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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Distribution Project Coordinator

💰 $55,000 - $80,000

LogisticsSupply ChainProject Management

🎯 Role Definition

The Distribution Project Coordinator is a hybrid project-management and operations role that supports the successful delivery of distribution center and transportation projects across the supply chain. This role coordinates cross-functional teams (operations, procurement, carriers, IT, finance), manages schedules and budgets, drives issue resolution, and ensures implementation of process and system changes (e.g., WMS, material handling, layout changes, routing and carrier programs). The position requires strong logistical acumen, demonstrated ability to operate with ERP/WMS tools and a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to stakeholder management.

Key SEO terms: distribution project coordinator, logistics coordinator, distribution center project manager, warehouse project coordinator, WMS implementation, supply chain projects, transportation optimization, inventory control projects.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Logistics Coordinator or Logistics Analyst
  • Warehouse Supervisor or Operations Lead
  • Supply Chain Analyst / Transportation Planner

Advancement To:

  • Distribution Project Manager / Senior Project Coordinator
  • Supply Chain / Distribution Manager
  • Operations Manager / Head of Distribution

Lateral Moves:

  • Procurement / Vendor Management Coordinator
  • Warehouse Systems Analyst (WMS / ERP)
  • Transportation / Carrier Operations Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead end-to-end coordination for distribution center projects (new site openings, expansions, layout changes, equipment installations, conveyor/MHE rollouts) including planning, sequencing, contractor coordination and go‑live support to ensure timelines, scope and quality objectives are met.
  • Develop and maintain detailed project plans, Gantt charts and RACI matrices; proactively manage milestones, dependencies and critical path activities and communicate schedule changes to stakeholders.
  • Own the budget tracking and cost control for assigned projects—prepare cost estimates, track invoices, manage change orders and provide monthly budget vs. actual reporting to project sponsors.
  • Coordinate cross-functional teams (operations, HR, safety, finance, procurement, IT, facilities and external contractors) to align requirements, remove roadblocks and ensure smooth handoffs during project execution.
  • Serve as primary point of contact with third-party logistics providers, carriers and vendors; manage procurement of services, negotiate rates where applicable, and monitor contractual SLAs and performance.
  • Drive vendor selection and onboarding activities: collect and evaluate proposals, support RFP/RFI processes, manage supplier qualification and ensure delivery to project specifications and timelines.
  • Lead the execution and validation of WMS/ERP configuration changes related to distribution projects—coordinate user acceptance testing (UAT), data migration, cutover activities and post‑go‑live stabilization.
  • Define, collect and maintain project KPIs (inventory accuracy, order cycle time, dock-to-stock, on-time shipments) and create weekly/monthly scorecards and executive summaries to measure project impact.
  • Manage inventory-related project workstreams: cycle count plans, stock transfers, SKU rationalization, slotting changes and reconciliation activities to minimize disruption across go‑lives.
  • Plan and coordinate logistics-related transitions including carrier selection, lane rationalization, route optimization and freight strategy changes; quantify and present cost/benefit analyses.
  • Perform risk assessments and prepare mitigation plans for operational, financial and safety risks; escalate unresolved risks and issues to project sponsors and steer corrective actions.
  • Prepare and deliver clear, executive-level project updates, status reports and presentation materials for steering committees and senior leadership reviews.
  • Coordinate training programs and change management activities for operations teams, creating training materials, conducting workshops and ensuring SOPs and job aids are updated and adopted.
  • Oversee installation and commissioning of material handling equipment and automation systems in collaboration with engineering and facilities, ensuring compliance with safety standards and minimal operational downtime.
  • Manage daily issue-tracking (tickets, action logs) and lead stand-ups/working sessions to expedite resolution of cross-functional blockers and maintain momentum.
  • Support the development of business cases and project charters, aggregating baseline metrics, forecasting benefits, and documenting assumptions to secure project funding and sponsorship.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives tied to distribution projects—identify process optimization opportunities (Lean/6σ), pilot improvements, measure results and scale successful practices.
  • Coordinate permits, regulatory compliance and customs documentation where projects impact international inbound/outbound flows and ensure adherence to trade, safety and environmental regulations.
  • Facilitate vendor and carrier performance reviews, identify remediation plans where KPIs are not achieved, and work with procurement to implement corrective action and contract updates.
  • Execute test plans for system and process changes—coordinate integration testing across WMS, TMS and ERP, validate EDI/ASN flows and ensure data integrity across systems prior to go‑live.
  • Maintain comprehensive project documentation (project plans, SOPs, meeting minutes, risk logs, lessons learned) and ensure repositories are current and accessible to stakeholders.
  • Provide on-site project leadership during cutover and peak implementation windows, supervising operational teams, coordinating work shifts and ensuring safety and quality standards during high-risk periods.
  • Monitor service-level impacts during project rollouts and work with operations leadership to deploy contingency plans (surge staffing, temporary storage, expedited freight) to protect customer service levels.
  • Analyze post-implementation performance, prepare closeout reports documenting achieved benefits vs. baseline, and present recommendations for ongoing operational governance and continuous improvement.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests, generate distribution/docking reports and conduct exploratory analysis to answer operational questions and support decision-making.
  • Contribute to the organization's distribution strategy and roadmap by participating in cross-functional planning sessions and providing operational feasibility input.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate operational requirements into technical user stories for WMS/TMS/ERP development teams.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies when distribution or systems changes are delivered in an iterative software development model.
  • Assist in vendor invoice reconciliation and ensure project costs are coded correctly in the financial systems.
  • Support periodic audits, safety inspections and internal control checks associated with distribution operations and project implementations.
  • Help maintain master data integrity for SKUs, locations and carrier lanes as part of project data preparation and cutover activities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Project Management: Proven ability to build and maintain project plans, Gantt charts, budgets, and risk registers; experience with PM software (MS Project, Smartsheet, Asana or Monday.com).
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel: pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, data analysis and modeling for cost and KPI reporting.
  • Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) & TMS: functional knowledge of WMS/TMS concepts and configuration experience (e.g., Manhattan, Blue Yonder/JDA, HighJump, Körber) and EDI/ASN flows.
  • ERP exposure: experience working with SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP systems for order, inventory and procurement integrations.
  • Lean / Continuous Improvement tools: process mapping, 5S, Kaizen, value-stream mapping; familiarity with Six Sigma fundamentals.
  • Data visualization & reporting: Power BI or Tableau experience to build dashboards for operational KPIs and project tracking.
  • Basic SQL or data query capability to extract and validate inventory and transaction datasets for analysis.
  • Budgeting & Cost Analysis: experience preparing cost-benefit analyses, tracking project spend and forecasting financial impacts.
  • Contract & Vendor Management: RFP/RFI support, SLA monitoring, vendor performance measurement and corrective action plans.
  • Health, Safety & Regulatory: knowledge of safe material handling practices, OSHA standards and regulatory requirements affecting distribution operations.

