Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for an E-commerce Director
💰 $150,000 - $220,000
🎯 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.