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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Distribution Planner

💰 $60,000 - $95,000

Supply ChainLogisticsDistributionOperationsPlanning

🎯 Role Definition

The Distribution Planner is responsible for designing and executing distribution strategies that ensure product availability, optimize inventory and transportation costs, and meet customer service targets. This role combines demand alignment, inbound and outbound flow planning, warehouse slotting input, carrier coordination, and continuous improvement. The Distribution Planner partners with demand planners, operations, procurement, carriers, and sales to convert forecasts into executable distribution plans that minimize stockouts, reduce lead times, and optimize cost-to-serve.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Logistics Coordinator
  • Inventory Analyst
  • Transportation Planner

Advancement To:

  • Senior Distribution Planner
  • Distribution/Logistics Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Planning & Fulfillment Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Demand Planner
  • Inventory Optimization Analyst
  • Network/Transportation Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement and maintain weekly and monthly distribution plans that translate demand forecasts and production plans into actionable inbound and outbound shipment schedules to meet customer service targets while minimizing transportation and inventory carrying costs.
  • Create and manage inventory replenishment strategies by SKU and location, including safety stock calculations, reorder points, lead time analysis and SKU segmentation to reduce stockouts and excess inventory across the distribution network.
  • Build and optimize load plans and cross-dock schedules for distribution centers, consolidating orders and maximizing trailer utilization to lower per-unit freight cost and improve on-time delivery performance.
  • Coordinate carrier selection, tendering, and carrier performance reviews including routing guides, rate negotiation support, freight terms compliance, and continuous monitoring of carrier KPIs (OTD, claims, detention).
  • Execute and maintain master data and planning parameters in ERP/WMS/TMS systems (for example SAP, Oracle, Blue Yonder/JDA, Manhattan) to ensure accurate replenishment, lead times, carrier lanes, and DC-specific constraints.
  • Collaborate closely with Demand Planning and Sales to reconcile forecast variances and promotions, converting forecast changes into adjusted distribution plans and communicating impacts on inventory and service levels.
  • Monitor daily and weekly shipment activity, proactively manage exceptions (e.g., delayed inbound supply, capacity shortages, weather, port disruptions), and implement contingency plans to minimize customer impact.
  • Perform network and route optimization analyses—using tools or modeling—to identify cost-saving opportunities, optimize lane rationalization, and recommend changes to routing guides or distribution center allocations.
  • Lead end-to-end order fulfillment planning for key accounts and e-commerce channels, ensuring SLA adherence, accurate pick/pack/load sequencing, and coordination of special routing or delivery requirements.
  • Develop and report distribution performance metrics and dashboards (OTIF/OTD, inventory turns, days-of-supply, fill rate, average transportation cost per unit) to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders with actionable insights and trend analysis.
  • Run scenario modeling and “what-if” analyses for promotions, new product introductions, seasonality and capacity constraints to quantify inventory, cost and service impacts, and recommend optimal strategies.
  • Manage inbound supply scheduling and appointment coordination with carriers and suppliers to balance dock capacity, labor constraints, and inbound flow to reduce detention and improve throughput at DCs.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives within distribution planning—applying Lean principles, root cause analysis and Kaizen events—to reduce process cycle time, eliminate manual workarounds, and improve forecast-to-fulfillment accuracy.
  • Support planning for peak seasons, promotional campaigns, and product launches by establishing surge inventory plans, temporary capacity needs, expedited shipping strategies, and cross-functional communication plans.
  • Oversee backorder prioritization and allocation logic across customer segments, ensuring high-value customers and critical SKUs are prioritized in constrained supply scenarios while documenting rationale and impacts.
  • Drive compliance with customs, import/export, hazardous materials routing, and carrier safety requirements in coordination with Compliance and Transportation teams to ensure legal and regulatory adherence for international shipments.
  • Maintain robust communication with suppliers, manufacturing planners and 3PL providers to resolve supply shortfalls, expedite critical components, and identify alternate sourcing or routing options where needed.
  • Facilitate S&OP / IBP cross-functional meetings from a distribution perspective; present distribution impacts of forecast scenarios and obtain alignment on inventory and transportation trade-offs.
  • Perform root-cause analysis of recurring distribution issues (inventory discrepancies, late deliveries, high freight spend), propose corrective actions, and track closure of process/system defects.
  • Drive accuracy and maintenance of distribution-related documentation including routing guides, SOPs for load planning, carrier playbooks, appointment scheduling procedures, and change-control logs.
  • Participate in warehouse slotting and labor planning discussions by providing demand and flow insights to optimize storage locations, reduce travel time, and support labor efficiency initiatives.
  • Manage relationships with 3PL partners and DC leadership to align on service level agreements, performance expectations, volume forecasts and mutual improvement plans.
  • Support IT and implementation teams during ERP/WMS/TMS projects by defining planning requirements, testing distribution scenarios, validating system configurations and training end users on new processes.
  • Provide tactical support during disruptions (natural disasters, strikes, supplier failures) by executing contingency shipping plans, reallocating inventory, and communicating status and recovery plans to stakeholders.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer business questions related to distribution, inventory or transportation performance.
  • Contribute to the organization's distribution strategy and roadmap by identifying automation, tooling, and policy improvements that reduce cost-to-serve and improve service.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate distribution needs into system requirements and standard operating procedures for ERP/WMS/TMS enhancements or new module rollouts.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies when distribution planning improvements are delivered via cross-functional IT/data teams; help prioritize backlog items based on business value.
  • Mentor junior planners and provide subject matter expertise for cross-training, ensuring team-wide consistency in planning methods, routing rules and inventory policies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Inventory Management & Replenishment — safety stock, reorder point, days-of-supply calculations and SKU segmentation strategies.
  • Demand & Forecast Alignment — translate demand signals into distribution plans and reconcile forecast vs. actual.
  • Transportation Planning & Route Optimization — load building, lane rationalization, LTL vs TL analysis, and route design.
  • ERP/WMS/TMS Proficiency — hands-on experience with SAP (MM/SD/WM), Oracle, Blue Yonder/JDA, Manhattan, or similar enterprise planning systems.
  • Advanced Excel — pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, advanced formulas, macros for scenario modeling and data cleansing.
  • SQL & Data Querying — extract and transform distribution data for analysis and reporting.
  • Data Visualization & Reporting — Power BI, Tableau, or Excel-based dashboard design for KPI tracking and executive reporting.
  • Planning Tools & Statistical Models — basic use of forecasting/planning modules, safety stock calculators and optimization algorithms.
  • Freight Cost Analysis & Rate Negotiation Support — cost-to-serve modeling, accessorial analysis, freight audit basics.
  • Project Management & Implementation — ability to lead small cross-functional projects, system rollouts, and process change controls.
  • Analytics & Root Cause Analysis — use of Pareto, 5 Whys, and basic statistical techniques to diagnose distribution issues.
  • Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge — familiarity with import/export documentation, customs rules, and hazardous materials handling as applicable.

