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Head of Ecommerce job description
For ecommerce recruitment support, get in touch with our expert consultants.
This page covers key information about the Head of Ecom job title. From a job description template through to the average salaries and how to approach ecommerce recruitment.
For more advice get in touch with our specialist recruiters for a no-strings-attached chat.
What does a Head of Ecommerce do?
The Head of Ecommerce plays a crucial role in an ecommerce business. This role is responsible for developing and implementing an ecommerce strategy that improves customer experience, drives sales and increases conversion rates. In this leadership role, they're also responsible for overseeing the ecommerce team, ensuring that they're working effectively and efficiently.
Key responsibilities
While the Head of Ecom job description might vary, the main responsibilities of the role include:
- Develop a leading ecom strategy: Develop and implement a leading strategy to meet sales and profit targets.
- Ecommerce management: Full responsibility of the ecommerce journey, managing a cross-functional team to execute your strategy. The Head of will manage, lead and develop the omnichannel team, including trading, sales, content and digital marketing.
- Budget management: Set and track channel KPIs inline with the overall business goals. Develop channel budgets ensuring sales, costs and profit remain on track.
- Optimisation: Constantly look to improve site performance, identifying innovative tech solutions to reduce barriers to sale. Work closely with third parties to manage end to end projects that enhance the user experience.
- Merchandising: Manage and plan the merchandising of products. This includes monitoring inventory levels and highlighting replenishment and growth opportunities.
- Digital marketing: Work closely with the marketing, communications and social media teams to ensure consistent messaging. Plus, the Head of Ecom will oversee performance marketing channels, including PPC, SEO, affiliate and email marketing.
- Omnichannel: Work with the operations team to optimise omnichannel services, including click and collect, returns to store and in-store ordering. Report on these services, identifying areas for improvement.
- Reporting: Monitor, analyse and report on KPIs to communicate progress to the board.
Skills and requirements
To hire a Head of Ecommerce, you should search for the following requirements:
- Minimum of 6 years of experience in ecommerce, with a track record of delivering significant revenue growth
- Data-driven mindset and analytical skills, with experience using tools such as Google Analytics and Hotjar
- Proven experience optimising a brand's online presence across their website and ecommerce platforms, as well as their omnichannel strategies
- Experience managing a cross-functional team, with an understanding of the fundamentals of digital marketing and UX design
- A proven leader, with the ability to motivate and inspire your team
- Strong commercial acumen, with experience managing budgets
- Excellent communications skills
Average salary
Hiring managers should acknowledge that salaries can vary based on a number of reasons. This includes business size, industry and the seniority of the hire. For more information, download our salary guide below.
When to hire a Head of Ecommerce
You're ready to hire a Head of Ecommerce when you need to take your online business to the next level. Up until now, an Ecommerce Manager would have managed your digital presence on a day to day basis. Their main responsibility would have been to maintain the website and platforms to encourage a smooth customer journey. However, you can only grow organically to a certain point.
The Head of Ecom will come in, assess your current capabilities and define the strategy that will take your business to the next level.
How to start hiring
We understand how crucial it is for businesses to have the right ecommerce leadership in place in order to grow. Getting the recruitment process right is crucial.
To do this, you need to understand which type of Head of Ecommerce you need. The job description can vary based on your growth plan and what you need to get there. We also recommend assessing your existing ecommerce team's skills. To build an effective team, you need to ensure that each of their skill sets are complementary and cover every channel you might need.
For more support in deciding the type of Head of you need, get in touch with our skilled recruiters. They have years of advisory experience, and have done the same for a variety of brands, such as Ancient + Brave.
Career path
When the Head of Ecom is ready to progress their career, they might pursue the following job titles.
Ecommerce Director
With enough experience as a Head of, candidates can progress to the Director job title. In this senior leadership role, they will have more exposure to the board, ensuring their strategy is inline with business goals.
Ecommerce Consultant
Seasoned ecom professionals can offer their services to brands on an interim basis as an Ecommerce Consultant. We're seeing an unprecedented growth in demand for Consultants as companies look for leadership through transformational projects. This is the perfect opportunity for those who feel they have reached a cap in their career and are looking for more flexibility.
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