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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for an E-commerce Director

💰 $150,000 - $220,000

E-commerceDigital MarketingLeadershipRetailStrategy

🎯 Role Definition

As the E-commerce Director, you are the strategic leader and primary owner of our company's entire digital commerce ecosystem. You will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive e-commerce strategy that drives significant revenue growth, enhances market share, and builds brand equity online. This role requires a data-driven visionary who can lead a cross-functional team, manage a full P&L, and continuously optimize every aspect of the online customer journey, from initial brand discovery to post-purchase satisfaction. You are the architect of our digital storefront and the engine of our online growth.


📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior E-commerce Manager
  • Head of Digital Marketing
  • Senior Product Manager (E-commerce)

Advancement To:

  • Vice President (VP) of E-commerce
  • Chief Digital Officer (CDO)
  • Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

Lateral Moves:

  • Director of Digital Strategy
  • Director of Omnichannel Retail

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assume full P&L ownership for the e-commerce business unit, including strategic planning, revenue forecasting, budget management, and achieving key performance indicators (KPIs) for growth and profitability.
  • Develop, articulate, and execute a comprehensive, multi-year e-commerce strategy that aligns with overall company objectives and drives market share expansion.
  • Lead all online customer acquisition efforts, overseeing performance marketing channels such as SEO, SEM/PPC, display advertising, affiliate marketing, and paid social media to optimize return on ad spend (ROAS) and customer acquisition cost (CAC).
  • Direct the customer retention and loyalty strategy, leveraging email marketing, CRM, SMS, and loyalty programs to increase customer lifetime value (LTV) and repeat purchase rates.
  • Champion a best-in-class user experience (UX/UI) across all digital properties, leading initiatives for website design, functionality, and navigation to improve conversion rates and customer satisfaction.
  • Oversee the entire on-site merchandising and content strategy, ensuring product assortments, promotions, and brand storytelling are effectively presented to drive sales and engagement.
  • Utilize deep expertise in web analytics and business intelligence tools to monitor performance, derive actionable insights, and foster a culture of data-driven decision-making within the team.
  • Lead and manage the e-commerce technology stack, including the e-commerce platform (e.g., Shopify Plus, Magento, BigCommerce), and evaluate, select, and manage all third-party vendors and technology partners.
  • Direct a rigorous A/B testing and conversion rate optimization (CRO) program across the website, landing pages, and marketing campaigns to continuously improve performance.
  • Collaborate closely with the Operations and Supply Chain teams to ensure seamless inventory management, order fulfillment, and logistics, optimizing for speed, cost, and customer satisfaction.
  • Partner with the Head of Marketing to create integrated, omnichannel marketing campaigns that ensure a consistent brand message and customer experience across all touchpoints.
  • Manage and expand presence on key third-party marketplaces (e.g., Amazon, Walmart.com), developing unique strategies for pricing, promotion, and content on each platform.
  • Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing e-commerce team, providing clear direction, career development, and fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
  • Stay at the forefront of emerging digital trends, technologies, and e-commerce best practices, acting as the organization's subject matter expert and champion for digital innovation.
  • Define and manage the product roadmap for the e-commerce platform, prioritizing new features, functionalities, and integrations that will drive business growth and improve the customer experience.
  • Establish and maintain strong relationships with key technology vendors, digital agencies, and service providers, negotiating contracts and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
  • Oversee website security, fraud prevention, and payment processing systems to ensure a secure and reliable transaction environment for customers.
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive SEO strategy, working with content and technical teams to improve organic search rankings, traffic, and authority.
  • Lead the strategy for customer service in the digital channel, setting standards and working with the support team to resolve issues and gather customer feedback for continuous improvement.
  • Prepare and present detailed performance reports, strategic plans, and financial forecasts to the executive leadership team on a regular basis.

Secondary Functions

  • Serve as the primary subject matter expert and internal evangelist for all e-commerce-related initiatives and opportunities.
  • Foster a culture of continuous testing, learning, and data-driven optimization across the e-commerce team and its cross-functional partners.
  • Represent the e-commerce division in executive-level strategic planning sessions and cross-departmental meetings.
  • Evaluate and pilot emerging technologies, platforms, and digital tools to maintain a competitive edge in the market.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • E-commerce Platform Expertise: Deep, hands-on experience with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify Plus, Magento, BigCommerce, or Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
  • Digital Marketing & Analytics: Mastery of Google Analytics (GA4), Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, and SEO/SEM tools (e.g., SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz).
  • P&L Management: Proven ability to own and manage a full P&L, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
  • Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): Expertise in A/B testing, multivariate testing, and personalization tools (e.g., Optimizely, VWO, Google Optimize).
  • CRM & Email Marketing: Proficiency with marketing automation and CRM platforms such as Klaviyo, Braze, or Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
  • Marketplace Management: Demonstrable experience managing and growing sales on Amazon Seller/Vendor Central and other key marketplaces.
  • Data Visualization: Competency with data visualization tools like Tableau, Looker, or Power BI to translate complex data into clear business insights.

Soft Skills

  • Strategic Vision: Ability to see the big picture, anticipate future trends, and develop long-term strategies for sustainable growth.
  • Leadership & Team Development: Exceptional ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a diverse team of digital professionals.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: A strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret complex data and make confident, evidence-based decisions.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively partner with marketing, operations, finance, and IT teams.
  • Commercial Acumen: A deep understanding of business drivers, market dynamics, and the financial implications of e-commerce decisions.
  • Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and can pivot strategies in response to market changes or performance data.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master's degree in a relevant field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Business Administration
  • Marketing
  • Information Systems
  • Finance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 8-12+ years of progressive experience in e-commerce and digital marketing.

Preferred: 5+ years in a leadership role with direct P&L responsibility and a proven track record of scaling a direct-to-consumer (D2C) e-commerce business to significant revenue milestones.