Director of Operations (Wholesale Distribution)

Drexel is a true Canadian success story, calling London, Ontario, Canada our home since 2011. We are a family-owned and operated Woman-Owned Business, and we are committed to Sustainability and meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Drexel is a wholesale distribution and Third-Party Logistics (3PL) service provider specializing in retail, telecommunication, enterprise, government, and manufacturing customers. With a strong core of strategic partners, Drexel connects end users to a myriad of products and services throughout Canada.

Drexel runs on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). It is the way that our people think, work, support, and communicate as a collaborative team to work towards common goals and drive unified success, all by rowing in the same direction. And with a such strong foundation, the culture at Drexel is built on our shared core values—Innovation, Accountability, Partnerships, Trustworthy, and Excellence. We at Drexel are strongly determined to continuously evolve, exude pride and ownership in our roles, build strong relationships internally and externally, honour our commitments to help each other, and strive to put forth our best effort in all that we do.

If you share our core values and are interested in what Drexel has to offer, we want to connect with you! Let us know how you can be part of our team and our culture.

Additional information about Drexel can be found at Drexel.ca.

Join our innovative team as the leader of Wholesale Operations! This high-impact role offers the chance to drive operational excellence, manage a dedicated team, and contribute to our company’s growth. If you have strong skills in communication, operations, and purchasing, we’d love to hear from you!

Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Operations will work closely with various departments including Retail Sale, Product, Business Intelligence, and Accounting. You will serve as the primary point of contact for the Wholesale Division with our 3rd Party Logistics Division, Drexel 3PL, ensuring seamless inventory management and order fulfillment. As a successful candidate, you will oversee Wholesale Operations, Purchasing, 3PL relationship & oversight, Customer and Vendor Demand Planning & Forecasting, and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI).

Team Responsibilities:

• Forecasting:
  • Manage and maintain accurate, consistent forecasting processes.
  • Lead Customer and Vendor Planning Forecasting & Replenishment (CPFR) meetings to determine inventory requirements. 
  • Analyze inputs from the Sales Team regarding customer inventory requirements and promotional schedules.
  • Present weekly inventory recommendations to senior management to align purchasing decisions.
• Purchasing/Procurement:
  • Develop and execute an effective procurement strategy.
  • Research and evaluate potential suppliers.
  • Negotiate pricing and delivery terms with external suppliers.
  • Issue and track purchase orders after approval.
  • Review and approve invoices.
  • Oversee contract administration and maintenance (excluding product vendors).
• Drexel 3PL:
  • Represent the Wholesale Distribution business as a Drexel 3PL customer.
  • Oversee order allocation and monitor KPI’s.
  • Coordinate kitting and assembly for retail distribution projects.
  • Ensure compliance with customer and vendor guidelines.
  • Identify and initiate cost reduction opportunities. initiatives.
  • Provide customer service to partners and stakeholders.
• Business Intelligence and IT Collaboration:
  • Conduct account and market reviews with KPI’s, identifying best practices and learnings for key accounts in conjunction with the SVP of Business Development, VP of Business Intelligence & Planning, and Controller.
  • Collaborate on automating reporting and reconciliation initiatives.
  • Liaison with the VP of Business Intelligence & Planning to address any Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or Application Protocol Interface (API) maintenance issues and support new customer/vendor development initiatives. 
• Inventory Control:
  • Manage SKU/brand lifecycles in collaboration with the VP of Product and the Accounting department to address forecasting, status changes, liquidation, and duty drawbacks.
  • Coordinate with key stakeholders to track and implement customer/vendor stock balancing and RMAs.
  • Manage and track inbound inventory related to shipping, handling, and brokerage until it reaches Drexel 3PL.
• Ensure clear and consistent communication with internal staff across all departments, including marketing, sales, supply chain and planning.
• Other duties as required.

What we are looking for:

• Core Values: Innovative, Accountable, Partnership, Trustworthy, Excellence.
• Degree in Business or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in operations, purchasing, and forecasting within national retail distribution.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite, with strong Excel competency. 
• Experience in using Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Drexel’s ERP system).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills with keen attention to detail.

Job Location
Fully remote, London or GTA

What Drexel offers you as a team member:

• Discretionary bonus
• Car allowance
• Employee discounts
• Remote work
• Group benefits program including Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Long Term Disability (LTD), Critical Illness, Extended Health (e.g., prescription drugs and paramedical services like massage therapy and chiropractors), Dental, Vision Care, and Employee & Family Assistance Program
• Paid time-off
• GoodLife Fitness Corporate membership discount

How to Apply
Please send in your resume in Word or PDF format. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment process. You can request reasonable accommodations at any time during the recruitment process.