This post presents in-depth information on the logistics director job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.
It also highlights the major requirements you will need to meet if you are applying for the logistics director role.
What Does a Logistics Director Do?
The logistics director is responsible for planning and carrying out the procurement, production, distribution and sale of company products.
They ensure company’s supply chain is cost effective, can provision all products to meet customer demand, and is compliant with Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH).
The logistics director job description involves monitoring performance of the supply chain, including costs and service levels.
It entails improving performance and reducing costs by investment in automation, process improvements of current operations, etc.
Logistics directors manage relationships with suppliers, customers within specific sectors (e.g. automotive) for the Company’s product range covered by the supply chain management function or its sub-functions, such as sourcing and logistics planning or procurement function.
They liaise with customers on issues relating to supply chain management, procurement, and logistics.
The logistics director work description also entails implementing strategic logistic plans within the supply chain management function.
It also involves ensuring the company’s supply chain is compliant with the appropriate regulation within the scope of their responsibilities.
Logistics directors delegate tasks across functions along the supply chain management function.
All these actions are subject to authorization from one or more senior managers or directors as appropriate e.g. for compliance with regulation.
They prepare and present reports in accordance with the relevant standards and guidelines, e.g. CIM classification standards and ISO 9001 requirements, to senior managers as appropriate.
Logistics directors are also responsible for maintaining supply chain performance management systems and controls, including the implementation of supplier assessments, supplier development plans or a customer complaint resolution system as necessary.
They are also in charge of Supply Chain Management, which is a cause-and-effect plan that defines the results needed to be achieved (e.g., cost reduction objectives); the tasks, responsibilities, accountabilities, authority structures, and performance evaluation structures.
This position maintains a system of controls to ensure compliance with quality, safety, and security requirements.
Other duties of the logistics director include reviewing supplier performance and taking corrective action as required, to improve performance.
Logistics directors implement strategies and tactics for the company’s marketing and sales departments to reduce the cost of products sold in order to compete effectively against other companies that sell similar products within the industry sector, etc.
Providing advice and recommendations on strategies to improve overall supply chain performance to senior managers as appropriate is one of key duties they perform.
Logistics Director Job Description Sample/Example/Template
The logistics director job description involves the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:
- Plan and coordinate the strategic direction of the organization’s logistics department
- Monitor and adjust logistics costs to ensure that they remain competitive and efficient
- Evaluate internal and external logistics activities to ensure they are meeting objectives and identifying potential areas for improvement
- Negotiate with vendors to obtain optimal pricing on products, services and equipment needed by the organization’s logistics department
- Analyze sales data to identify patterns of customer demand, and forecast future demand by segment or category
- Prioritize logistics activities based on potential return on investment, cost savings or other metrics
- Develop and maintain a logistics strategy that includes a plan for capital expenditures to improve the department’s infrastructure, including the use of advanced technology
- Monitor logistical activities in overseas locations to ensure compliance with the organization’s logistical policies and standards
- Collaborate with outside logistics providers to develop strategies for gaining competitive advantage in areas such as transportation, warehousing and inventory management
- Conduct research and gather data on logistics industry trends that may affect the organization’s competitive position, and advise managers of action they should take as a result of these trends
- Delegate specific responsibilities to subordinate managers within the department based on their areas of expertise or experience, such as financial planning, project management or supply chain management.
Logistics Director Job Description for Resume
If you are making a new resume or CV as someone who has worked before as a logistics director or are presently working in that role, then you can apply the sample logistics director job description above in making the Professional Experience section of the resume.
You can express the duties and responsibilities you have performed or are currently carrying out as a logistics director in the Professional Experience of your resume by applying the ones given in the above logistics director job description.
This will show to the recruiter/employer that you have been effective performing the job of a logistics director, which can boost your chances of being hired for the new role that you are seeking, especially if it requires the right candidate to have some logistics director work experience.
Logistics Director Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success
Here are essential job requirements that you may be asked to fulfill if you are applying for the logistics director’s job position:
- Higher education. Most employers prefer that candidates have either a Master’s degree or Ph.D. in fields like Business Administration or Logistics, or other related fields
- Familiarity with an ERP system, such as SAP or Oracle, is a plus
- Experience in supply chain management, with emphasis on strategic planning and continuous improvement of operational efficiency and customer service levels
- A minimum of five years of experience should be required for managerial positions; seven to ten years for director level positions, and 12 years for senior vice president positions
- Previous experience managing employees is usually preferred over working as a consultant because it provides more accountability
- Ability to work in a team-oriented environment and cooperate with other departments within the organization
- Aptitude for analytical thinking that can apply to a variety of situations
- Excellent interpersonal skills with representatives of vendors, service providers, distributors and customers. An understanding of their business is advantageous but not required as long as employees are able to effectively communicate with these parties during negotiations and sales calls
- Ability to set and meet deadlines without extensive supervision
- A high level of integrity since logistics is an important part of the organization’s supply chain operations.
Logistics Director Salary
The average salary for a logistics director is $100,745 (payscale.com) and $108,828 (zippia.com) per year.
The top paying cities as published by Zippia are: San Leandro, CA, $133,953; Taylor, MI, $127,117; New York, NY, $125,767; Green Bay, WI, $124,781 and Enfield, CT, $123,942 per year.
Also, according to Zippia, there are currently over 24,239 logistics directors working in the United States.
Women make up 16.5% of all logistics directors, while men make up 83.5%.
An employed logistics director is 45 years old on average.
White (65.8%) is the most common ethnicity among logistics directors followed by Hispanic or Latino (16.6%), Black or African American (10.1%), and Asian (5.0%).
Conclusion
This article is useful to individuals who are interested in the logistics director career and who want to learn the work the position does.
It is also helpful to recruiters/employers in making a detailed job description for the logistics director position, for use in hiring competent people for the role.