Experience in managing analysts or leading teams
• The ability to communicate clearly and adapt to different audiences.
• An advocate for change who leads and encourages process improvement, corporate development and helps others to adapt to new approaches
• Process and detail-oriented mindset, and demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally
• Ability to comfortably work flexibly and autonomously due to differing time zones and and ways of working in today's online heavy environment.

Aesop is committed to attracting, developing and retaining the very best people by offering a creative and inclusive workplace where talent is truly recognised and rewarded. We are committed to promoting inclusion for all with the belief that diversity, inclusion and belonging plays an important role in the success of our organisation. We actively encourage everyone to consider becoming a part of our journey.

The annual base salary range for this position $120,000 – $135,000, plus company benefits, bonus and annual merit review eligibility. Actual salaries will be based off years of experience, skills, competencies qualifications.

• Competitive medical, dental and vision insurance with fully company paid options

• Hybrid working arrangements

• 401k savings with company match

• Generous employee discount

• Up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave

• Starting with 20 days of vacation and personal leave with annual tenure increases

• Paid volunteer leave

• 6 free coaching and 6 free therapy sessions for employees and up to three family members per year

• Subscription to meditation programming through Headspace