Marketing Manager – Skincare

Zsa-Zsa Bowie-Wilson

Jade Harris is a self-confessed skincare ‘junkie’ who would panic if she didn’t have a good moisturiser at hand.

“There are times when I’ve gone to sleep with my make-up on and wake up freaking out,” Jade said.

As the national marketing manager for Dermalogica Skin Care, Jade is as passionate about using the company’s products as she is about promoting them.

In her opinion, working for a brand you really love is “half the job done”.

Less than 10 years ago, the Sydney-based 27-year-old had no idea what career path to take.

“When I finished school I went straight to work at Fox Sports as PA to the PA of the CEO,” she said.

“It was a fun environment and great working in TV – there were always lots of footballers around – but I decided I didn’t want to be a PA.”

With encouragement from her sister, who is a hairdresser, Jade completed an apprenticeship in hairdressing, but was uninspired by her new job.

“Doing ladies’ sets each week was a little stifling, so I signed up with a recruitment company and put my name down for an executive assistant role,” she said

Within two days she had accepted a customer service position with Dermalogica taking product orders from stockists around the country. That was 1999 when the global company was still relatively new in Australia. Jade realised that if she was to push ahead in her career then she would need to make herself invaluable among a staff of 35 people.

“At the time, one lady looked after marketing. I got on with her well and always put my hand up when there was any chance of doing some other work, even if it was cutting and pasting clippings into the PR file,” Jade said.

Her enthusiasm paid off, and when the head of marketing left nine months later, Jade was nominated for the job.

Today, there are more than 100 people working for the company and Jade runs the marketing arm nationally. She is responsible for launching, promoting and stocking Dermalogica’s products across the country and really enjoys what she does.

“I live my job. Yes, there are times when you have to work weekends or late nights, but it’s very much worth it,” she said.

“And when I’m hiring, I look for someone who is just as passionate.”