At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global wholesale operations, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Company: Dynamic Women’s Ready-to-Wear brand based in Central London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 33 days leave, pension scheme, and clothing allowance.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a fast-paced fashion environment.
- Why this job: Join a thriving brand and make a real impact on global operations.
- Qualifications: Experience in wholesale operations and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
The Wholesale Operations Director position sits at the centre of a successful Women’s Ready-to-Wear brand based in Central London with global distribution. In this position, you will own every operational lever that drives global wholesale performance, including order management, stock accuracy, wholesale account management, order fulfilment, and alignment across teams with oversight of warehouse and logistics cost governance.
You will be responsible for managing the operational spend, logistics coordination, and the customer order journey from order placement through to delivery. This role is built on leadership and partnership working at the intersection of Sales, Production, Finance, and Logistics to sharpen processes, refine operational efficiency, and scale distribution across international markets (Americas, APAC, EMEA).
What You'll Be Doing
- Drive operational efficiency across wholesale, working hand in hand with sales and logistics.
- Ensure accurate, timely customer order fulfilment, with strong commercial oversight of stock and shipments.
- Strengthen processes, reporting, and visibility of operational KPI’s.
- Manage and mentor your team to maintain high performance standards.
Wholesale Operations Leadership
- Full ownership of every operational touchpoint across the wholesale order lifecycle.
- Oversight of customer order follow-up, customer relationships, payment and shipping terms, and wholesale service levels.
- Making sure credit approvals are signed off before shipments go out.
- Managing escalations from wholesale agents and customers.
Logistics Oversight (Non-Technical)
- Line management of the Senior Wholesale Coordinator.
- Governance of warehouse performance, reporting, and cost visibility, working closely with the Logistics Manager.
- Oversight of stock movements, factory splits, and shipment process mapping.
Commercial Stock Oversight
- Monitoring stock availability and accuracy from a commercial standpoint.
- Making sure warehouse stock discrepancies or delays are flagged and followed through.
- Leading seasonal stock reviews and end-of-season overviews.
Reporting Leadership
- Working with sales, production, logistics, and finance to structure and deliver consistent, senior-level reporting across:
- Stock visibility and customer responsiveness.
- In-season and end-of-season wholesale summaries.
- Warehouse performance and costs.
- Logistics spend.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Close alignment with Sales, Production, Logistics, Finance, and Ecommerce.
- Leading on process efficiency, with an eye always on what can be improved next.
- Supporting brand growth.
Essential Skills
- Proven track record as a Head of Wholesale Operations or Wholesale Operations Director.
- Brand-based fashion industry experience across global wholesale operations.
- A strong record of driving operational efficiency.
- Ensuring accurate, timely customer order fulfilment with strong commercial oversight of stock and shipments.
- The ability to strengthen reporting and operational KPIs.
- Experience managing and mentoring a team to maintain high performance standards across wholesale operations and logistics.
- Experience with major US vendor compliance and EDI workflows.
- Excellent communication skills, comfortable managing relationships with sales agents and international clients.
- Proficiency across Zedonk, Joor, WMS, VC / EDI Portals, EDI Trade Catalogues, and Microsoft Office.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary in line with experience.
- 33 days annual leave, including bank holidays.
- Pension scheme.
- Clothing allowance.
Additional Requirements
- Full, permanent right to work in the UK.
- Living within a commutable distance of Central London.
To apply, follow the link in the job posting and submit your CV and a short cover note through our web portal. All applications are reviewed there, and only there.
Wholesale Operations Director in London employer: Fashion Heaven
Join a contemporary luxury womenswear label that values precision and collaboration, offering a dynamic work environment in Central London. As a Wholesale Operations Executive, you'll benefit from a supportive culture that prioritises employee growth through training and development opportunities, alongside a competitive salary and generous benefits including hybrid working, 33 days of annual leave, and exclusive discounts. This role not only allows you to engage with a global network but also positions you at the heart of the business, ensuring your contributions directly impact commercial success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Wholesale Operations Director in London
✨Get to Know the Industry Events
Dive into wholesale distribution trade shows and local industry meet-ups. These events are gold mines for networking and can even lead to job leads. Plus, getting face time with companies like Fashion Heaven can make you stand out!
✨Connect with Industry Professionals
Join online forums and communities specific to wholesale distribution. Places like LinkedIn groups or industry-specific Slack channels can put you in touch with insiders who know about the latest job openings at companies like Fashion Heaven before they even get posted.
✨Tailor Your Approach to Distribution Roles
When you apply for full-time roles, make sure your interactions highlight your understanding of supply chain management and logistics. Companies like Fashion Heaven want to see that you get the bigger picture and can contribute to their efficiency!
✨Follow Up Like a Pro
After you've sent in your application, don't be shy! Follow up with a brief message to express your enthusiasm for the role. This not only shows initiative but keeps your name fresh in the minds of recruiters at Fashion Heaven.
We think you need these skills to ace Wholesale Operations Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Distribution Know-How:For a role in wholesale distribution, it’s crucial to highlight any experience you have with supply chain management or logistics. Make sure to detail any relevant projects or roles on your CV that show you understand how products move from point A to point B efficiently.
Quantify Your Achievements:When crafting your CV, don’t just list tasks; instead, focus on achievements that can be quantified. For example, mention how you increased delivery efficiency by a percentage or managed a specific number of vendors. Numbers stand out and prove you can make a difference at Fashion Heaven.
Tailored Cover Letter Approach:In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about wholesale distribution and what excites you about the specific challenges at Fashion Heaven. Show us you’ve done some research on the company, and mention any values or initiatives they have that resonate with you.
Highlight Team Collaboration Skills:Since wholesale distribution often requires working closely with teams, emphasise your teamwork skills in your application. Include examples of how you’ve successfully collaborated with colleagues, suppliers, or stakeholders to improve operations or resolve issues.
How to prepare for a job interview at Fashion Heaven
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
In the wholesale distribution sector, being able to analyse market trends and inventory data is key. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled inventory management issues or implemented solutions that improved efficiency; this will show Fashion Heaven that you can handle the analytical side of the role.
✨Know Your Logistics Inside Out
Since logistics play a massive part in wholesale distribution, it's vital to familiarise yourself with the tools and software used in the industry, like ERP systems or supply chain management platforms. Mention any experience you have with these tools during the interview to impress Fashion Heaven.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that revolve around real-life situations in wholesale distribution, such as how you'd handle supply chain disruptions or manage relationships with suppliers. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making strategies on these topics to demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
✨Highlight Your Long-Term Potential
As you're applying for a full-time role, Fashion Heaven will want to see your commitment to growing within the organisation. Be ready to discuss your career aspirations and how this role aligns with your goals, emphasising that you are in it for the long haul!