Brand Activation Manager – Emerging Makeup Brands (Spain & Portugal)

Location: Madrid or Lisbon
Language requirements: Fluent English; Spanish or Portuguese strongly preferred

The Company

Prestigious international player in beauty retail, with a strong presence both online and across more than 1,800 stores in Europe. With an annual turnover of €4.1 billion and a team of around 18,000 employees, the company stands out for its wide product range, combining exclusive and premium brands with its own private label.

The Role

As Brand Activation Manager, you will play a key role in helping the company discover and secure the next generation of makeup brands in Spain and Portugal. Your main mission is to spot emerging makeup brands, along with skincare, before anyone else does.

You will also act as corporate activation manager for the company's private label in the two markets. The private label is a brand-new venture and a secondary part of the role, in which you will work closely with the team in the HQ as the key interface between the local markets and headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the scouting and early engagement of new makeup brands, with a strong focus on innovation and on-trend products, complemented by skincare.
• Work with content creators and influencers under contract with Douglas: when they flag promising makeup brands, you take the lead in approaching them.
• Manage the early relationship with new makeup brands, evaluating their fit and potential and preparing them before they reach the Purchasing team.
• Hand over qualified brands to Purchasing, who then handle commercial negotiations and buying. Your role bridges the gap, as Purchasing focuses on routine business and cannot closely follow new product development.
• Monitor social media trends, emerging makeup products and market innovations to anticipate what consumers will want next.
• Build and maintain a strong network within the beauty ecosystem, including creators, makeup brands and industry contacts.
• Support the activation of the the company's private label in Spain and Portugal.
• Financial and volume planning, as well as order management, remain with the Purchasing team.

Your Profile

• Genuine passion for beauty, with deep knowledge of makeup brands and products, as well as skincare.
• Strong understanding of social media platforms and creator-driven trends, with a good sense of which makeup brands and products will become the next big thing.
• Solid knowledge of the Spanish and/or Portuguese beauty market and its competitive landscape.
• Proactive, curious and entrepreneurial, with a first to market mindset.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, comfortable working with creators, brands and international stakeholders.
• Fluent English.
• Previous experience in beauty industry.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to shape the brand portfolio by bringing the most exciting new makeup names to the market first.
• A highly visible role at the intersection of marketing, social media and brand innovation.
• An international environment with direct collaboration with headquarters.
• A location in either Madrid or Lisbon.
• Compensation:  €50,000–60,000 gross per year.