What are the responsibilities and job description for the Wholesale Operations Director position at EMERGING BLUE?
Job Description
We are seeking an experienced and solutions-driven Director of Wholesale Operations to lead the operational backbone of our client's wholesale division and elevate the service experience we provide to our partners. This leader will bring deep expertise in wholesale process management, sales operations, analytics, and cross-functional partnership ideally within fashion, retail, or consumer goods. Previous experience in the optical industry is a plus.
The Director will oversee the execution of wholesale selling strategies, streamline operational workflows, enhance sell-in and sell-through optimization, and ensure seamless coordination between Sales, Planning, Customer Service, Logistics, Marketing, and Finance. This role also serves as the operational “voice of the customer,” influencing inventory allocation, product flow, and account-level support to optimize growth and profitability. If you excel at building scalable systems, driving operational excellence, and supporting high-performing teams, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact within a fast-growing independent brand.
Key Responsibilities
Wholesale Operations Strategy & Process Excellence
– sales performance & sell-through
– account ordering behavior
– operational & sales related KPIs
– fulfillment accuracy & returns
We are seeking an experienced and solutions-driven Director of Wholesale Operations to lead the operational backbone of our client's wholesale division and elevate the service experience we provide to our partners. This leader will bring deep expertise in wholesale process management, sales operations, analytics, and cross-functional partnership ideally within fashion, retail, or consumer goods. Previous experience in the optical industry is a plus.
The Director will oversee the execution of wholesale selling strategies, streamline operational workflows, enhance sell-in and sell-through optimization, and ensure seamless coordination between Sales, Planning, Customer Service, Logistics, Marketing, and Finance. This role also serves as the operational “voice of the customer,” influencing inventory allocation, product flow, and account-level support to optimize growth and profitability. If you excel at building scalable systems, driving operational excellence, and supporting high-performing teams, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact within a fast-growing independent brand.
Key Responsibilities
Wholesale Operations Strategy & Process Excellence
- Build and implement scalable operational workflows that support wholesale revenue growth and account expansion.
- Optimize the full order lifecycle including order processing, fulfillment accuracy, shipping timelines, and return management.
- Drive continuous improvement across systems, reporting, SOPs, and customer service frameworks.
- Own the wholesale marketing and promotional calendar to align campaigns with sales objectives.
- Partner with Brand, Creative, and Product in developing seasonal assets, line sheets, merchandising guides, and sell-in tools.
- Communicate product stories, launch details, and merchandising strategy to wholesale partners with clarity and consistency.
- Oversee all trade show and market-week logistics, ensuring elevated brand presentation and efficient operational execution.
- Lead optimization of ERP, CRM, and B2B ordering platforms (NetSuite preferred).
– sales performance & sell-through
– account ordering behavior
– operational & sales related KPIs
– fulfillment accuracy & returns
- Support accurate forecasting and demand planning in partnership with Planning and Production.
- Analyze sales trends, product adoption, and account performance to identify operational opportunities and risks.
- Improve reporting automation and data flows to support decision-making across the wholesale organization.
- Lead the Wholesale Operations and Customer Service teams, ensuring efficient daily operations and a best-in-class partner experience.
- Support onboarding and enablement of sales reps and key accounts by delivering scalable tools, training, and SOPs.
- Partner with the Sales Director to operationalize sales tools, service protocols, and trade show strategies.
- Implement tiered service standards and escalation pathways to maintain exceptional support for wholesale partners.
- Develop, refine, and maintain documentation for process governance across the wholesale ecosystem.
- Serve as the primary operational liaison between Wholesale, Planning, Logistics, Finance, Marketing, and CX.
- Align inventory, production timelines, and assortments with wholesale demand and sell-through data.
- Coordinate merchandising assets, color kits, sample delivery, and seasonal timelines.
- Ensure alignment between Marketing and Sales on go-to-market cadence, messaging, and partner communication.
- Minimum 8 years of experience in wholesale operations, sales operations, planning, or revenue operations - preferably within fashion, apparel, eyewear, or premium consumer goods.
- Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, building dashboards and reporting frameworks, and ability to translate data into actionable insights
- Proven ability to design and scale operational processes that drive efficiency and revenue growth.
- Strong leadership experience with the ability to inspire & motivate high-performing teams.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with cross-functional partners and executives.
- Highly organized operator with strong analytical, problem-solving, and project-management capabilities.
- Proficiency with ERP and inventory management systems (NetSuite strongly preferred).
- Familiarity with wholesale account structures, seasonal product cycles, forecasting, inventory allocation, and replenishment strategies.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with shifting priorities.