Director of Wholesale Sales

Director of Wholesale Sales

Lela Rose | New York, NY

The Director of Wholesale Sales will lead and grow Lela Rose’s wholesale business across key domestic retail partners, driving revenue, profitability, and brand elevation. This role is highly cross-functional, partnering closely with Merchandising, Design, Planning, Finance to deliver best-in-class assortments, seasonal strategies, and execution. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, analytical rigor, deep relationships with top luxury retailers, and a refined taste level aligned with the Lela Rose brand.

• Lead and develop the wholesale sales team to achieve revenue, margin, and profitability goals.
• Drive wholesale sales strategy across brick-and-mortar and e-commerce partners.
• Present and sell seasonal collections; create account-level business plans to optimize growth and distribution.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key retail partners, including Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Nordstrom.
• Partner with buying teams on seasonal strategies, assortments, inventory efficiency, and sales performance.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Design, and Production to develop, edit, and execute seasonal assortments.
• Use selling performance, market trends, and competitive insights to inform product strategy and future planning.
• Forecast demand, manage account profitability, and oversee inventory flow and sell-through.
• Conduct market appointments and store visits to assess execution and identify growth opportunities.
• Manage the wholesale sales budget, reporting, and KPIs; partner cross-functionally to ensure aligned execution.
• Oversee door distribution and evaluate account performance to ensure optimal brand representation and profitability.
• Conduct seasonal hindsight reviews and business analyses to continuously refine strategies and improve results.
• Represent the brand at market, key account meetings, and industry events to strengthen visibility and partnerships.
• Create and build the roadmap for international expansion.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 7–10+ years of wholesale sales experience in women’s contemporary or luxury fashion.
• Proven leader with experience managing and developing sales teams.
• Strong analytical, retail math, and strategic planning skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities.
• High taste level and strong understanding of the luxury fashion landscape.
• Flexible to travel and work within the market calendar.