Events & Partnerships Manager

At Sephora, beauty is about feeling seen, valued, and empowered - individually and collectively. It’s about discovering what’s new, celebrating creativity, and helping shape what’s next. Together, we belong to something beautiful.

The Opportunity

As SEPHORA’s Events & Brand Partnerships Manager, you will be the creative force behind unforgettable brand moments across the UK. You’ll shape the way SEPHORA shows up culturally - designing high‑impact grand openings, pop‑ups, brand activations, and experiential events that captivate new audiences and deepen our connection with UK consumers.

In this role, you’ll bring a true brand‑builder’s mindset, pushing boundaries with every store launch and crafting innovative concepts that amplify our presence in the beauty landscape. You will lead each event from bold idea to flawless execution, ensuring every detail reflects SEPHORA’s energy, inclusivity, and disruptive spirit.

Beyond events, you’ll identify and cultivate strategic partnerships - from cultural institutions to emerging creators, lifestyle brands, and talent - unlocking co‑branded moments that elevate our storytelling and keep SEPHORA at the centre of the cultural conversation.

This is a role for someone who thrives in creativity, loves to innovate, and knows how to turn big ideas into iconic, buzz‑worthy experiences.

What you’ll be doing…

• Lead the end‑to‑end planning and delivery of SEPHORA UK grand opening events, ensuring each launch offers a strong, well‑executed brand experience.
• Manage production agencies and key vendors — from briefing and pitching through to ongoing coordination and quality oversight.
• Oversee all operational logistics, including security, staffing, catering, venues, permits, and compliance, to ensure smooth and well‑managed events.
• Develop clear event plans, budgets, timelines, and production schedules, identifying risks early and ensuring all elements remain feasible and aligned.
• Facilitate strong cross‑functional collaboration, ensuring internal teams are aligned on event objectives, milestones, and responsibilities.
• Partner closely with PR, Communications, and Retail Brand Partnerships to deliver impactful PR moments, talent involvement, influencer activity, and advocacy opportunities.
• Analyse event performance to capture insights and inform continuous improvement for future store openings.
• Build and manage strategic cultural partnerships that strengthen SEPHORA’s brand relevance and reflect our values.
• Manage relationships with SEPHORA UK’s charity partners, ensuring purposeful, well‑delivered initiatives and moments.
• Develop and negotiate co‑branded campaigns and collaborations that enhance cultural visibility, support inclusivity, and drive engaging in‑store activations.

What you’ll bring…

The ideal candidate will be a creative visionary, a skilled negotiator, and a meticulous project manager with a deep understanding of beauty trends, cultural currents, and the power of influencer and advocacy marketing. You will also bring:

• Extensive experience in event management, brand partnerships, or cultural marketing, ideally within the beauty or retail industry, and within the UK market.
• Strong sense of aesthetics and creative judgement, with the ability to bring brand experiences to life.
• Proven experience delivering large-scale, high-profile events, ideally including store openings or significant retail moments.
• Strong understanding of UK cultural trends, consumer behaviour, and the beauty landscape.
• Exceptional attention to detail, with an organised, methodical approach to project management.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

While at Sephora, you’ll find…

• Community, in which authenticity is embraced, and the strength of our differences fuels our collective spirit 
• Culture of empowerment, learning & growth, that offers you the tools, space and opportunity to learn, innovate and lead 
• Work that brings fulfilment, from delighting clients every day, to inspiring our industry at large, every action makes a difference 

Join us and belong to something beautiful.  

At Sephora, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating and fostering an inclusive environment for everyone.