Director of Operations – E-commerce

Career Guide
Leads end-to-end e-commerce operations—from order capture through delivery—overseeing fulfillment, inventory, logistics, and returns. Sets strategy, KPIs, and budgets; builds processes and teams; and partners with product, merchandising, customer service, and 3PLs to improve speed, quality, and cost.

Key Responsibilities

  • Own order-to-delivery performance (fill rate, OTIF, SLAs)
  • Lead warehouse, fulfillment, and last‑mile logistics operations
  • Forecast demand and set inventory targets across channels
  • Select, contract, and manage 3PLs and carrier networks
  • Optimize WMS/OMS workflows and systems integrations
  • Set KPIs, analyze cost-to-serve, and manage operating budgets
  • Drive continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma) and returns reduction

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Senior Director of Operations
Vice President of Operations
Head of Supply Chain
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Transition Opportunities
Supply Chain Director
Logistics Director
E-commerce General Manager
Operations Program Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
WMS/OMS configuration and optimizationDemand forecasting and inventory analytics3PL and carrier network managementReverse logistics and returns optimizationCost-to-serve and operational financial modeling
Development SuggestionsComplete an ASCM CSCP prep course; lead a warehouse improvement pilot using WMS data to cut order cycle time and build KPI reporting.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level120000
Mid Level160000
Senior Level210000
Growth Trend
growing — Online sales and delivery expectations boost ops leadership demand

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
AmazonWayfairChewy
Industry Sectors
E-commerce & Online RetailLogistics & 3PLConsumer Packaged Goods (CPG)Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Brands

Recommended Next Steps

1
Pursue ASCM CSCP or CLTD to validate domain expertise in e-commerce logistics and inventory.
2
Build a KPI dashboard (fill rate, OTIF, cost/order, cycle time) using SQL/Excel or Tableau with sample ops data.
3
Join ASCM or RILA, tour 3PL/DC facilities, and conduct 3–5 informational interviews with operations leaders.