what is a logistics manager?
As a logistics manager, you help your employer maintain their inventory levels and ensure they have enough raw materials for production activities. The responsibility for overseeing the purchase and distribution of items in a supply chain looks simple but involves complex processes. For instance, if you work in a manufacturing plant for shoes, you source the raw materials, including cloth, rubber and plastic. These come from various suppliers and should be ordered on precise schedules to avoid production delays. Apart from raw materials, you also source packaging items like boxes and labels.
what does a logistics manager do?
In logistics, you have to find a balance between costs and benefits. For instance, if you order excess raw materials to minimise transportation expenses, you incur warehouse costs. Your role as a logistics manager is to optimise the supply chain to ensure your employer has what they need in the right amounts and at the appropriate time to keep the costs low. Due to the broad scope of the role, a logistics manager should have exceptional multitasking skills to juggle various tasks and ensure the supply chain functions are accomplished.
Would working as a logistics manager suit your organisational skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a logistics manager role.
logistics manager salary
According to ONS, the average salary of a logistics manager in the UK is £33,606 per year. When you are starting your career with less than a year of experience, your median salary is £24,000 per year. The compensation package increases as your gain experience. When you have up to 4 years of experience, your earnings start at £29,861 annually. Logistics managers with advanced training and years of experience earn over £47,000 per year.
Unlike other professions with commissions, logistics managers rely on overtime hours and annual bonuses to increase their compensation package. They also receive medical insurance, allowances and non-monetary benefits like paid holidays.
what factors affect the salary of a logistics manager?
Many companies are willing to pay more for experienced logistics managers due to their value to an organisation. Supply chain management usually involves developing or applying complex strategies that require expertise. You can demand a higher compensation package when you have over five years of experience in supply chain roles. Your educational qualifications also determine earning potential since most employers prefer degree holders. Having postgraduate qualifications scales your salary. As you improve your academic qualifications, your skills improve, boosting your earnings.
The industry sector and company size also influence your pay. For instance, you are likely to earn more in manufacturing firms since the role involves inbound and outbound logistics functions. However, in the retail business, logistics functions are often inbound. A company with unlimited resources is also likely to pay more than medium-sized businesses with few logistics functions.
types of logistics managers
The main types of logistics managers include:
- inbound logistics managers: as a logistics manager, your sole focus can be on the incoming flow of resources needed to produce products or services. Your responsibilities in inbound logistics are to manage suppliers' inventories and ensure transportation schedules are aligned with production schedules to prevent delays.
- outbound logistics managers: as an outbound logistics manager, you focus on delivering products on time to consumers. For instance, you ensure the finished products are packaged and dispatched on time to meet customers' delivery schedules. You also maintain inventory in warehouses.
working as a logistics manager
Logistics managers are responsible for organising the delivery and storage of various commodities in a company. You also manage the inventory, negotiate contracts with suppliers and ensure you stick to purchase budgets.
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logistics manager job description
Some of the roles of a logistics manager include:
- managing the flow of incoming raw materials and outgoing products: as a logistics manager, you control the flow of incoming raw materials and the distribution of finished products. You optimise distribution channels and create plans to ensure delivery schedules align with production plans.
- budgeting and costing: logistics managers control supply chain costs. Your job is to negotiate favourable prices with suppliers and shipping costs. You create a budget for supply chain functions and minimise shipping expenses by building lasting working relationships with suppliers, retailers and carriers.
- supervising shipping operations: as a logistics manager, you work with delivery drivers and carriers to optimise shipping functions. You can focus on route optimisation and reviewing the performance metrics of each shipping method. You are also responsible for shipping equipment like forklifts and trucks. Hence, you need to adhere to OSHA standards and ensure the operational costs match the budget. You must also communicate emergencies and logistical concerns to the relevant stakeholders on time.
- maintaining the inventory: the primary role of a logistics manager revolves around inventory management. You keep records of inbound and outbound products or raw materials. You also track stock levels, delivery times, transport efficiency and budgets. When inventory and stock levels don't tally, you can access shipping reports and audit the inventory accounts.