Soft Skills

  • Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills; able to engage senior leadership and frontline teams with credibility.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication—able to produce clear status reports, executive summaries and training materials.
  • Problem solving and analytical mindset—break complex operational issues into actionable steps and data-driven solutions.
  • Time management and prioritization—able to juggle multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Attention to detail and organization—maintain accurate project documentation and ensure compliance with procedures.
  • Adaptability and resilience—thrive in changing environments and able to pivot quickly to meet business needs.
  • Negotiation and influencing skills—manage vendors and internal stakeholders to secure outcomes aligned with project goals.
  • Team leadership and facilitation—run effective meetings, workshops and conflict resolution sessions.
  • Customer focus—maintain a continuous focus on service levels and customer satisfaction when making implementation decisions.
  • Coaching and training capability—develop operational users and sustain improvements through effective knowledge transfer.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree in Logistics, Business, Supply Chain, or equivalent practical experience (2+ years in distribution/warehouse operations or projects).

Preferred Education:

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

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics and Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering
  • Operations Management
  • Information Systems (with supply chain emphasis)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2 to 5 years of progressive experience in distribution, logistics, warehouse operations or supply chain project coordination.

Preferred:

  • 3 to 7 years of hands-on experience delivering distribution or warehouse projects, WMS/TMS/ERP implementations, or leading cross-functional logistics initiatives.
  • Certifications such as PMP, CAPM, APICS/CPIM/CSCP or Lean Six Sigma Yellow/Green Belt are a plus.
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