A bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field is required.
At least 12 years of progressive experience in brand marketing, communications, or social media leadership, including agency and client-side experience.
At least 5 years of experience managing Director-level or senior leaders, with a proven record of developing people managers.
Experience leading or partnering with international or global teams, including managing across time zones and cultural contexts.
Experience partnering directly with C-suite or executive leadership on brand strategy.
Exceptional judgment on brand voice, tone, and messaging across varied audiences, channels, and markets.
Proven ability to unify communications, social, and public relations into one cohesive team and global brand narrative across wholesale and retail.
Strong organizational design skills, including making and defending structural and reporting decisions across international lines.
Cultural fluency and sensitivity when leading a global team, including awareness of market-specific nuances.
Ability to move between big-picture brand vision and campaign-level performance data using strategic and analytical judgment.
High emotional intelligence and skill in coaching senior leaders remotely and in person.
Polished executive presence and ability to represent the brand and function at the leadership table.
High ethical standards and extreme discretion when handling confidential and reputation-sensitive information.
Flexibility to complete responsibilities outside standard work hours when needed.
Responsibilities
Own and evolve the company's global brand voice, tone, and communication guidelines across corporate, wholesale, and retail business-to-business and business-to-consumer channels, ensuring worldwide consistency with market-specific nuance.
Lead the global communications and public relations strategy, including wholesale initiatives, key selling events, and the True Society collective, and translate business objectives into an integrated brand marketing roadmap spanning public relations, internal communications, and social.
Provide executive oversight of public and media outreach and approve high-visibility external communications across United States and European markets.
Partner directly with the Chief Commercial Officer on global brand positioning and major announcements as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.
Own the overarching social strategy for wholesale and retail, translating brand positioning and audience insights into channel-native programs that drive awareness, consideration, and conversion with brides-to-be.
Lead global teams in adapting social strategies for local markets while maintaining brand voice consistency, and establish best practices and standards to scale the global social function.
Partner with the visual brand identity team to keep voice and visual expression aligned worldwide.
Identify and translate emerging cultural trends into brand-relevant opportunities.
Lead and develop the global Communications and Social teams by coaching Directors and Managers on individual growth and goals and fostering curiosity, ideation, and continuous learning.
Partner and collaborate cross-functionally with business leaders to bring wholesale and retail brand storytelling to life.
Represent brand marketing in company-wide strategic planning and budget discussions.
Desired Qualifications
Experience in a consumer-facing brand, retail, fashion, or luxury environment.
Overview
For over 25 years, Essense of Australia has led the way in bridal fashion as a dynamic, international bridal wholesaler and retailer with key offices in Lenexa, Kansas (U.S.), Perth, Australia, and Zug, Switzerland. Our reach extends across the globe, operating in the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and beyond. With nearly 1,000 stores carrying our exquisite designs, we are one of the most trusted and innovative brands in bridal fashion today. At Essense, every gown we create is crafted with passion, and every partnership we forge is built on trust. We are more than just a global bridal brand—we are an experience, woven into wedding celebrations around the world.
Building on decades of success in wholesale, Essense of Australia expanded its expertise in 2019 with the launch of True Society, a global bridal collective. Today, True Society is one of the fastest-growing names in bridal retail, with a worldwide network of stores offering brides the ultimate wedding dress shopping experience. With locations across the U.S., Australia, and Europe, we help brides celebrate their personal style and discover the dress of their dreams.
The Role
The stories we tell become part of some of life’s most meaningful moments—the search for the dress, the celebration of a commitment and the memories people carry with them long after the wedding day. The Vice President of Brand Marketing is a storyteller, brand builder and strategic leader who understands the privilege of bringing those stories to life and knows how to turn that emotion into meaningful brand connection and business growth.
Leading global Communications, Public Relations and Social across our wholesale and retail brands, this person will shape how our brands speak and show up around the world. They will translate brand positioning, audience insights and business priorities into integrated strategies that build awareness, deepen connection and drive conversion while ensuring every expression feels distinct, relevant and unmistakably us.
