Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Distributor

🎯 Role Definition

As a Distributor you will coordinate inbound and outbound product flows, manage inventory accuracy, and ensure timely order fulfillment while maintaining safety and cost-efficiency. The Distributor role is central to the supply chain — responsible for picking, packing, shipping, receiving, and reporting — and requires strong operational discipline, effective communication across teams, and hands-on problem solving to keep distribution operations running smoothly.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Associate / Picker-Packer
Delivery Driver / Courier
Inventory Clerk / Stock Controller

Advancement To:

Senior Distributor / Lead Distributor
Distribution Supervisor / Team Lead
Logistics or Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Procurement Specialist
Fleet Coordinator / Fleet Manager
Customer Service Supervisor (order management focus)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Receive, inspect, and record inbound shipments, verifying quantities and condition against purchase orders and bills of lading, and immediately report and document any discrepancies or damages to procurement and vendor teams.
Accurately pick and pack customer orders using established packing standards and protective materials, ensuring order completeness and minimizing transit damage while meeting daily productivity and accuracy KPIs.
Prepare outbound shipments by staging, labeling, and coordinating carrier pickups; complete and verify shipping documentation, including bills of lading, commercial invoices, and export paperwork as required.
Operate warehouse equipment (e.g., forklifts, pallet jacks, hand trucks) safely and in compliance with OSHA and company safety policies to load/unload trailers, move pallets, and stage product for shipping or storage.
Maintain precise perpetual inventory records by performing cycle counts, reconciling variances, investigating root causes, and updating the warehouse management system (WMS) or ERP in a timely manner.
Prioritize and sequence daily work tasks based on order cutoffs, carrier schedules, product expiration dates, and business-critical orders to ensure on-time delivery and customer satisfaction.
Coordinate cross-dock activities, ensuring product is transferred from receiving directly to outbound with minimal handling, and communicate handoff details to relevant teams.
Monitor and control packaging and shipping supplies, forecast usage, and place replenishment requests to procurement to prevent stockouts of critical packing materials.
Enforce quality control procedures for serialized or lot-tracked inventory, documenting lot numbers, expiration dates, and performing quarantines when quality issues are suspected.
Execute returns processing and disposition, inspecting returned goods, restocking sellable items, coordinating reverse logistics, and updating inventory records to reflect return resolutions.
Liaise with carriers and third-party logistics partners to schedule pickups, manage routing exceptions, obtain proof of delivery, and resolve freight claims or service issues promptly.
Utilize WMS/ERP to create, modify, and release work orders, pick tickets, and shipment manifests while ensuring data integrity for downstream billing and reporting functions.
Implement loss prevention best practices by maintaining clean aisles, secure storage for high-value items, and adherence to access controls to minimize shrink and theft.
Lead or participate in daily operations briefings and handoffs, communicating priority orders, safety alerts, and performance targets to the distribution team.
Analyze order fulfillment metrics (OTIF, pick accuracy, dock-to-ship time) and recommend process improvements to reduce lead time, cut costs, and increase throughput.
Train new distribution staff on standard operating procedures (SOPs), equipment operation, safety protocols, and quality expectations to build a high-performing, compliant team.
Manage temperature-controlled or hazardous materials handling per company and regulatory requirements, including documentation, segregation, and emergency response readiness.
Implement and follow standardized labeling, barcoding, and scanning processes to ensure traceability across the supply chain and reduce manual errors.
Collaborate with sales and customer service teams to prioritize expedited orders, resolve order exceptions, and communicate realistic delivery expectations to customers.
Maintain and update operating procedures and work instructions to reflect process changes, technology upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Support inventory planning by flagging slow-moving or overstocked SKUs, assisting with promotions or transfers, and providing input to purchasing and demand-planning teams.
Ensure compliance with company safety programs, participate in safety audits, and recommend corrective actions to mitigate operational hazards.

Secondary Functions

Assist cross-functional teams with ad-hoc logistics and distribution data requests, such as generating pick/ship reports, inventory aging, and carrier performance dashboards.
Participate in continuous improvement projects (Lean, 5S, Kaizen) to optimize warehouse layout, reduce travel time, and increase packing and picking efficiencies.
Contribute to the testing, rollout, and user adoption of WMS or mobile scanning technology upgrades, providing end-user feedback and documenting process changes.
Support seasonal workload surges by coordinating temporary labor, adjusting shift schedules, and communicating volume forecasts to HR and operations leadership.
Help develop contingency plans for distribution disruptions, including alternate routing, emergency supplier sourcing, and temporary storage options.
Monitor and reconcile freight invoices and shipment charges with accounting and procurement to ensure billing accuracy and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Participate in root-cause analysis for recurring fulfillment issues and assist in implementing corrective action plans with measurable outcomes.
Provide on-the-floor coaching to improve pick accuracy and packing quality, and escalate training or performance concerns to distribution supervisors.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) proficiency — creating work orders, scanning workflows, and cycle count execution.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) basics — interfacing distribution transactions with purchasing and inventory modules.
Inventory control and cycle counting methodologies, including variance reconciliation and reconciliation reporting.
Forklift operation and certification (reach truck, counterbalance) and mastery of pallet jack and material-handling equipment.
Shipping and receiving documentation expertise — bills of lading, packing lists, commercial invoices, and carrier contracts.
Barcode, RFID, and mobile scanning technologies for accurate tracking and lot/serial control.
Basic understanding of freight terms (INCOTERMS), carrier selection, and freight cost optimization.
Pick/pack optimization techniques and cartonization knowledge to reduce dimensional weight and shipping costs.
Microsoft Excel — VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, and basic data manipulation for inventory and performance reporting.
Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) and temperature-controlled product handling procedures where applicable.
Familiarity with quality inspection processes and disposition workflows for non-conforming product.
Experience with returns management (RMA) processes and reverse logistics coordination.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail with a relentless focus on accuracy and compliance across inventory and shipping activities.
Effective verbal and written communication skills to coordinate with carriers, vendors, internal teams, and customers.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance high-volume throughput while maintaining quality.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to triage issues and implement practical corrective actions under time pressure.
Team leadership and coaching ability to develop peers and maintain morale in fast-paced distribution environments.
Customer service orientation, ensuring order accuracy and clear communication for internal and external stakeholders.
Adaptability and resilience to handle peak seasons, schedule changes, and operational interruptions.
Analytical mindset to interpret distribution KPIs and drive incremental improvements.
Accountability and dependability to meet scheduled shifts, deadlines, and service-level commitments.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for resolving shipment disputes and coordinating with carriers.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (GED).

Preferred Education:

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

Relevant Fields of Study:

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

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of hands-on experience in warehouse, distribution, or logistics operations.

Preferred: 3+ years in a distribution role with demonstrated experience in WMS, inventory control, and team coordination; supervisory or lead experience is a plus.