Duluth Trading Co

Director, Wholesale Strategy & Business Development

Duluth Trading Co$140K — $190K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or equivalent experience.
  • 10+ years of progressive leadership experience, with 5+ years in wholesale strategy or business development within relevant sectors.
  • 5-6+ years managing a high-volume brand on Amazon Vendor Central (1P).
  • 3+ years managing multi-million dollar Amazon Ads budgets.
  • Deep network of established retail relationships.

Responsibilities

  • Take ownership of the Amazon 1P channel P&L, optimizing for growth and profitability.
  • Lead Annual Vendor Negotiation process with a focus on maintaining margins against Amazon's terms.
  • Own strategy for Amazon advertising campaigns, optimizing for core performance indicators.
  • Align catalog and inventory management with ad campaigns to protect buy-box health.
  • Conduct comprehensive assessments of wholesale landscape to identify target partners.
  • Develop a standalone wholesale P&L model outlining revenue potential and related costs.
  • Leverage relationships with retail buyers to validate the wholesale strategy through pilot programs.

Benefits

  • Multiple Medical plan options.
  • Dental & Vision plans.
  • Health Savings Account with company contributions.
  • 401(k) Employer Match.
  • 40% Employee Discount.
Full Job Description
Position Overview

Duluth Trading Co. is a highly successful omnichannel business, leveraging a robust direct-to-consumer digital platform alongside a strong retail footprint. As we explore new horizons for growth, we are seeking a visionary and highly analytical Director of Wholesale Strategy & Business Development who can quickly jump in to own, optimize, and scale our existing first-party (1P) Amazon business and evaluate, architect, and pilot our broader entry into the wholesale market.

We need a true wholesale expert who possesses deep industry relationships and the strategic horsepower to build the wholesale roadmap for Duluth. You will immediately drive profitable revenue growth and manage the Amazon ecosystem and lay out the definitive blueprint of what it will take for us to more broadly enter wholesale; including the timeline, the Go-To-Market calendar, the operational infrastructure required, and the multi-year financial potential.

Position Details

Work Location & Travel:

At Duluth Trading Company, we value face-to-face interactions that foster our culture of learning, creativity, and teamwork. The role is based at our headquarters near Madison, WI. You will work in the office Monday through Thursday, with the option to work from home on Fridays if you prefer. Relocation assistance is available for candidates located outside of commuting distance to the headquarters office.

What You91ll Do:

Immediate Amazon Management & Scaling

  • Strategic Negotiations & Account Management: Instantly take ownership of the holistic P&L for the Amazon 1P channel, balancing top-line media-driven growth against bottom-line profitability. Lead the Annual Vendor Negotiation (AVN) process, defending wholesale margins against Amazon's aggressive targets for MDF, damage allowances, and freight terms.
  • Full-Funnel Advertising: Own the strategy, execution, and optimization of all Amazon paid acquisition campaigns (Sponsored Products, Brands, Display, and Video). Set clear ad spend targets, architect keyword bidding strategies, and optimize against core performance indicators like ROAS, ACOS, and TACOS.
  • Catalog & Inventory Alignment: Connect advertising push-periods with physical inventory realities, heavily funneling ad dollars into high-margin, high-stock items while pausing campaigns on low-stock items to protect buy-box health.
  • Chargeback Elimination: Partner with internal supply chain teams to audit operational compliance and permanently eliminate margin-eroding chargebacks.

Simultaneous Wholesale Blueprinting & Strategy

  • Viability Assessment & Financial Modeling: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the wholesale landscape to determine target partners that align with Duluth92s brand equity. Develop a rigorous, standalone wholesale P&L model that maps out margins, chargebacks, markdown structures, shipping terms, and overall revenue potential.
  • Infrastructure & GTM Architecture: Identify the operational requirements necessary to support wholesale (EDI compliance, ticketing/labeling, logistics) without disrupting existing DTC and retail operations. Establish a comprehensive Go-To-Market calendar, mapping the lifecycle from product design to retail delivery.
  • Relationship Leveraging & Pilot Execution: Utilize deep, pre-existing relationships with major retailers to gather market feedback, secure initial presentations, and launch tightly managed pilot programs to validate the model before a broader national rollout.