Beyond consumer-facing brand marketing, the VP will oversee organizational communications and executive communications. They will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, elevating executive voices and helping to position the organization and leadership as thought-leaders and best-in-class.
Working closely with the Company owners and leaders across the business, the VP will ensure voice, visual identity and brand experience work together seamlessly. They will also lead and develop the global Communications and Social teams, fostering a culture of curiosity, creativity and continuous learning—and finding fresh, meaningful ways to bring our brands to life around the world.
Responsibilities
What You’ll Do:
Own and evolve the company's global brand voice, tone, and communication guidelines across corporate, wholesale, and retail (B2B and B2C), ensuring consistency worldwide while allowing for market-specific nuance
Lead global communications and public relations strategy — including for wholesale initiatives, key selling events, and the True Society collective — translating business objectives into an integrated brand marketing roadmap spanning PR, internal communications, and social
Provide executive oversight of public and media outreach, approving high-visibility external communications across U.S. and European markets
Partner directly with the CCO on global brand positioning and major announcements serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership
Own the overarching social strategy for wholesale and retail, translating brand positioning and audience insights into channel-native programs that drive awareness, consideration, and conversion with brides-to-be
Lead global teams in adapting social strategies for local markets while maintaining brand voice consistency, and drive the best practices and standards needed to scale the global social function
Partner with the visual brand identity team to ensure voice and visual expression stay aligned worldwide
Identify and translate emerging cultural trends into brand-relevant opportunities
Lead and develop the global Communications and Social teams — coaching Directors and Managers on their individual growth and goals, and fostering a culture of curiosity, ideation, and continuous learning
Partner and collaborate cross-functionally with leaders across the business to bring wholesale and retail brand storytelling to life
Represent brand marketing in company-wide strategic planning and budget discussions
Qualifications
What We Are Looking For:
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or related field required
12+ years of progressive experience in brand marketing, communications, or social media leadership, including agency and client-side experience
5+ years managing Director-level or senior leaders, with a proven record of developing people managers
Experience leading or partnering with international/global teams; comfort managing across time zones and cultural contexts
Experience partnering directly with C-suite or executive leadership on brand strategy
Experience in a consumer-facing brand, retail, fashion, or luxury environment strongly preferred
Exceptional judgment on brand voice, tone, and message across highly varied audiences, channels, and markets
Proven ability to unify communications, social, and PR into one cohesive team and global brand narrative across wholesale and retail
Strong organizational design instincts – comfortable making and defending structural/reporting decisions, including across international lines
Cultural fluency and sensitivity when leading a global team; awareness of market-specific nuances
Strategic and analytical: comfortable moving between big-picture brand vision and campaign-level performance data
High emotional intelligence; skilled at coaching senior leaders remotely and in person
Polished executive presence; able to represent the brand and the function at the leadership table
High ethical standards; extreme discretion required given exposure to confidential and reputation-sensitive information
Flexibility to complete responsibilities when needed outside of standard work hours
What We Offer
Essense of Australia is a company with heart. We value creativity, innovation, and dedication, and we’re looking for someone who shares our passion for delivering exceptional bridal fashion to brides and partners alike. In return for your skills, we offer you the opportunity to join an international industry leader and be part of a creative and collaborative culture that empowers its people, promotes teamwork and embraces sustainability. We recognize and reward excellence, innovation, and loyalty. As such, we provide competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. If you have the skills, spark and drive to help us further our growth, please go to https://www.essensedesigns.com/careers/ and follow the prompts to submit your cover letter addressing the above criteria along with a resume and salary expectations.
Join Essense of Australia and be part of a passionate team dedicated to helping brides around the world find their dream wedding gowns. If you're ready to make an impact and drive success in a global bridal fashion powerhouse, apply now and let's shape the future of bridal together!