Overview
Head of Wholesale Business Development Jobs in Wakefield, England, United Kingdom at Cleens
Title: Head of Wholesale Business Development
Company: Cleens
Location: Wakefield, England, United Kingdom
ABOUT CLEENS
Cleens is a multi-channel footwear and lifestyle brand rooted in design and culture – recently successfully expanding into apparel. The brand enjoys relationships with several Tier 1 partners such as Flannels, Selfridges & Harvey Nichols in the UK along with global partners such as Ounass across the Middle East, De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands and Nordstrom in the USA. Scaling quickly, our wholesale and international presence is a core pillar of commercial growth alongside the direct-to-consumer business.
THE ROLE
We are looking for a commercially sharp, relationship-driven Head of Wholesale Business Development to lead and grow Cleens' wholesale channel globally. This is a dual mandate: protect and grow our existing tier 1 accounts, while building a pipeline of new accounts across new territories and retail formats.
You will own the wholesale P&L, sit at the centre of retailer relationships from buyer to boardroom, and work closely with the founders, creative and media teams to ensure Cleens shows up consistently and commercially across every account.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own and grow existing key accounts (e.g. Selfridges, Nordstrom, Flannels), managing seasonal buy cycles, sell-through performance, and account-level P&L.
- Build and execute a global new business strategy, identifying, pitching and onboarding new tier 1 and tier 2 wholesale and targeted independent store partners.
- Act as the primary commercial contact for buyers and category managers, managing negotiations on terms, margin, marketing support and space/placement.
- Develop account plans per retailer, including growth targets, product assortment strategy, and in-season trading reviews.
- Lead range-planning conversations with the design and creative teams to ensure product is tailored to each retail partner's customer and positioning.
- Represent Cleens at trade shows, buyer meetings and market weeks internationally to build the brand's wholesale presence.
- Track competitor activity and retail landscape shifts to identify new territory and account opportunities.
- Partner with finance functions to forecast wholesale revenue, manage margin and pricing architecture across markets, and report on account performance.
- Build and eventually lead a small wholesale team as the channel scales.
WHAT YOU'LL BRING
- 5+ years' experience in wholesale, business development or key account management within fashion, footwear or lifestyle brands.
- A demonstrable track record of growing revenue within tier 1 retail accounts (e.g. Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Nordstrom, Flannels, or equivalent).
- Proven success opening new wholesale accounts and territories from scratch, ideally with international/global scope.
- Strong commercial acumen – comfortable owning a P&L, negotiating terms and margin and forecasting.
- Existing relationships with buyers and category managers at major department stores and premium retailers is a strong advantage.
- A natural relationship-builder who can operate credibly from buyer level through to senior leadership.
- Comfortable working in a fast-moving, founder-led environment where you'll be hands-on as well as strategic.
- Genuine affinity for the culture Cleens sits within – design and lifestyle with an instinct for how that translates commercially in a retail environment.
- Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally as required.
WHY JOIN CLEENS
- A genuine opportunity to shape and own the wholesale strategy for a fast-growing, culturally distinct brand.
- Direct access to founders and senior leadership – this is a role with real autonomy and influence.
- A brand with strong existing tier 1 relationships and real momentum, rather than a cold start.
- Competitive package with performance-linked incentives tied directly to account growth.
