Chris McMillan Hair is a high-performance haircare brand rooted in artistry and built to make good hair accessible for all. Founded by Chris McMillan — with over four decades behind the chair — the brand carries a level of credibility and craft that shows up in everything we create. Chris is still a working stylist, taking clients every day, and that hands‑on perspective is at the heart of who we are. Our products are designed to work just as well at home as they do in the salon. Based on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, our team is tight‑knit, passionate, and genuinely loves what we’re building together. If you’re looking to build something from the ground up, this is the place.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
We’re looking for a VP of Marketing to lead our marketing function, bring our brand to life, and drive the strategy that translates who we are into every consumer touchpoint. This is a senior leadership role reporting to the President and CEO, and a critical hire as we scale.
You’ll set the marketing and brand strategy, build the team that executes it, and partner closely with the founders to translate brand vision into a clear, data‑driven plan — from product launches and retail moments to brand storytelling and consumer engagement.
This role is for someone who has built and scaled a prestige beauty or haircare brand before — and is energized by the chance to do it again, in a founder‑led environment, alongside one of the most respected names in hair.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Set and drive the brand and marketing strategy — bringing the brand to life and translating who we are into both newness and a strong, always‑on hero product strategy
- Partner with the President, CEO, and founders to translate brand vision and business priorities into a clear annual marketing plan and calendar
- Lead, develop, and grow the marketing team — across Brand Marketing, Product Marketing, Consumer Engagement (Social, Influencer, and Content), and Trade Marketing
- Drive the marketing P&L — budget allocation, vendor and agency relationships, and disciplined ROI measurement
- Develop and support the Sephora marketing playbook — optimizing trade and retail marketing to drive incremental coverage and measurable lift
- Build the marketing strategy for the pro/professional channel as it expands — with a clear point of view on how we win the stylist community
- Lead product marketing and storytelling — bring new products to market with positioning, messaging, and narratives that connect each launch to the bigger brand story
- Lead breakthrough campaigns that deliver integrated, culturally relevant brand storytelling — and drive launches that stick, with 360 strategies that spark trial, fuel conversation, and sustain demand
- Collaborate with the Creative team — own the marketing briefs and partner with them to bring breakthrough creative to life
- Own the content and social strategy — driving how we show up across our owned channels (Instagram, TikTok, email, web) and building a deeply engaged consumer community around the brand
- Drive influencer and partnerships strategy — setting direction, making the calls, and empowering the team below you to own execution
- Make PR a business driver — proactively shaping the narrative, building cultural relevance, and turning visibility into demand
- Drive awareness, consideration, and conversion across audiences through segmentation, targeting, and performance‑driven decisions, in close partnership with paid media partners
- Leverage consumer insights and data across all commercial and digital channels to inform the strategy and continuously refine the playbook
- Ensure consistency in messaging and storytelling across every marketing channel and touchpoint
- Inspire and mentor an A+ marketing team while personally driving execution when needed — balancing big‑picture leadership with hands‑on action
- Operate as a key executive partner to the CEO, President, and broader leadership team on brand positioning, long‑term strategy, and growth
YOU’LL THRIVE HERE IF
- Builder. You’re energized by white space and growth. You’d rather make something than manage it.
- Obsessed. You care how the work shows up — the writing, the visuals, the details. You catch what others miss and you raise the bar. Not because someone’s watching, but because you take pride in what you make.
- Collaborative. You like working with the people around you. You stay open across lanes — you don’t disappear into your own.
- Rulebreaker. You’d rather take the swing than play it safe. You don’t want to do what everyone else is doing.
- All‑in. You take real ownership and treat the business like it’s yours — no matter how big or small the task. When something falls between the cracks, you pick it up.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
- 10+ years in marketing, with at least 3–5 years at the Director or Senior Director level
- Direct experience in prestige beauty, haircare, or comparable DTC — ideally including a Sephora or Ulta retail relationship
- Track record scaling a brand through a meaningful growth stage
- Experience leading and developing a marketing team across Brand, Consumer Engagement, and Trade Marketing
- Strong commercial and P&L instincts — you can manage budget, negotiate hard, and prioritize where to invest
- Excellent creative judgment and the ability to give clear, decisive feedback
- Comfortable in a fast‑moving, founder‑led environment with a high bar
- Energized by building — not maintaining — a brand
WHY CHRIS McMILLAN
- Be part of the legacy. Chris has spent over four decades building one of the most respected names in hair — and now that artistry is becoming a brand. This isn’t a trend‑driven moment. It’s the product of real work, real credibility, and a founder who’s still in it every single day.
- Get in at the perfect time. We’re in a serious growth stage with strong momentum at Sephora and expanding into the pro channel. The foundation is set, the trajectory is steep, and there’s a lot of surface area to make your mark.
- Join a team you’ll love working with. We’re a tight‑knit group that has fun, supports each other, and is genuinely excited about what we’re building together. Every day brings something new, and you’ll make real impact alongside people you enjoy showing up with. Beautiful office on the Sunset Strip, competitive salary, health benefits and product perks.
Chris McMillan Hair is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. The expected base salary range for this role is $210,000–$250,000, depending on experience. This role is also eligible for an annual performance bonus. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors. This role is in‑office 3–4 days per week at our West Hollywood headquarters. Chris McMillan Hair will consider for employment qualified applicants who require reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions.
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