Vice President, U.S. Retail

Oatey Co.; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 173,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Health insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Oatey Co. is seeking a Vice President, U.S. Retail to lead the U.S. retail strategy, drive sales growth, and strengthen partnerships with major retailers. The role requires building and guiding a high-performing team, deep knowledge of big-box and hardware channels, and cross-functional leadership across marketing, product, and supply chain.

The position emphasizes omnichannel execution, profitability, and strategic customer programs, with 30% travel and Cleveland as a preferred location.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years in home improvement retail or related roles.
• Proven track record of growing sales and profitability with strategic customers.
• Experience building high-performing teams and negotiating programs.
• Strong understanding of retail dynamics, e-commerce, and omnichannel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the retail division's strategic plan to elevate brand, grow sales and profitability.
• Lead the retail sales organization, building a collaborative, growth-oriented team.
• Coach and mentor team members to improve performance and customer relationships.
• Set goals, KPIs, and rhythms to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Maintain senior-level relationships with Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other key customers.
• Identify new opportunities via product launches, expanded distribution, and category growth.
• Collaborate with product management and marketing to launch products meeting customer needs.
• Drive brand visibility, storytelling, and digital content in retail channels.
• Work with e-commerce and digital teams for strong omnichannel execution.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, pricing, and customer programs for profitable growth.
• Lead negotiations on pricing, rebates, contracts, and line reviews.
• Coordinate with finance and pricing to monitor profitability and tariffs.
• Align with supply chain and operations for launch readiness and service levels.
• Participate in S&OP to coordinate forecasts and launches.
• Monitor market trends and competition for growth opportunities.
• Communicate priorities clearly to sales teams, marketing, and leadership.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, urgency, and accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Sales growth

Strategic partnerships

Financial acumen

Analytical skills

Communication

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Job description

Why Oatey?

Since 1916, Oatey has provided reliable, high-quality products for the residential and commercial plumbing industries, with a commitment to delivering quality, building trust and improving lives. Today, Oatey operates a comprehensive manufacturing and distribution network comprised of industry leading family of companies: Oatey, Cherne, Keeney, Quick Drain, Hercules, Dearborn, Oatey Canada, William H. Harvey, Masters, Contact, Belanger, Lansas, and Durgo.

At Oatey, we’re doing big things — and by joining us, you’ll have the chance to do big things too. You can build a strong career in an innovative, inclusive, high-performance environment, with the confidence that your company cares — about you, our customers and our world.Ready to make an impact in a place where you matter?

Position Summary

The Vice President, U.S. Retail will contribute to Oatey’s success by leading the company’s U.S. retail strategy, sales growth, customer partnerships, brand presence, and retail team development. This individual will be responsible for developing and executing strategies that grow sales, improve profitability, strengthen Oatey’s position with key retail customers, and expand brand relevance in today’s evolving home improvement marketplace.

This role requires a leader who can continue to develop and elevate a strong existing team, further strengthen alignment and accountability, deepen strategic customer relationships, identify new growth opportunities, and work cross-functionally to bring new products, programs, and solutions to market. The Vice President, U.S. Retail must have a strong understanding of the full home improvement retail landscape, including big box retailers, retail co-ops, hardware distributors, and other strategic customer channels. This leader must bring deep knowledge of these customers while leading through changing consumer behavior, omnichannel expectations, margin pressure, tariffs, supply chain complexity, digital commerce, and increased competition.

This role requires close partnership with leaders across retail channel marketing, product management, brand management, e-commerce, supply chain, distribution, manufacturing, finance, pricing, and operations to ensure the retail business is aligned, competitive, and positioned for long-term growth.

