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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Material Distribution Specialist

💰 $40,000 - $65,000

LogisticsSupply ChainWarehouseDistributionOperations

🎯 Role Definition

The Material Distribution Specialist is responsible for the safe, accurate, and timely handling, staging, and distribution of materials across manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution networks. This hands-on logistics role ensures right-place/right-quantity delivery by coordinating shipping and receiving, performing inventory control and cycle counts, managing material staging and kitting, and maintaining accurate records in Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and ERP platforms. The role partners with production planning, procurement, quality, and carriers to minimize downtime, reduce stock variances and support on-time customer commitments.

Primary SEO keywords: material distribution specialist, inventory management, warehouse operations, shipping and receiving, WMS, ERP, logistics coordination.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Material Handler / Warehouse Associate
  • Shipping & Receiving Clerk
  • Production Associate or Inventory Clerk

Advancement To:

  • Distribution Supervisor / Team Lead
  • Inventory Control Supervisor
  • Logistics Coordinator or Logistics Manager
  • Supply Chain Analyst / Inventory Planner

Lateral Moves:

  • Procurement or Buyer
  • Quality Inspector (incoming materials)
  • Shipping Supervisor / Transportation Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Receive, inspect and verify incoming materials against purchase orders, bills of lading and packing lists; document discrepancies and initiate supplier claims or returns in the ERP/WMS to maintain accurate records and supplier accountability.
  • Execute accurate put-away and staging processes using WMS rules to optimize bin locations, maintain FIFO/FEFO rotation, and minimize travel time and handling for production and customer orders.
  • Pick, pack and prepare outbound materials for shipment according to standard operating procedures; create and verify packing lists, commercial invoices and bills of lading to ensure compliance with carrier and regulatory requirements.
  • Operate forklifts, pallet jacks and other material handling equipment safely and efficiently; maintain required certifications and complete daily equipment checks and logs to meet OSHA and company safety standards.
  • Perform cycle counts, periodic physical inventories and reconciliation activities; investigate root causes for inventory variances, post adjustments in the WMS/ERP, and implement corrective actions to reduce shrink.
  • Execute kitting and assembly of production kits and customer orders, ensuring components are complete, labeled and delivered to production lines or shipping docks on schedule to prevent production interruptions.
  • Coordinate with production planners and production floor leads to prioritize material staging and replenishment, ensuring critical parts are available for scheduled runs and minimizing machine downtime.
  • Schedule and coordinate inbound and outbound carrier appointments; communicate loading/unloading windows and special handling instructions to logistics partners to optimize dock throughput.
  • Maintain kitting, labeling and packaging compliance with customer specifications and regulatory requirements (hazardous materials, export controls, special packaging).
  • Maintain accurate inventory and transaction documentation in Warehouse Management Systems (e.g., SAP WM/EWM, Oracle WMS, Manhattan, NetSuite) and communicate updates to procurement and production teams.
  • Prepare and process returns to vendors (RMA) and internal returns to stock; document inspection results, reason codes and disposition recommendations to facilitate supplier credit and corrective actions.
  • Monitor key distribution KPIs (on-time shipments, pick accuracy, inventory accuracy, cycle count variance) and generate periodic reports to share performance with operations and leadership.
  • Implement and follow established quality inspection criteria for receiving and outgoing shipments; quarantine non-conforming materials and coordinate with Quality Assurance for disposition.
  • Execute hazardous material (HAZMAT) handling procedures when applicable, including proper segregation, labeling, documentation and coordination with safety and compliance teams.
  • Support bill of materials (BOM) validation and reconcile shortages by working with engineering, production and procurement to resolve part substitutions or expedite critical shipments.
  • Maintain clean, organized and 5S-compliant distribution areas; identify and remove waste, improve flow paths and suggest improvements that increase efficiency and safety.
  • Use handheld RF scanners, barcode systems, RFID readers and mobile devices to scan transactions in real-time and reduce data-entry errors.
  • Execute small-parts inventory control programs, bin replenishment, and vendor-managed inventory (VMI) processes when applicable to ensure continuity of supply.
  • Communicate proactively with internal stakeholders—procurement, planning, production, quality and customer service—about material availability, shortages and shipment status to support informed decision-making.
  • Train and mentor other distribution associates on picking strategies, safe material handling, system transactions and quality expectations to build cross-functional capability and resiliency.
  • Participate in root cause analysis and continuous improvement projects (Lean, Kaizen) to reduce lead times, improve picking efficiency and lower distribution costs.