Soft Skills

  • Strong stakeholder communication and interpersonal skills for cross-functional alignment with Sales, Procurement, Manufacturing, and 3PLs.
  • Analytical problem-solving with attention to detail and the ability to translate data into actionable distribution decisions.
  • Time management and prioritization — manage multiple lanes, SKUs and escalation items under tight deadlines.
  • Collaboration and influence — ability to secure buy-in from operations, carriers and suppliers for plan changes.
  • Adaptability and resilience — respond effectively to supply disruptions and changing business priorities.
  • Customer-focused mindset — maintain service-level commitments and proactively communicate impacts to internal/external customers.
  • Process orientation and continuous improvement mindset — disciplined approach to process documentation, standardization and Kaizen.
  • Negotiation and vendor management — manage carrier and 3PL relationships to improve service and reduce cost.
  • Strategic thinking — balance short-term execution with longer-term network optimization and scalability.
  • Coaching and mentorship — develop junior planners and contribute to team capability building.

(Collectively these hard and soft skills represent a typical Distribution Planner skill profile drawn from multiple real-world job postings and industry capability frameworks.)

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s plus supply chain certifications (APICS/ASCM CPIM or CSCP, CSCMP), or a Master’s degree in Supply Chain/Operations/Business.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Operations Management
  • Industrial or Systems Engineering
  • Business Administration / Finance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of progressive experience in distribution planning, inventory management, transportation planning or logistics.

Preferred: 5+ years experience in a multi-DC retail, consumer goods, manufacturing or 3PL environment with hands-on use of ERP/WMS/TMS systems, proven track record improving fill rates and reducing freight spend, and demonstrated experience participating in S&OP/IBP processes.

  • Experience working with ERP/WMS/TMS implementations or modules (SAP/Oracle/Blue Yonder/Manhattan preferred).
  • Prior exposure to international distribution, import/export operations, or omnichannel fulfillment is highly desirable.
  • Experience with quantitative tools (Excel modeling, SQL, Power BI/Tableau) required for reporting and scenario analysis.
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