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.

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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.

Market Intelligence Report

Director of Operations – E-commerce is part of the Business Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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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

Pursue ASCM CSCP or CLTD to validate domain expertise in e-commerce logistics and inventory.

Build a KPI dashboard (fill rate, OTIF, cost/order, cycle time) using SQL/Excel or Tableau with sample ops data.

Join ASCM or RILA, tour 3PL/DC facilities, and conduct 3–5 informational interviews with operations leaders.