Position Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the retail division’s strategic plan (Elevate) to improve brand position, increase sales, improve profitability, expand market share, and strengthen Oatey’s position with key retail customers.
• Lead the retail sales organization with a focus on building a strong, accountable, collaborative, and growth-oriented team.
• Coach, develop, and mentor team members to improve performance, strengthen customer relationships, build business acumen, and create future leadership capability.
• Establish clear goals, expectations, KPIs, and operating rhythms to drive accountability, execution, and continuous improvement across the retail team.
• Build and maintain strong senior-level relationships with Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other retail customers, serving as a strategic partner focused on mutual growth.
• Identify and pursue new sales opportunities through new products, expanded distribution, line reviews, category growth, merchandising improvements, Pro-at-Retail opportunities, and customer-specific programs.
• Partner with product management, and retail channel marketing to develop and launch new products that meet customer needs, support category growth, and strengthen Oatey’s brand position.
• Grow and protect Oatey’s brands in retail by improving brand visibility, product storytelling, merchandising, packaging, digital content, and the overall customer experience.
• Collaborate with e-commerce and digital teams to ensure strong omnichannel execution, including online content, digital shelf performance, search, ratings and reviews, and customer-specific digital requirements.
• Manage retail budgets, forecasts, pricing strategies, customer programs, and promotional investments to support profitable growth.
• Lead customer negotiations, including pricing, rebates, merchandising programs, contracts, line reviews, and strategic business plans.
• Partner with finance and pricing teams to evaluate profitability, margin performance, customer programs, cost changes, tariffs, and pricing actions.
• Collaborate with supply chain, manufacturing, distribution, and operations to ensure customer service levels, inventory availability, launch readiness, and operational execution meet both customer and Oatey expectations.
• Participate in sales and operations planning to ensure retail forecasts, inventory needs, customer programs, and new product launches are aligned across the organization.
• Monitor market trends, competitive activity, consumer behavior, customer strategies, and industry changes to identify risks and growth opportunities.
• Communicate clearly and consistently with sales teams, reps, marketing, supply chain, operations, finance, and executive leadership regarding customer priorities, new products, pricing actions, legislative changes, tariffs, supply chain updates, and business performance.
• Create a culture of collaboration, urgency, accountability, innovation, and customer focus across the retail organization.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in the home improvement industry required, with direct experience calling on or leading business with all business segments of the retail home improvement industry (big box, retail co-op’s, hardware distribution)
• Proven track record of growing sales, improving profitability, and building strong strategic customer partnerships.
• Experience leading, developing, and building high-performing teams.
• Experience successfully negotiating customer programs, pricing actions, merchandising programs, rebates, contracts, and line reviews in a lead role.
• Strong understanding of retail channel dynamics, including store execution, merchandising, category management, Pro customer needs, e-commerce, and omnichannel retail.
• Experience launching new products and working cross-functionally with product management, marketing, supply chain, finance, and operations.
• Rough plumbing or building materials department experience preferred but not required.
• Strong financial acumen, analytical ability, math skills, writing skills, presentation skills, and basic contract understanding.
• Ability to operate in a fast-changing business environment with shifting customer expectations, margin pressure, supply chain challenges, tariffs, and competitive activity.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, customers, sales teams, rep agencies, and cross-functional partners.
• Travel approximately 30% of the time.
• Potential to live in Cleveland, Atlanta, Charlotte, or Chicago. Cleveland is the preferred location.

Education and Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required, or equivalent relevant experience in lieu of degree.

Physical Activities and Other Working Conditions:

• Travel approximately 30% of time

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Compensation Range for the Position:

$172,886.00 - $229,073.50 - $285,261.00 USD

Target Cash Profit Sharing for the Position:

25.00%

Offer amount determined by experience and review of internal talent.

Oatey Total Rewards

• Generous paid time off programs and paid company holidays to support flexibility and work-life balance

• Annual Discretionary Cash Profit Sharing

• Immediate eligibility and vesting in 401(k), including 100% company match, up to 5% of eligible compensation

• Market leading health insurance including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance offerings for associates and qualified dependents

• Significant company contribution to Health Savings Account with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability income protection coverage at no cost to associates

• Paid Maternity and Paid Parental Leave

• Tuition reimbursement

• A strong set of complementary resources to support associate well-being, including resource groups, EAP, and dedicated mental health support.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Oatey family of companies are an equal opportunity employer committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We recruit, employ, promote, and offer competitive pay for all jobs without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

At Oatey we are committed to help our Associates grow their career.