Associate Director, Retail Management Services (Amazon) at VML (Chicago Illinois, United States)Associate Director, Retail Management Services (Amazon)

VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. 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.

For more information, please visit www.vml.comand follow along on  LinkedIn #WeAreVML.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefitsfor more details.

_ $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.

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