Secondary Functions

  • Maintain and produce ad-hoc and scheduled inventory reports (inventory aging, slow-moving SKUs, stockouts) to support procurement strategy and planning cycles.
  • Collaborate with IT and operations to test and implement WMS/ERP enhancements, barcode label changes and process automations to improve transaction accuracy and throughput.
  • Support cycle count program administration, including count scheduling, variance investigations, corrective action tracking and follow-up.
  • Assist procurement with expedited shipment coordination, vendor follow-ups, and PO status confirmations when material shortages impact production.
  • Facilitate cross-functional problem solving for non-conforming material, supplier quality issues and logistics exceptions, documenting corrective and preventive actions.
  • Assist in maintaining compliance documentation for audits and customer visits, including traceability records, lot control logs and shipping manifests.
  • Participate in peak season planning and temporary labor scheduling to ensure adequate coverage during high-volume periods.
  • Support implementation of warehouse layout changes, slotting projects and capacity planning to improve space utilization and reduce travel times.
  • Document and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and job aids for material distribution activities to ensure consistent execution and onboarding.
  • Perform light maintenance and coordinate repairs for material handling equipment and static storage systems to minimize downtime and hazards.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) — hands-on experience with SAP WM/EWM, Oracle WMS, Manhattan, Infor or NetSuite for receiving, put-away, picking and shipping transactions.
  • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems — experience posting receipts, transfers and adjustments in SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite.
  • Inventory control and cycle counting methodologies — proficiency in reconciling variances, root-cause analysis and posting adjustments.
  • Shipping & receiving expertise including preparing bills of lading, commercial invoices, carrier paperwork, and coordinating carrier appointments.
  • Material handling equipment operation — certified forklift (counterbalance, reach), pallet jack, and order picker operation with up-to-date safety certifications.
  • Barcode/RF scanning, RFID systems, and mobile data collection — fast, accurate scanning and label printing experience.
  • Basic data skills in Microsoft Excel — VLOOKUP, PivotTables, SUMIFS, and basic data cleaning to produce actionable inventory reports.
  • Knowledge of packing, kitting and labeling practices including compliance with customer and regulatory packaging requirements.
  • Basic knowledge of hazardous materials handling, OSHA, DOT shipping regulations or internal EHS policies where applicable.
  • Familiarity with Lean, Kaizen, 5S and continuous improvement tools to drive warehouse productivity and reduce waste.
  • KPI tracking and reporting — experience measuring on-time shipments, fill rate, pick accuracy and inventory accuracy.
  • Basic troubleshooting and systems navigation for WMS/ERP transaction exceptions and integrations.

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy under high-volume conditions.
  • Clear verbal and written communication; able to coordinate with cross-functional teams and external carriers.
  • Problem-solving mindset with ability to investigate inventory discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
  • Time management and prioritization — thrive in deadline-driven environments with competing priorities.
  • Team player who can train and coach associates while accepting hands-on tasks.
  • Adaptability and resilience in dynamic operations with shifting priorities and seasonal peaks.
  • Customer-service orientation with focus on internal customer satisfaction and minimizing production impact.
  • Analytical thinking to transform transactional data into process improvements and measurable gains.
  • Dependability and a strong safety culture — proactive in hazard identification and reporting.
  • Leadership potential — able to take initiative, lead small projects and influence process changes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, or related field.
  • Certification options preferred: Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD), APICS CPIM/CSCP fundamentals, OSHA safety training, forklift operator certification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Operations Management
  • Business Administration
  • Industrial Engineering (applied to operations)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2 to 5 years in warehouse, distribution, or manufacturing material handling roles with demonstrated accuracy and systems experience.

Preferred:

  • 3+ years of hands-on experience as a material handler, shipping & receiving clerk, inventory control specialist, or similar role; prior experience with WMS and ERP systems and proven record of reducing inventory variances, improving pick accuracy and supporting production schedules.
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