What We92re Looking For:

Education:Bachelor92s Degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or equivalent corporate experience

Years of Experience

  • 10+ years of progressive leadership experience
  • 5+ years specifically in a senior wholesale strategy or business development role within the Outdoor, Workwear, Corporate Apparel, or National Specialty Retail sectors, including proven experience in architecting a wholesale division from the ground up.
  • 5 6+ years of direct, hands-on experience managing a high-volume brand on Amazon Vendor Central (1P)
  • 3+ years directly managing complex, multi-million dollar Amazon Ads budgets.
Required Skills & Competencies

  • Deep Industry Relationships: Must possess an active, robust network of established relationships with major retail buyers and retail executives across relevant sectors.
  • Financial & Analytical Acumen: Expert-level capability in P&L management, financial forecasting, and cost-to-serve analysis. Strong fluency in digital marketing math (ROAS, TACOS, CVR, CPC) alongside standard corporate retail finance, such as wholesale margin structures and co-op allowances.
  • Omnichannel Understanding: A strong grasp of how wholesale integrates into a broader omnichannel business, ensuring harmony between wholesale, brand retail stores, and e-commerce.
  • Amazon Logistics Expertise: Practical knowledge of Vendor Central operational compliance, including EDI integrations, ASNs, packaging compliance (FFP/SIOC), and chargeback dispute mechanisms.
  • Strategic Architect vs. Operator: Comfortable building a complex, numbers-driven business case for the executive leadership team just as much as picking up the phone to pitch a major retail buyer.
  • Brand Protectionist: Ensures that both traditional wholesale and Amazon amplify Duluth92s legendary brand story, creating a win-win strategy that protects the brand without diluting it or causing channel conflict.
  • Cross-Functional Diplomat: Capable of pivoting seamlessly between a creative marketing growth mindset and a rigid, execution-focused logistics mindset to guide internal cross-functional teams through complex new timelines and operational demands.
  • Project Management & Timeline Rigor: You possess a meticulous approach to project architecture, translating complex, multi-phased strategies into clear, actionable roadmaps with precise deadlines, milestones, and contingency planning.
  • Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Duluth Headquarters Benefits and Perks

Our pursuit of a better way isn92t just about our products92it92s about our people too. That92s why our Dam Good Crew enjoys a comprehensive benefits package, designed to support their well-being and success.

  • Multiple Medical plan options

  • Dental & Vision plans

  • Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

  • Health Savings Account including company contributions

  • Company paid Life Insurance and AD&D

  • Company paid Short-Term Disability

  • Other various voluntary benefits including: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Long-Term Disability and Supplemental Life Insurance

  • 401(k) Employer Match

  • Parental Leave

  • Paid holidays: New Year92s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

  • Paid Time Off: take it as you need it policy for exempt employees

  • Daily pay available

  • 40% Employee Discount

Position Compensation Outline

Compensation Range: $140,000 - $190,000/year

This position is eligible to participate in the company bonus and long term incentive programs upon hire.

Relocation assistance is available for candidates located outside of commuting distance to the headquarters office.

Compensation listed is for the full-time position at these specific locations and is based on several factors, including experience, and qualifications. Benefits and perks may have eligibility requirements and are subject to change.

#LIONSITE

The responsibilities outlined in this position description are a guideline for the general duties of the position and are not exhaustive of all duties inherent in the job.

About Duluth Trading Co

Duluth Trading Co is a retail company that specializes in workwear and outdoor clothing. The company was founded in 1989 by Steve Schlecht and is based in Belleville, Wisconsin. Duluth Trading Co operates through various channels including retail stores, online sales, and catalog sales. The company's products are known for their durability and functionality, and are designed to meet the needs of tradespeople and outdoor enthusiasts. Duluth Trading Co has experienced significant growth in recent years, with revenue increasing from $570 million in 2019 to $662 million in 2020. The company has also expanded its retail footprint, with 62 stores across the United States as of 2021.
Learn more about Duluth Trading Co
Size
1,106 employees
Market Cap
$188.9 million
Industry
Net Income
$16.1 million
Founded
1989
5 Year Trend
+13.2%
Revenue
$642.4 million
NASDAQ

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