Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Fulfillment Director
💰 $150,000 - $220,000
🎯 Role Definition
We are actively searching for a dynamic and experienced Fulfillment Director to take complete ownership of our end-to-end fulfillment strategy and execution. In this critical leadership role, you will be the architect of a world-class logistics and distribution network that directly impacts customer satisfaction and our bottom line. You will be responsible for leading multiple distribution centers, managing key 3PL partnerships, and driving a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. The ideal candidate is a data-driven strategist and a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about building scalable systems, mentoring high-performing teams, and delivering flawless execution. This is a unique opportunity to shape the operational backbone of a growing company and make a significant impact on our success.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Senior Fulfillment Manager
- Warehouse Operations Director
- Senior Logistics Manager
Advancement To:
- Vice President (VP) of Operations
- Vice President (VP) of Supply Chain
- Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Lateral Moves:
- Director of Global Logistics
- Director of Supply Chain Strategy
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Develop and execute a comprehensive, long-term fulfillment strategy that aligns with the company's growth objectives, focusing on scalability, efficiency, and cost-optimization across all channels (DTC, B2B, Retail).
- Provide strategic leadership and daily oversight for a multi-site network of company-owned and 3PL-operated distribution centers, ensuring operational consistency and excellence.
- Own the entire fulfillment P&L, including developing, managing, and reporting on the annual budget for labor, shipping, packaging, and facility expenses.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of managers and associates, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous professional growth.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement by implementing Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve quality metrics.
- Oversee all inventory control functions, including cycle counting programs, physical inventory audits, and system reconciliation, to maintain an inventory accuracy rate of 99% or higher.
- Manage and negotiate contracts with all third-party logistics (3PL) partners and shipping carriers (e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL), holding them accountable to strict Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
- Direct the selection, implementation, and optimization of warehouse technologies, including Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), and automation/robotics.
- Establish, monitor, and report on critical fulfillment KPIs to the executive team, such as on-time shipping, order accuracy, cost per order, and dock-to-stock time.
- Develop and execute robust peak season readiness plans to ensure sufficient capacity, labor, and system stability to handle significant volume surges without compromising service levels.
- Champion and enforce a world-class safety program across all facilities, ensuring strict compliance with OSHA and other regulatory standards to maintain a safe working environment.
- Architect the network design and capacity planning models to support future business expansion, including site selection for new distribution centers.
- Lead the optimization of warehouse layout, slotting strategies, and picking paths to maximize space utilization and labor efficiency.
- Oversee the entire reverse logistics (returns) process, developing strategies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the customer experience.
- Act as the primary operations stakeholder in cross-functional initiatives with Merchandising, Planning, E-commerce, and Technology to ensure seamless product flow and launches.
Secondary Functions
- Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to uncover operational trends and opportunities.
- Contribute to the organization's broader data and technology strategy, providing the operational perspective on system needs and roadmap.
- Collaborate with business units to translate evolving customer and business needs into actionable engineering and process requirements for the fulfillment network.
- Participate in executive-level strategic planning, M&A due diligence, and other high-impact corporate initiatives.
- Evaluate and implement sustainability initiatives within the fulfillment network, such as waste reduction programs and eco-friendly packaging solutions.
- Stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in e-commerce, logistics, and supply chain management to drive innovation.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- Warehouse Management Systems (WMS): Deep expertise with major WMS platforms (e.g., Manhattan, Blue Yonder, HighJump, Oracle NetSuite).
- P&L Management: Proven ability to build and manage multi-million dollar operational budgets.
- Data Analysis: Advanced proficiency in Excel and experience with BI tools (Tableau, Power BI) for performance analysis and reporting.
- Lean/Six Sigma: Certification or significant practical experience implementing continuous improvement methodologies.
- 3PL & Carrier Management: Demonstrable experience in negotiating contracts and managing performance of logistics partners.
- ERP Systems: Familiarity with how ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) integrate with fulfillment operations.
- Network Design & Modeling: Experience with using tools or analysis to plan and optimize a distribution network.
- Project Management: Skilled in leading complex, cross-functional projects like WMS implementations or new facility launches.
Soft Skills
- Strategic Leadership: Ability to set a clear vision, inspire a large team, and drive organizational change.
- Problem-Solving: Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills to resolve complex operational challenges.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: A strong bias for using data and metrics to guide strategy and measure success.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to build strong relationships and influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
- Negotiation & Influence: Superior negotiation skills for vendor contracts and internal resource allocation.
- Mentorship & Team Development: A passion for coaching direct reports and building a strong leadership pipeline.
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to executive audiences.
- Adaptability: Thrives in a dynamic, high-growth environment and can effectively manage ambiguity and competing priorities.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
- Bachelor's Degree
Preferred Education:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master's Degree in a relevant field.
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Supply Chain Management
- Logistics & Transportation
- Business Administration
- Industrial Engineering
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range:
- 10-15+ years of progressive experience in fulfillment, distribution, or logistics operations.
- At least 7+ years in a leadership role managing large teams, multiple facilities, and significant budgets.
Preferred:
- Experience in a high-volume, direct-to-consumer (DTC) e-commerce environment is strongly preferred.
- Proven track record of scaling fulfillment operations through a significant growth phase.
- Experience managing both in-house and 3PL distribution networks.