Beauty Counter Manager - Estee Lauder, Ridgedale - Full Time

About the role

As a Counter Manager, you will lead a dynamic team of Beauty Advisors while managing all aspects of a specific cosmetics brand. Your role blends leadership, creativity, and customer engagement—delivering genuine hospitality through personalized consultations, expert product application, and a deep understanding of each customer's beauty and style preferences. You'll inspire teamwork to drive sales and elevate the customer experience by creating meaningful, long-lasting connections. With a strong focus on client development, you will cultivate a loyal customer base through outreach, follow-up, and consistent, personalized service. In addition to meeting and exceeding sales goals, you'll analyze business performance, execute vendor events and promotions, and partner with vendors and store leadership to grow the business. You'll also oversee stock presentation, hygiene standards, and team performance to ensure an exceptional and polished brand experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional customer service through personalized consultations and expert product knowledge
• Build lasting relationships with clients and drive client development through outreach and follow-up
• Review and analyze business performance of daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, and annual sales results and implement strategies to grow business and improve results
• Plan and execute in-store and vendor-led events to drive traffic and engagement
• Maintain brand standards through proper merchandising, hygiene, and stock replenishment
• Responsible for acquiring new customers by opening credit accounts and sharing loyalty benefits
• Collaborate with vendors, personal stylists, and store leadership to optimize outcomes
• Resolve customer concerns in a professional and customer-first manner
• Stay informed on new launches, best-sellers, and beauty trends to support team education
• Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail
• Demonstrate flexibility, sound judgment, and a passion for the beauty industry
• Set the tone by reviewing daily sales goals, staying informed on new launches, top-performing products, and current beauty trends to lead with confidence, support the team, and deliver exceptional service
• Lead through action on the floor—welcoming customers with genuine hospitality, making eye contact, and starting friendly, personal conversations that build lasting relationships
• Help maintain a shoppable space by ensuring testers are clean and well-stocked, signage and pricing are current, and displays reflect brand standards
• Lead by example in merchandising updates and keeping the space visually appealing and welcoming throughout the day
• Coach the team to share Loyalty benefits, ensure customers leave with everything they need, and end each interaction with a sincere thank-you, often using the customer's name and adding a personal touch
• Model collaboration, honesty, and care—supporting peers so the whole team can better serve customers and communities
• Strive to improve every day, take pride in the work, achieve sales goals, and learn from each other to deliver individual and store results

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of relevant retail, beauty, or leadership experience preferred
• Flexible availability, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays with regular, dependable attendance and punctuality
• Must be able to understand and communicate effectively with customers, co-workers, and supervisors
• Must be able to read and understand employment policies and safety rules/procedures in English

Physical Requirements

• This position requires talking, lifting, constant moving, standing, and reaching with arms and hands
• Standing for at least two consecutive hours, lifting at least 25 lbs., stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing ladders, reaching, including above eye level
• Requires close vision, color vision, depth perception, and focus adjustment
• Frequent use of computers and other technology, necessary to perform job functions, including handheld equipment, cash register and ability to process register transactions

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and wellness coverage
• 401(k) match
• Paid time off and eight paid holidays
• Continuous learning and leadership development
• Access to Colleague Resource Groups and volunteer opportunities
• Merchandise discounts
• Performance-based incentives
• Annual merit review
• Employee Assistance Program with mental health counseling and legal/financial advice
• Medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance options

Compensation

This position may be eligible for performance-based incentives/bonuses and is eligible for sales commission.

Schedule

Full-time colleagues are typically scheduled to work 30 or more hours per week, while part-time colleagues are typically scheduled 12–24 hours per week. Hours are dependent on business needs and colleague availability.