Director of Distribution

Job Title: Director of Distribution

Job Level: Senior-Level

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Job Location: Cotopaxi Distribution Center: West Valley City, Utah

Job Compensation: $115-150k plus annual bonus potential

About Cotopaxi:

Cotopaxi is a B Corporation that makes adventure travel gear to empower people to see the world and make it better. Our Gear for Good^Ⓡ promise is to make our products as ethically, sustainably, and durably as possible, while having a positive social, environmental, and economic impact. We dedicate 1% of revenue to the Cotopaxi Foundation, which supports nonprofit partners with proven track records of alleviating poverty. Through our Foundation to date, we have helped more than 4.25 million individuals experiencing extreme poverty. For more information, visit www.cotopaxi.com.

Cotopaxi is a company that values people, innovation, and adventure and our work environment reflects just that. Whether you are working from one of our retail stores, our headquarters, your couch at home, or even your van in the woods, you’ll feel the camaraderie of our amazing team of visionaries, builders and go-getters. We are a team of adventurous, mission-driven people looking to prove that business CAN be a force for good.

Job Overview (What You’ll Do):

Cotopaxi is seeking a passionate and experienced Director of Distribution to lead and oversee all aspects of our 141,000 sq ft Utah Distribution Center. This senior-level role will be responsible for ensuring efficient and effective distribution operations, fostering team development, and driving process improvements to meet the company's high standards of accuracy, performance, and sustainability. 

Ideal for a candidate who is a results-oriented, innovative problem solver that excels at leading teams and improving distribution operations while being able to uphold Cotopaxi's mission of sustainability and social impact.

The Director of Distribution will report to the VP of Operations and be an integral part of the operations team, working cross-functionally with various departments to ensure seamless distribution, logistics, and customer fulfillment.

Job Responsibilities (How You’ll Do It):

• General Management of Distribution Center: Lead and manage all aspects of the West Valley City Distribution Center, ensuring efficient inbound and outbound operations, order accuracy, and timely fulfillment.
• Operational Excellence: Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs within the distribution center, while upholding high standards of accuracy and performance.
• International & Domestic Logistics: Oversee logistics operations, including international freight (ocean, airfreight, terminal operations) and domestic transportation, ensuring smooth and cost-effective delivery to retail and wholesale customers.
• Team Leadership & Development: Build, manage, and mentor a diverse team of operations professionals. Establish KPIs and provide regular performance feedback to ensure accountability and professional development.
• Vendor Management: Collaborate with both internal teams and third-party vendors (3PLs, transportation providers, etc.) to meet operational needs and scale fulfillment capabilities.
• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Coordination: Work closely with the technology, sales, and customer service teams to ensure seamless order processing, fulfillment, and communication of order status to stakeholders.
• Compliance & Order Fulfillment Standards: Ensure compliance with all labeling, documentation, and vendor routing guidelines to meet wholesale customer requirements (REI, Amazon, and others).
• Budget & Cost Management: Manage the operational budget for the distribution center, including staffing, technology investments, and facility costs, ensuring adherence to financial targets.
• Continuous Improvement & Reporting: Develop and monitor KPIs to measure performance and drive operational improvements. Implement standardized procedures (SOPs) to streamline cross-departmental processes.
• Sustainability Commitment: Uphold Cotopaxi’s mission of sustainability by integrating responsible and eco-friendly practices within the distribution and fulfillment process.
• Safety & Engagement: Accountable for ensuring a safe workplace by establishing and implementing safety protocols and standards. Foster a positive, respectful, and inclusive workplace culture for all employees to collaborate and recognize performance to increase employee engagement.

The Ideal Candidate (What You Need to Succeed):

• 10+ years of experience in distribution, logistics, or fulfillment operations, including leadership of a multi-faceted distribution center with a heavy emphasis on B2B sales support.
• Proven track record in wholesale order fulfillment and vendor compliance, especially with major retail accounts.
• Deep understanding of international and domestic transportation logistics.
• Experience in managing both in-house and 3PL operations.
• Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to build, mentor, and retain high-performing teams.
• Expertise in identifying operational inefficiencies and implementing process improvements to enhance performance.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to leverage data to inform decision-making and drive operational improvements.
• Familiarity with warehouse management systems (WMS) and the ability to collaborate with technology teams to optimize system integrations. Jasci and NetSuite experience preferred.
• Innovative and solutions-oriented, with a proactive approach to challenges.
• Ability to move throughout all areas of Distribution Center, perform heavy lifting up to 50 pounds, prolonged standing, sitting, frequent bending, twisting, and reaching, and occasional climbing on stairs, ladders, and operating equipment.
• Able to commute to Cotopaxi’s Distribution Center in West Valley City up to 5x per week.

Job Benefits (The Perks):

We deeply care about our employees and are proud of our commitment and investment in our team. We prioritize wages and benefits and always keep the employee experience in mind as we work to create a quality work-life balance for everyone.

Here is a snapshot of the benefits we provide:

• Medical, dental and vision benefits.
• Company paid basic life insurance.
• Company paid short-term disability coverage.
• Company paid life assistance program, with the election of medical coverage.
• Company paid mental health benefits.
• Company paid volunteer time.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Unlimited responsible PTO.
• 60% off Cotopaxi products.
• Additional outdoor/adventure/lifestyle brand discounts.
• Annual company-wide outings and regular virtual/in-person celebrations.
• A fun, mission and people-first company culture!

As a mission-driven brand, Cotopaxi is not only hyper aware of but also deeply invested in putting people first and paving the way as a humanitarian brand. We welcome, embrace and celebrate all people regardless of gender, age, race, disability, nationality, ethnicity, faith, or sexual orientation. We believe in Doing Good, and how we’re involved with that has no limits.

No matter what experience you have within the outdoor industry we encourage you to apply. At Cotopaxi we believe that experience comes from a variety of places. We look for individuals who thrive on challenges, are passionate about doing good, and believe that collaboration and radical candor are necessary for success. Show us how your experiences have shaped you and how you can contribute to Cotopaxi in our mission to Do Good. We can’t wait for you to share with us your personal story!

Cotopaxi participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.