Are you a planner? Do you like managing fellow colleagues to make sure important tasks will be completed on time? If so, you may find a job as a logistics coordinator an enjoyable career path!
Logistics coordinators work in a variety of industries depending on their interests, but regardless of where they work, they are responsible for analyzing and coordinating a company’s supply chain to ensure products will be transported from the supplier to the consumer as quickly as possible. Their organizational skills and optimistic attitudes help ensure every company’s delivery process runs as smoothly as possible.
Logistics coordinators’ schedules can vary greatly depending on the company they work for. Some may be found working long hours at a desk while some may be on their feet working around in a plant or warehouse. Nonetheless, logistics coordinators need to be prepared to listen and communicate with suppliers and colleagues to guarantee deadlines are able to be met!
Sample job description
Experienced logistics coordinators play an essential role in a company’s daily operations as they take on the responsibility of communications between production, sales, and distribution to create an efficient supply chain. They are the ones reviewing orders and making sure shipments are being properly processed and sent out on time. Logistic coordinators are also responsible for looking out for errors in the transportation process and fixing them when they arise. As an ideal candidate, you should have previous experience in a supply chain management role or analytical role that has provided an opportunity to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Prepare invoices and bills
- Plan with transportation providers to ensure quick, yet proper movement of shipments
- Answer clients’ questions referring to shipments and transportation channels
- Develop different ways to make the supply chain more organized
- Create and maintain distribution and shipment budgets
- Make sure the services you provide meet the company’s standards
- Organize and manage inventory and storage
- Resolve any shipment or inventory issues that come up
- Build strong relationships with suppliers and retailers
- Oversee the entire supply chain operations
Education and experience
- High school diploma or GED
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in business or supply chain management
- Typically needs to complete an internship relevant to the field
Required skills and qualifications
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Remarkable customer service
- High customer retention
- Excellent communication skills (writing and speaking)
- Goal-oriented
- Ability to work well within a team
- Great organizational skills
- Computer software skills for inventory and communication purposes
- Effective understanding of the supply chain
Preferred qualifications
- 2+ years of supply chain experience
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
- Expert in inventory control
- Ability to adapt when obstacles arise
- Strong leadership skills
- Negotiation skills
- Experience with data analysis
Typical work environment
Logistics coordinators are found in various settings since they work in many different industries. Some may work primarily in an office where they are taking orders and reaching out to clients to update them on delivery and product. Other logistics coordinators will work directly in a warehouse or plant working with others to decide what materials are needed, tracking shipment deliveries, and resolving any issues that come about the supply chain. No matter where they are working, logistics coordinators are expected to work quickly, yet efficiently to ensure a smooth supply chain.
Typical hours
Most logistics coordinators are expected to work 40-hour weeks. However, some organizations will be more flexible and permit 30- to 35-hour workweeks. Some logistics coordinators are required to work on the weekends depending on the industry they work in.
Available certifications
There are several certifications offered by different institutions that can help demonstrate your competence in the field. Check out the following:
- Certified Logistics Associate (CLA). Earning the CLA is a great option since the course is a good introduction to supply chain management. In this course, participants will learn the everyday duties of a logistics coordinator pertaining to the global supply chain logistics’ life cycle, safety principles, workplace communications, quality control principles, and teamwork skills that help solve problems.
- Certified Logistics Technician (CLT). The CLT is a higher-level certificate earned to demonstrate the skills needed to meet the standards for frontline material handling workers across the supply chain. This course will teach interested logistics coordinators how to handle order processing, product storage, product receiving, packaging and shipment, and inventory control. This will help the participants feel confident in their knowledge and abilities to handle the responsibilities that come along with organizing and maintaining the supply chain.
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP). This certificate is great to earn for anyone looking to learn more about supply chain management. This course is designed to teach its participants the essential technology, concepts, and strategies of supply chain management and enterprise resource planning. Earning a CSCP will communicate to your potential employers that you’re willing to go above and beyond to learn more about the overall strategies and techniques that will help you succeed at your job.
Career path
To become a logistics coordinator, applicants will first need to complete their high school education or GED. After high school, earning an associate or bachelor’s degree in business or supply chain management is critical in order to apply to any higher-level positions.
There are many different paths to take since they can work in a variety of industries, including the government, manufacturing, professional and scientific services, and wholesale trade. No matter the industry the applicant is interested in entering, relevant experience in a supply chain management position is required for most companies, so be on the lookout for potential internships that will help land you a position.
Many businesses offer internships or shadowing for students to learn the everyday operations of maintaining the supply chain. Otherwise, many logistics coordinators rely on education and on-the-job training to succeed at their job.
US, Bureau of Labor Statistics’ job outlook
SOC Code: 13-1081
| 2020 Employment | 191,000 |
| Projected Employment in 2030 | 247,300 |
| Projected 2020-2030 Percentage Shift | 30% increase |
| Projected 2020-2030 Numeric Shift | 56,400 increase |
Position trends
Logistics coordinators are in increasingly high demand since companies and government agencies are relying on them to efficiently move products along the supply chain, solve problems when they arise, and identify different areas for improvement. Since people have become less patient with the introduction of two-day shipping and quick product-to-market opportunities, logistics coordinators are needed to ensure those processes aren’t interrupted to avoid upset customers.
E-commerce is also continuously growing, so these workers are needed to come up with solutions with more complex logistics and analytics involved to ensure delivery services run smoothly. Logistics coordinators are becoming ever more popular and growing at a rate of 30%.