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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for FBA Manager

💰 $70,000 - $110,000

e-commerceoperationslogisticssupply chainamazon

🎯 Role Definition

The FBA Manager is responsible for end-to-end Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program management, driving operational excellence across inventory planning, inbound shipments, returns and reimbursements, cost and fee optimization, and Amazon performance metrics. This role is the day-to-day owner for Seller Central / SP-API integrations, 3PL and vendor coordination, root-cause analysis of inventory issues, and the continuous improvement of processes to reduce lost sales, overstock, and Amazon chargebacks.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior E-commerce Operations Specialist (FBA/Marketplace specialist)
  • Supply Chain Analyst or Inventory Planner with Amazon experience
  • Logistics Coordinator supporting marketplace fulfillment

Advancement To:

  • Senior FBA Manager / Head of Amazon Operations
  • Director of E-commerce Operations or Marketplace Strategy
  • VP of Supply Chain / Head of Global Fulfillment

Lateral Moves:

  • Marketplace Operations Manager (other marketplaces)
  • 3PL Partnership or Vendor Relations Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Own the end-to-end FBA operations strategy for assigned marketplaces and ASIN portfolios, including inbound shipment planning, labeling and prep requirements, and Amazon-compliant packaging to minimize receiving delays and chargebacks.
  • Develop and execute inventory forecasting and replenishment plans that balance in-stock rate targets with carrying cost objectives, leveraging historical sell-through, lead times, seasonality, and promotional calendars.
  • Create, manage and optimize Amazon Seller Central workflows and SP-API/MWS integrations to automate shipment creation, inventory level updates, and FBA reporting to ensure real-time visibility and reduce manual errors.
  • Monitor and drive Amazon account health and performance KPIs (OTIF, Excess Inventory, Stranded Inventory, Removal Orders, Defect Rate, IPI score), establishing corrective action plans and communicating status to senior leadership.
  • Lead root-cause investigations for inbound shipment exceptions, lost or damaged inventory, and out-of-stock incidents; coordinate with Amazon Seller Support, carriers, and 3PL partners to secure timely resolutions and recoveries.
  • Manage FBA reimbursements and reconciliation processes, including claim submissions for lost/damaged units, fee disputes, and chargebacks; maintain audit-ready documentation and track recovery rates.
  • Build and maintain dashboards and regular reports (daily/weekly/monthly) using Excel, SQL, or BI tools (Tableau/Looker/Power BI) that summarize inventory velocity, supply health, fees, and margin impacts for stakeholders.
  • Execute shipment creation and routing strategies across multiple fulfillment networks to optimize transit times and FBA inbound performance while reducing cross-border and demurrage costs.
  • Design and implement inbound packaging and labeling standards, SOPs, and vendor/3PL onboarding checklists to ensure consistent compliance with Amazon FBA requirements and reduce inspection rejections.
  • Partner with Procurement, Demand Planning and Category teams to communicate inventory risk, recommended purchase quantities, and action plans for slow-moving or overstocked SKUs to protect margin.
  • Negotiate and manage relationships with 3PL partners, freight forwarders and domestic carriers for FBA inbound movements, including contract performance reviews and cost reduction initiatives.
  • Drive continuous process improvement initiatives (Kaizen/Lean) to increase inbound accuracy, reduce receiving discrepancies and improve FBA dock-to-availability lead times.
  • Coordinate promotional and seasonal launch plans with Marketing and Sales to ensure sufficient FBA inventory allocation and distribution across Amazon regions, minimizing stockouts during peak demand.
  • Oversee returns and disposition strategy for FBA returns, including restock decisions, liquidation, refurbish, or disposal workflows that minimize cost and recover value.
  • Implement and enforce compliance with Amazon policy changes, program updates, and new FBA features; evaluate impact and update internal operating procedures accordingly.
  • Conduct SKU-level profitability analysis to identify high-fee ASINs and recommend packaging, dimensional or fulfillment-route changes to reduce FBA fees and improve margin contribution.
  • Lead cross-functional incident response for ASIN or account-level operational escalations, creating triage workflows and preventive actions to avoid recurrence.
  • Train and mentor junior team members and cross-functional partners on FBA operational best practices, Amazon compliance, and shipment/sourcing fundamentals.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Amazon FBA programs (Pan-EU, Remote Fulfillment, Inbound Performance, Inventory Placement) and evaluate eligibility and benefits for the business.
  • Plan and manage budget and P&L accountability tied to FBA freight, storage, removal and disposal costs, and present quarterly business reviews on cost drivers and mitigation plans.
  • Implement inventory health scoring and aging controls; lead initiatives to reduce excess and obsolete inventory via promotions, removal orders, or multi-channel fulfillment strategies.
  • Manage data integrity for ASIN mapping, seller SKUs and catalog data to avoid stranded inventory, listing merges, or incorrect pricing that could affect fulfillment performance.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Support cross-functional projects such as new marketplace launches, FBA program pilots, and supply chain automation rollouts.
  • Provide subject-matter expertise for audits, Amazon performance reviews, and compliance assessments.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep working knowledge of Amazon Seller Central, Amazon Vendor Central, and FBA program mechanics (inbound creation, labeling, prep, removal).
  • Experience with Amazon APIs (MWS / SP-API) and ability to work with technical teams to automate FBA workflows.
  • Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookup formulas, VBA/macros) and experience building inventory models and replenishment calculators.
  • SQL skills for extracting and analyzing large datasets from ERPs or data warehouses.
  • Familiarity with BI platforms such as Tableau, Looker, or Power BI for dashboarding and KPI visualization.
  • Practical experience with ERP systems commonly integrated with Amazon (NetSuite, SAP, Brightpearl, Skubana, ChannelAdvisor).
  • Strong knowledge of international shipping, customs documentation, and cross-border fulfillment logistics for Amazon Global programs.
  • Experience managing 3PL relationships, freight contracts, and inbound freight optimization.
  • Competence in cost modeling for FBA fees, storage, removals, and freight so you can recommend margin-improving changes.
  • Proficiency in building and maintaining SOPs, QA checklists, and Amazon compliance documentation.
  • Familiarity with Amazon seller performance metrics, escalations, and reimbursement processes.
  • Basic scripting or automation familiarity (Python, Google Apps Script) is a plus for operational efficiency.

Soft Skills

  • Strong analytical mindset with the ability to synthesize data into clear, actionable recommendations.
  • Excellent stakeholder management across Procurement, Marketing, Sales, Finance and external partners.
  • Clear written and verbal communication tailored to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Problem-solving orientation with attention to root cause and sustainable corrective actions.
  • Proven leadership and people development skills to coach and scale small operations teams.
  • High attention to detail and process discipline to maintain audit-ready operational documentation.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to handle competing operational escalations during peak periods.
  • Negotiation skills for carrier, 3PL, and supplier cost optimization.
  • Adaptability and resilience in a fast-changing marketplace environment with frequent policy updates.
  • Customer-first mindset to balance seller performance and buyer experience on marketplace channels.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

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

Preferred Education:

  • MBA or advanced degree in Operations, Supply Chain or Business Administration is desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Business Administration / Management
  • Operations Research
  • Data Analytics / Information Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–7 years in e-commerce operations, inventory management, or logistics with at least 2 years focused on Amazon FBA or marketplace fulfillment.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years managing Amazon FBA programs, demonstrated success reducing FBA fees and stockouts, experience with SP-API integrations, and direct ownership of P&L or cost centers related to fulfillment.
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