Distribution Manager

Also known as:

Freight Distribution Manager
Logistics Manager
Warehouse Manager - Distribution

Introduction

Distribution managers organise the receipt, storage and delivery of goods to customers or retail outlets. They may be employed by manufacturers, retailers or wholesale companies which use their own transport facilities.

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Work Activities

The duties of distribution managers vary considerably according to the size and type of organisation they work for. Job titles vary considerably; typical titles include operations, warehouse, and logistics manager.

Distribution managers have overall responsibility for the most cost-effective distribution of goods and/or raw materials. They may have responsibility for warehousing, stock control, order processing and packaging.

Distribution managers supervise and manage staff. This may extend to recruitment, training and staff development.

Planning and scheduling deliveries, and controlling the operation of fleets of vehicles requires the distribution manager to meet deadlines. They make sure that employees group and load items for delivery correctly in order to make the most efficient use of transport. If the company does not run its own transport fleet, it is the responsibility of the distribution manager to contract out the transport work and to liaise with the contract company.

Efficient flow of stock is essential to the profitability of an organisation. Managers must constantly maintain and improve efficiency while minimising costs. They consider the company's future development and look at ways to improve the workforce and use of resources.

Distribution managers use financial management skills - reading balance sheets and making profit and loss forecasts - to control their department's budget.

Distribution managers make the best use of the computer based systems that handle all the information needed to run their distribution centres. These systems allocate areas in the warehouse for the storage of different goods, keep records about goods received and despatched, and about orders coming in and being sent out. They can also plan routes for deliveries.

Distribution managers are often required to handle major problems and emergencies. They also liaise with suppliers and retail customers, as well as their own staff.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must have the ability to manage and motivate people to do this job. Organisational skills and numeracy are also important. Many firms use computer systems to plan warehousing and organise the movement of goods, therefore experience of using information technology is useful.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Distribution managers earn in the range of £20,000 - £25,000 a year, rising to £30,000 - £40,000. Higher earners can make around £45,000 a year.

Managers usually work a basic 40-hour week. However, depending on the operation, they may be required to work evenings, at weekends or be on call.

Employment throughout the UK is with major retail companies, manufacturers, storage companies and warehousing and distribution firms.

Some managers start out as warehouse assistants and work up through supervisory grades to management.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some managers start out as warehouse assistants and work up through supervisory grades to management. Others have related qualifications and skills gained in transport and distribution.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Business) could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

• 3% of people in occupations such as distribution management work part-time.
• 8% have flexible hours.

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