Impress employers and recruiters.
Choose from hundreds of resume examples.
Impress employers and recruiters.
Choose from hundreds of resume examples.
Target Resume Now
About the Role
The Strategic Account Director – Department Stores will own and lead Columbia’s U.S. department store business, including key national accounts. This role is responsible for setting strategy, driving revenue and profitability, and managing the commercial relationship with important retail partners, operating at the intersection of brand, product, and financial performance.
Responsibilities
- Own and lead the department store business, with full accountability for revenue, margin, and long-term growth
- Develop and execute strategic account plans for Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Belk that expand market share and strengthen partnerships
- Build and maintain senior-level relationships with merchants and executives, influencing assortment, pricing, and in-season decisions
- Drive sell-in and sell-through performance across accounts, including ownership of pricing architecture, markdown strategy, and inventory flow
- Lead seasonal assortment strategy in partnership with merchants and internal merchandising teams
- Deliver data-driven insights and business reviews that inform both customer and internal decision-making
- Identify opportunities to expand distribution, optimize assortments, and improve profitability across the department store channel
- Partner cross-functionally across merchandising, planning, product, and marketing to ensure aligned execution and go-to-market success
- Lead and develop a high-performing team, creating clarity, accountability, and consistent execution
Requirements
- Commercial leader who approaches the role as a true business owner, not just an account manager
- Experienced in working directly with department store merchants and buying teams
- Able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a fast-moving environment
- Highly effective in influencing decisions across both external partners and internal stakeholders
- Strong in retail math, with a clear understanding of margin drivers, sell-through, and inventory dynamics
- A leader who builds accountability, clarity, and performance within teams
- 10+ years of wholesale sales experience in apparel, with clear progression into leadership roles
- Direct ownership of major U.S. department store accounts (e.g., Macy’s, Nordstrom, Belk, Kohl’s, Dillard’s or similar)
- Proven track record managing and growing multi-million-dollar wholesale businesses, with accountability for revenue and margin
- Demonstrated ownership of: pricing strategy, markdown management, inventory flow and replenishment and season assortment planning
- Strong, established relationships with department store merchants and buyers, with the ability to influence decisions at multiple levels
- Experience leading cross-functional work across merchandising, planning, product, and marketing
- A background in brand-side apparel wholesale, with exposure to fashion, lifestyle, or performance categories
- Experience operating in environments where sell-through performance, margin management, and inventory discipline are critical to success
- The ability to translate consumer, product, and financial insights into clear commercial strategies that drive growth
- A track record of leading teams or influencing across organizations to deliver consistent business results
Skills
- Wholesale sales
- Account management
- Strategic planning
- Revenue and profitability management
- Commercial relationship management
- Brand positioning
- Product assortment
- Financial performance
- Market share expansion
- Partnership development
- Relationship building
- Influencing decisions
- Sell-in and sell-through performance
- Pricing strategy
- Markdown management
- Inventory flow
- Assortment strategy
- Data analysis
- Business reviews
- Distribution expansion
- Profitability optimization
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Team leadership
- Retail math
- Margin drivers
- Sell-through analysis
- Inventory dynamics
- Commercial strategy development
Location
- U.S.
Work Type
- Full-time
Experience Level
- 10+ years of wholesale sales experience in apparel
- Progression into leadership roles
Salary/Compensations
- $194,680 - $340,570
About the Company
- Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in designing, sourcing, marketing, and distributing outdoor and active lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment.
- Our four primary brands — Columbia®, Mountain Hardwear®, SOREL® and prAna® — complement each other to address the diverse needs of active consumers and their products have gained an international reputation for their innovation, quality and performance.
Equal Opportunity
- Columbia Sportswear Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
- Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.