Vice President of Operations, Wholesale Apparel

Vice President, Operations

A leading women’s wholesale apparel organization is seeking an experienced Vice President of Operations to oversee and drive key operational and financial functions across the business.

This executive will serve as a critical partner to senior leadership, with responsibility for strengthening operational performance, financial discipline, distribution center effectiveness, and overall business execution. The ideal candidate brings a strong combination of wholesale apparel experience, operational leadership, financial acumen, and distribution/warehouse expertise.

This role requires a hands-on, highly analytical leader who understands the complexities of a fast-paced wholesale apparel environment and can move comfortably between high-level business strategy and day-to-day operational execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee core operational functions across the organization, ensuring efficiency, accountability, and alignment with overall business objectives.
• Provide executive oversight of the company’s distribution center operations, including productivity, labor, inventory flow, service levels, operating costs, and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with Finance and executive leadership on budgeting, forecasting, expense management, operating plans, and financial analysis.
• Evaluate operational performance through KPIs, reporting, and business analytics; identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Drive cost-control initiatives and identify opportunities to improve margins and operational efficiencies without compromising service or execution.
• Maintain strong visibility into inventory levels, inventory movement, working capital, and related operational and financial implications.
• Partner with Sales, Planning, Production, Supply Chain, Finance, and other functional leaders to ensure operational priorities support the needs of the business.
• Assess and improve processes, systems, organizational structure, and workflows across operations.
• Establish appropriate controls, reporting mechanisms, and accountability across operational functions.
• Evaluate third-party partners, vendors, freight, logistics, and other operational relationships as appropriate.
• Lead and support major operational initiatives, systems implementations, process improvements, and organizational changes.
• Develop and mentor operational leadership teams while creating a culture of accountability, urgency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide senior leadership with clear analysis and recommendations regarding operational performance, costs, risks, and business opportunities.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive operations leadership experience, with significant experience at the Vice President or comparable senior leadership level.
• Women’s wholesale apparel, fashion, accessories, consumer products, or a closely related wholesale environment strongly preferred .
• Significant experience overseeing or partnering directly with distribution center / warehouse operations.
• Strong financial and business acumen with demonstrated experience in budgeting, forecasting, expense management, operational analysis, and cost control.
• Deep understanding of inventory management, logistics, supply chain, order fulfillment, and wholesale operational processes.
• Demonstrated ability to use financial and operational data to drive business decisions.
• Experience identifying operational inefficiencies and implementing scalable processes and controls.
• Strong systems orientation and experience working with ERP, warehouse management, financial, and operational reporting systems.
• Proven ability to operate successfully in a complex, fast-moving organization with multiple brands, customers, and business priorities.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Finance, Business, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related field a plus.

The successful candidate will be:

• Financially sophisticated and highly analytical.
• Operationally hands-on while capable of thinking strategically.
• Comfortable moving between the executive office and the distribution center floor.
• A strong communicator with the executive presence to partner with senior leadership.
• Decisive, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented.
• Highly accountable with a strong sense of ownership.
• Skilled at identifying problems, challenging existing processes, and implementing practical solutions.
• Able to balance cost, service, speed, and business priorities.
• Effective at leading through change and building strong cross-functional relationships.

Salary Range: $190K - $230K *Actual base salary for this role within the above range will be based upon experience, qualifications and/or assigned unit.

We are an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicant swill receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.