- supervising and training warehouse workers: as a logistics manager, your role also involves coaching and monitoring the performance of your workforce. For improved productivity, you need to train workers and address safety hazards in the warehouses. You also supervise the workers to ensure they adhere to safe industrial practices.
- introducing safety procedures: warehouse environments need safety procedures to minimise accidents and injuries. As a logistics manager, you ensure safety protocols are in place, and employees follow them. For instance, you implement emergency procedures and train workers in handling hazardous materials.
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work environment
A typical workday of a logistics manager revolves around solving transportation problems and dealing with customers' concerns. You perform these functions in warehouses, shop floors or manufacturing settings. Warehouse work environments are climate-controlled and well-lit to keep the products or raw materials fresh and ready for shipping. In indoor office settings, you will mainly work on your computer preparing reports or updating the inventory management systems. You also spend considerable time off-site visiting clients or suppliers and negotiating shipping contracts.
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who are your colleagues?
As a logistics manager, you usually work in a warehouse or manufacturing environment, and your colleagues might include dispatcher roles, logistics coordinators, inventory managers, shift managers, warehouse operatives, and supply chain managers. You are also likely to work in close proximity to project managers and factory supervisors, as well as other specialists that could include product managers roles, warehouse managers and operations managers.
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work schedule
The work schedule of a logistics manager depends on your employment terms. For instance, if you work on a full-time contract, your work takes over 40 hours a week. Since logistics is a 24-hour operation, you will work overtime hours, including weekends, to keep up with delivery schedules and shipping times. Companies that need a logistics manager on-site have shift schedules. Part-time positions are rare in logistics manager roles, but you can find some vacancies. Remote work is also possible if you don't have to inspect goods on arrival.
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job outlook
As a logistics manager, you have promising career prospects and opportunities for growth in your field. If you want to scale upwards, consider becoming a supply chain manager who manages all aspects of supply chain processes, including logistics. You can also become an operations manager or product manager. Some logistics managers specialise in transportation or warehouse management.
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advantages of finding a logistics manager job through randstad
Finding your logistics manager job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a logistics manager is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
Logistics managers need the following academic qualifications:
- university: a logistics manager requires a bachelor's degree or a foundation degree from an institution approved by The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). You can pursue a course in supply chain management, business management or logistics. After the degree programme, you should join internships or explore further training to become a manager.
- apprenticeship: you can work on a supply chain practitioner or logistics advanced apprenticeship and build your career steadily to a logistics manager position. Apprenticeships usually require at least 4 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including maths and English.
skills and competencies
A logistics manager will find the following skills valuable:
- problem-solving skills: as the head of the logistics team, you deal with multiple challenges, from daily delivery details to shipping restrictions and shortage of storage space. Exceptional problem-solving skills will help you balance time limitations and ensure problems are resolved before affecting the entire supply chain.
- organisational skills: as a logistics manager, you need organisational skills to keep up with delivery schedules and inventory records. Having detailed records and reports documenting warehouse activities makes your job manageable since you can use the records as reference points.
- flexibility: sometimes logistics activities fall off schedule, and your job is to ensure the delay doesn't affect other logistic events. Flexibility helps you adapt to the changing situations and rework your plans.
- leadership skills: as a logistics manager, you are a leader, and you need to inspire and motivate your team. It is also crucial to understand the value of each worker to ensure you utilise their skills appropriately.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a logistics manager
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do logistics managers make good money?
Becoming a logistics manager is a rewarding career with an attractive salary. You receive a lucrative compensation package, including multiple benefits and bonuses.
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what does a logistics manager do?
A logistics manager manages the acquisition of raw materials and the distribution of finished products. They also maintain the inventory of product storage.
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what skills does a logistics manager need?
As a logistics manager, you have to be adaptable to changes in schedules. You also need analytical skills and strategic thinking to develop exceptional logistics schedules.
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what is the highest paying job in logistics?
Procurement manager role and supply chain managers are the top-paying positions in logistics and control the entire supply chain.
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how do I apply for a logistics manager vacancy?
Applying for a logistics manager job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
