Olsam Group - Head of Marketplaces
Olsam Group - Head of Marketplaces

Olsam Group - Head of Marketplaces

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
Olsam.

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and grow our global marketplace business, focusing on strategy and performance.
  • Company: Join Olsam, a dynamic team shaping the future of global consumer goods.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 30 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
  • Other info: Opportunity for international travel and vibrant office culture.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in e-commerce while working with a diverse, international team.
  • Qualifications: Extensive experience in marketplace eCommerce and strong leadership skills required.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 ÂŁ per year.

About Us
At Olsam, we are on a mission to grow brands and develop products that customers love, trust, and value. We specialize in acquiring and scaling category‑leading brands, unlocking their full potential by expanding them across international marketplaces and channels, streamlining operations, and driving product innovation. With a fantastic team across four continents and 15 nationalities, we bring together over 50 years of e‑commerce expertise. We’re not just building brands, we’re shaping the future of global consumer goods. We are looking for ambitious, driven individuals to be part of it. Ready to make an impact? Let’s talk.

Your Role at a Glance
We are looking for an exceptional Head of Marketplaces to own and grow our global marketplace business. This role carries full accountability for the performance, strategy, and long‑term value creation of all marketplace channels, primarily Amazon, but including Walmart, and other regional or category‑specific platforms. As a senior leader reporting into the Executive team, you will own P&L performance while building the capabilities, systems, and team required to scale the business globally.

Success in this role means:

  • Delivering market‑leading, profitable growth across all marketplace channels, demonstrating full P&L ownership
  • Defining and executing a clear, scalable global marketplace strategy, aligned with broader company and omnichannel objectives
  • Building a best‑in‑class marketplace operating model and team across Trading and Performance Marketing who can partner closely with colleagues in the Brand, Product, Planning, and Logistics teams to deliver exceptional results
  • Establishing sustainable competitive advantage across key marketplaces

Key Responsibilities

Trading & Commercial Ownership
  • Own the global marketplace P&L, with full accountability for revenue, contribution margin, and cash flow
  • Continuously evaluate performance across markets, categories, and brands, directing team focus to maximise profitability
  • Deliver Executive‑level reporting and insights to senior stakeholders on current performance, and future risks and opportunities
Channel Strategy & Growth
  • Define and deliver the long‑term marketplace strategy, aligned with broader company and omnichannel objectives
  • Identify, prioritise, and unlock new growth opportunities across marketplaces, geographies, and categories, from business case through to scaled execution
  • Play a key role in M&A, supporting diligence and integration planning from a marketplace perspective
  • Own channel‑level forecasting, budgeting, and performance tracking for marketplace channels
Platform Execution & Optimisation
  • Design and embed a scalable, best‑in‑class marketplace operating model to drive profitable, sustainable growth across: pricing, promotions, and trading; content, SEO, and discoverability; retail media and performance marketing; catalogue quality, compliance, and account health; platform execution and operations
  • Lead development of best practices and playbooks to drive repeatable success
  • Build a culture of performance improvement through rigorous testing, experimentation, and continuous optimisation
  • Identify, elevate, and resolve key emerging issues, e.g. listing or account‑level suspensions, product compliance, platform changes
  • Stay up to date with Amazon (and other marketplace) platform developments, tools, and category trends
Performance Marketing & Demand Generation
  • Set the strategic direction for retail media and PPC across all marketplaces, ensuring alignment with commercial objectives and efficient, scalable growth
  • Oversee performance marketing execution, ensuring paid and organic strategies are integrated to maximise total search visibility and efficiency
  • Blend in‑house and third‑party teams to deliver results in line with budgets
Team Leadership & Organisational Build
  • Lead the Marketplace function, including Trading and Performance Marketing teams
  • Define team structure, roles, and ways of working to support current and future scale
  • Hire, develop, and retain high‑performing talent
  • Maintain a culture of ownership, accountability, commerciality, foresight and high performance
Cross‑Functional Leadership
  • As part of the commercial leadership team, support company‑wide strategy development and execution across channels, pricing, product, and market expansion
  • Act as the senior POC for marketplaces across the business, aligning stakeholders around priorities and trade‑offs
  • Partner closely with internal teams to deliver best‑in‑class execution. This includes: Brand & Creative, Product Development, DTC and other channels, Supply Chain & Operations, Finance
Data, Technology & Scale Enablement
  • Ensure best‑in‑class data infrastructure, reporting and insight generation to support decision‑making
  • Drive adoption of automation, tooling and AI‑driven solutions to scale performance and efficiency
  • Build scalable, repeatable systems across trading, marketing, and optimisation

