Associate Director, Retail Management Services (Amazon)

VML South Africa; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

VML is seeking an Associate Director, Commerce Operations to join our Amazon squad in New York. This hybrid role sits between the Retail Services Lead and Commerce Managers, translating client performance into actionable recommendations and guiding growth priorities on Amazon.

You will lead strategic planning, catalog optimization, promotions, and supply chain initiatives, while analyzing performance data and delivering executive-ready insights to clients and internal teams.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years managing enterprise Amazon Vendor Central (1P) and Seller Central (3P) accounts.
• Ability to interpret data and translate trends into client recommendations.
• Strong knowledge of catalog/Titles, A+ Content and PDP optimization.
• Proficient in Excel with advanced functions (VLOOKUP, Pivot, Text-to-Columns).

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day strategic support and translate client performance into actionable recommendations.
• Advise on promotions, catalog content, availability and retail execution to drive growth.
• Conduct audits and performance analyses; present findings to clients and teams.

Skills

Amazon 1P/3P accounts

Advanced Excel

Data storytelling

Strategic advisory

Executive presentation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Amazon Vendor Central

Amazon Seller Central

Job description

Who We Are
VML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and award‑winning human‑first work for clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate‑Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca‑Cola Company, and Wendy's. In 2026, VML was named Campaign’s Global Network of the Year and ranked #2 Creative Network of the Year at Cannes Lions. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.
VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting‑edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

About the Role

We are seeking a versatile and highly analytical Associate Director, Commerce Operations to join our Amazon squad. In this pivotal role, you will sit between our Retail Services Lead (who drives high-level portfolio strategy) and our Commerce Managers (who execute day‑to‑day tactical operations). This is a unique hybrid role that requires you to seamlessly flex between strategic planning and deep operational troubleshooting. You will collaborate closely with the Retail Services Lead in translating client business performance into actionable recommendations, provide guidance on Amazon growth priorities, and consult on key initiatives such as promotion strategy, catalog optimization, retail readiness, and supply chain efficiencies.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Commerce Leadership

• Strategic & Commercial Advisory: Provide day-to-day strategic support, bringing commercial context and clarity to complex business results, marketplace trends, and operational issues.
• Retail Priorities & Planning: Advise on priorities across promotions, content, catalog, availability, and retail execution, delivering proactive recommendations to drive performance and growth.

Advanced Amazon Expertise

• Operational & Catalog Guidance: Guide best practices for catalog setup, product content (PDP optimization, A+ Content, imagery), variation structures, and retail readiness.
• Operational Audits & Commercial Health: Conduct holistic audits of marketplace operations, analyzing and presenting findings on in‑stock availability, PO rejection rates, missed sales, and SKU‑level profitability.
• Collaborative Troubleshooting: Partner with commerce managers to resolve complex operational scenarios, catalog errors, and suppressions, establishing clear escalation paths for platform hurdles.

Performance Analysis

• Data Interpretation & Reporting: Review Amazon performance data to provide strategic interpretation of what is happening, why it matters, and what should happen next.
• Metric & Goal Synthesis: Connect core retail metrics—such as sales, traffic, conversion, share of search, and buy box performance—directly to broader client business goals.
• Risk & Driver Analysis: Proactively identify emerging risks and growth opportunities by evaluating retail drivers beyond raw data, including promotional support, content quality, and operational friction.

Key Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: 5-8 years of experience managing enterprise‑level Amazon Vendor Central (1P) and Seller Central (3P) accounts, ideally within an agency setting.
• Commercial Acumen: ability to interpret complex data and turn performance trends into actionable recommendations, leveraging strong commercial judgment to connect Amazon execution to business outcomes and present comfortably to client stakeholders.
• Technical Amazon Expertise: deep, practical knowledge of Amazon inventory templates, category templates, variation relationships, and the Amazon ticketing ecosystem.
• Advanced Excel Skills: you must be highly proficient in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, Concatenate, Text-to-Columns) to manipulate large catalog data sets.
• Data Synthesis & Storytelling: ability to pull raw data (Purchase Orders, Weeks of Cover, Traffic) and turn it into highly visual, executive‑ready presentations that highlight "lost opportunities" and clear next steps.

$75,000—$180,000 USD

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.