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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Distribution Supervisor

💰 $ - $

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a seasoned Distribution Supervisor to oversee daily distribution center operations, optimize shipping and receiving workflows, and ensure inventory integrity. The Distribution Supervisor will lead frontline warehouse teams, enforce safety and quality standards, manage performance against KPIs (on-time shipping, order accuracy, inventory turns), and collaborate cross-functionally with procurement, transportation, and customer service to deliver superior supply chain outcomes. This role is critical for organizations focused on scalable distribution, cost control, and exceptional customer service.

Keywords: Distribution Supervisor, Warehouse Supervisor, Logistics Supervisor, WMS, inventory control, shipping and receiving, order fulfillment, supply chain.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Warehouse Associate / Shipping & Receiving Clerk
  • Lead Warehouse Associate / Team Lead
  • Logistics Coordinator / Inventory Control Specialist

Advancement To:

  • Distribution/Operations Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Site/Plant Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Inventory Control Manager
  • Transportation/Logistics Supervisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Supervise and coordinate day-to-day warehouse and distribution activities including receiving, put-away, replenishment, picking, packing, staging, and loading to ensure orders are processed accurately and delivered on schedule.
  • Lead, coach, and develop a front-line team of warehouse associates, leads and temporary staff; conduct daily briefings, performance reviews, disciplinary actions, and create individual development plans to improve retention and productivity.
  • Manage staffing plans, daily schedules and shift rotations to match workload demands while controlling overtime and labor costs; adjust resources in real time for peak periods and special promotions.
  • Maintain and improve inventory accuracy through cycle counts, root-cause analysis of discrepancies, reconciliation processes and working closely with Inventory Control and Procurement teams to resolve variances.
  • Oversee inbound receiving processes to verify quantities and quality of incoming product, coordinate vendor compliance issues, and ensure proper documentation for returns, claims and supplier chargebacks.
  • Ensure outbound shipping operations meet carrier cutoffs, manifesting requirements, BOL accuracy and special handling instructions to achieve on-time delivery metrics and reduce freight claims.
  • Operate and enforce Warehouse Management System (WMS) best practices including location control, directed put-away and pick logic, wave planning, and exception management to maximize throughput.
  • Monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as order accuracy, dock-to-stock time, throughput, on-time shipping, inventory accuracy, and labor productivity; prepare daily/weekly performance reports for leadership.
  • Implement and maintain safety, health and environmental protocols; conduct safety audits, toolbox talks, incident investigations, corrective action plans and ensure OSHA, DOT and company safety compliance across the facility.
  • Enforce quality control and product integrity standards including inspection protocols, damage handling, quarantine procedures, and adherence to product-specific storage requirements (temperature, hazardous materials, etc.).
  • Coordinate with transportation providers, 3PL partners and carriers to schedule appointments, resolve shipping exceptions, optimize routing and negotiate service levels for cost-effective distribution.
  • Manage equipment operations and upkeep including forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyors, RF scanners, and charging stations; ensure certifications are current and service/maintenance schedules are followed to reduce downtime.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives and lean projects (5S, Kaizen) to eliminate waste, reduce cycle times, improve layout and increase throughput while lowering cost-per-order.
  • Administer and enforce warehouse policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and escalation processes; update SOPs as processes change and provide training to ensure consistent execution.
  • Oversee cycle count programs, month-end close support and audit readiness activities; partner with finance for inventory reconciliations and to minimize shrinkage.
  • Handle customer escalations and order exceptions by investigating root causes, communicating resolution steps to stakeholders and implementing systemic fixes to prevent recurrence.
  • Prepare, manage and reconcile budgets for distribution activities including labor, equipment, freight, and supplies; provide input into capital requests for facility upgrades or automation.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory and customer-specific requirements including food safety (when applicable), hazardous materials handling, Customs/Import regulations and corporate compliance programs.
  • Participate in new product introductions and SKU rationalization by validating storage requirements, slotting, and impact on pick paths and equipment needs.
  • Lead seasonal and promotional planning for capacity, inventory staging, temporary labor programs and special freight arrangements to maintain service levels during peaks.
  • Maintain accurate documentation for returns, credits, claims and warranty transactions, collaborating with customer service and suppliers to expedite resolution and minimize financial impact.
  • Facilitate cross-functional meetings with procurement, customer service, operations and transportation to resolve bottlenecks, align priorities and support enterprise distribution strategy.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc reporting requests and provide analytical insights on throughput, labor efficiency, and cost drivers to inform leadership decisions.
  • Participate in site-level projects such as WMS upgrades, warehouse re-layouts, automation pilots, and continuous improvement workshops.
  • Assist with recruiting, interviewing and onboarding of warehouse personnel; develop training materials and ensure competency on critical systems and equipment.
  • Coordinate emergency response drills and business continuity plans for the distribution center to minimize operational disruption.
  • Maintain vendor and contract carrier relationships; evaluate service performance and recommend changes to improve service or reduce cost.
  • Support sustainability initiatives by managing recycling and waste reduction programs and promoting energy-efficient operations.
  • Provide support for procurement of equipment, PPE, and material handling supplies to maintain safe and efficient operations.
  • Collaborate with IT and systems teams to troubleshoot scanner, WMS or ERP issues and to participate in user acceptance testing for system changes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Warehouse Management System (WMS) administration and hands-on experience (e.g., Manhattan, Oracle WMS, JDA, Blue Yonder, HighJump)
  • Inventory management and cycle count methodology with strong reconciliation skills
  • Shipping, receiving and distribution best practices including manifesting, carrier appointments and freight documentation
  • Forklift operation knowledge and ability to enforce operator certification programs (sit-down, reach, narrow aisle)
  • Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and integration with WMS
  • Proficiency with barcode/RF scanning technology, pick-to-light/voice systems and warehouse automation interfaces
  • Strong Excel skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, data analysis) for KPI tracking and reporting
  • Knowledge of OSHA, DOT, hazardous materials (HAZMAT) handling and regulatory compliance
  • Basic budgeting and cost control experience with ability to forecast labor and freight spend
  • Familiarity with Lean, 5S, Kaizen or Six Sigma principles for process improvement
  • Experience managing reverse logistics, RMA processes and vendor claims
  • Ability to read and interpret shipping documentation, bills of lading, packing lists and commercial invoices

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people management skills with emphasis on coaching, mentoring and conflict resolution
  • Excellent communication skills—ability to present performance metrics and operational updates to senior management
  • Problem-solving mindset with demonstrated ability to perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions
  • Time management and prioritization under high-volume, deadline-driven environments
  • Customer-focused orientation—able to balance internal operational objectives with external customer service expectations
  • Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced, changeable distribution environment
  • Team building and talent development to create a high-performance, accountable workforce
  • Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in documentation and inventory control
  • Decision-making under pressure with a focus on safety and compliance
  • Collaborative mindset for cross-functional projects and vendor relationships

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

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

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics and Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressive warehouse/distribution experience, including 1–3 years in a supervisory or lead capacity.

Preferred: 5+ years of distribution operations experience with demonstrated success in leading teams, managing WMS-driven environments and improving distribution KPIs; prior experience in high-volume, seasonal or multi-shift facilities is highly desirable.

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