About You
Extensive experience leading marketplace eCommerce, with deep expertise in Amazon and exposure to multiple platforms (e.g. Walmart, regional marketplaces). Proven track record of owning and scaling multi‑marketplace P&L performance at scale. Exceptional strategic and commercial mindset, with the ability to balance growth, efficiency, and foresight for long‑term value creation. Experience building and leading high‑performing, cross‑functional teams. Highly analytical, with the ability to translate complex data into clear strategic decisions. Strong executive presence, with experience influencing senior stakeholders and driving alignment. Experience launching and scaling new marketplaces, categories, or geographies. Structured, pragmatic, and execution‑oriented, with a bias for action. Comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment with evolving priorities.

Perks & Benefits
30 days holiday: + 8 UK bank holidays
Pension contribution Scheme: 5% from you, 3% from us.
Private Medical Insurance: Includes travel, vision & dental (through Vitality)
Work from Abroad: One month per year, anywhere in the world*
Bonus Scheme: Discretionary bonus, based on individual and company performance
Mental Health Support: Free, confidential therapy via Spill
Opportunity for International Travel: Our team members have been to New York, Vegas, Amsterdam… and Birmingham!
Flexi‑Fridays: Finish early one Friday per month
Olstar Events: Quarterly meetups, celebrations & socials
Vibrant Office: Runway East, Bloomsbury

EEO Statement
Olsam is proud to be a disability‑committed employer registered in the UK. If you identify as having a disability and meet all of the criteria set out in the job description, we would like to support you through the interview stage. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment where all employees and applicants can flourish.

Olsam Group - Head of Marketplaces employer: Olsam.

At Olsam, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration across our diverse team of over 50 nationalities. With generous benefits such as 30 days holiday, private medical insurance, and opportunities for international travel, we are committed to supporting employee growth and well-being. Join us in our mission to shape the future of global consumer goods while enjoying a flexible work environment and a culture that celebrates performance and accountability.
Olsam.

Contact Detail:

Olsam. Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Olsam Group - Head of Marketplaces

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at Olsam or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching Olsam's marketplace strategies and recent successes. Show us you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about our mission and how you can contribute to it.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the Head of Marketplaces role. Highlight your P&L management skills and any successful marketplace strategies you've implemented.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.

We think you need these skills to ace Olsam Group - Head of Marketplaces

Marketplace eCommerce Expertise
P&L Management
Strategic Planning
Cross-Functional Team Leadership
Data Analysis
Performance Marketing
Amazon Platform Knowledge
Growth Strategy Development
Operational Optimisation
Stakeholder Management
Analytical Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Adaptability
Execution Orientation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Marketplaces role. Highlight your experience with P&L ownership and marketplace strategies, especially if you've worked with Amazon or similar platforms. We want to see how your skills align with our mission!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about e-commerce and how you can contribute to our growth. Be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires a strong analytical mindset, make sure to include examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. We love candidates who can turn complex data into actionable insights!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at Olsam!

How to prepare for a job interview at Olsam.

✨Know Your Marketplaces

Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of marketplace platforms like Amazon and Walmart. Understand their unique features, challenges, and opportunities. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to take on the Head of Marketplaces role.

✨Showcase Your P&L Experience

Be prepared to discuss your previous experience with P&L ownership. Bring examples of how you've driven revenue growth and managed costs effectively. Highlight specific strategies you've implemented that led to profitable outcomes, as this is crucial for the role.

✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking

Think about how you would define and execute a global marketplace strategy. Be ready to share your vision for scaling businesses across different channels and geographies. Discuss any past experiences where you successfully identified and unlocked new growth opportunities.

✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration

Since this role involves working closely with various teams, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams in the past. Emphasise your ability to align stakeholders around common goals and drive results through teamwork.

Olsam Group - Head of Marketplaces
Olsam.

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