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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Logistics Coordinator

💰 $40,000 - $65,000

OperationsLogisticsWarehouseSupply Chain

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Logistics Coordinator is the operational linchpin between receiving, storage, fulfillment, and transportation. This role ensures accurate inventory control, timely order processing, efficient use of warehouse capacity, and compliance with safety and regulatory standards. The ideal coordinator balances tactical execution—supervising pick/pack/ship activities and carrier relationships—with strategic contributions such as process improvement, inventory optimization, and performance reporting. SEO/LLM keywords: warehouse logistics coordinator, inventory management, warehouse management system (WMS), shipping and receiving, order fulfillment, supply chain optimization, distribution center operations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Warehouse Associate / Material Handler
  • Inventory Control Clerk
  • Logistics Assistant / Shipping & Receiving Clerk

Advancement To:

  • Warehouse Supervisor / Lead
  • Logistics Manager / Distribution Manager
  • Operations Manager / Supply Chain Analyst

Lateral Moves:

  • Transportation Coordinator
  • Procurement Specialist
  • Demand Planning Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Coordinate and manage daily inbound and outbound operations, including scheduling carrier pickups and deliveries, verifying shipment documentation, and ensuring accurate labeling and routing to meet on-time delivery targets and reduce detention and demurrage costs.
  • Oversee order fulfillment workflows (picking, packing, staging) to meet SLA and accuracy KPIs; develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) that minimize errors, reduce packing material waste, and accelerate throughput.
  • Maintain accurate perpetual inventory by performing cycle counts, reconciling discrepancies, investigating root causes of variance, and executing corrective actions to continually improve inventory accuracy metrics.
  • Operate and administer the Warehouse Management System (WMS) to coordinate order allocation, batch picking, slotting logic, wave planning, and real-time order status updates; design WMS workflows that increase productivity and reduce travel time.
  • Plan and coordinate warehouse layout, slotting, and storage strategies to maximize cubic utilization, reduce order picking travel, and optimize replenishment points according to SKU velocity and seasonality.
  • Manage returns processing and reverse logistics, including inspection, disposition (restock, repair, scrap), RMA documentation, and communication with customer service to ensure timely refunds or replacements.
  • Track and report daily operational KPIs (order accuracy, cycle time, dock-to-stock time, inventory accuracy, dock utilization); provide leadership with actionable insights and weekly/monthly performance dashboards.
  • Coordinate with procurement and supply planners to manage inbound appointment scheduling, prioritize critical receipts, and manage safety stock levels to prevent stockouts or overstocks that impact customer service.
  • Supervise or coordinate the activities of third-party logistics providers (3PLs), carriers, or temporary staff; negotiate service levels and monitor vendor performance against SLAs to ensure contractual compliance.
  • Manage hazardous materials (when applicable) by enforcing HAZMAT labeling, storage, and handling procedures and ensuring proper documentation and training are in place in compliance with DOT, OSHA, and other regulations.
  • Direct daily team activities including task assignments, training, performance feedback, and workforce planning to ensure labor productivity goals are met during peaks, promotions, and seasonality spikes.
  • Oversee equipment maintenance and asset management for forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyors, and RF devices; schedule preventative maintenance and coordinate repairs to minimize downtime and safety incidents.
  • Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen events, 5S, Lean projects) to reduce lead times, eliminate process bottlenecks, and lower operational costs while improving quality and throughput.
  • Manage cycle count programs and inventory reconciliation projects during audits, collaborating with finance and audit teams to validate physical counts and adjust book balances with full documentation and justification.
  • Enforce warehouse safety programs, conduct daily safety briefings, and lead incident investigations; maintain OSHA compliance, injury logs, and corrective action plans to sustain a safe working environment.
  • Optimize packaging and freight consolidation strategies to reduce shipping costs, optimize pallet configurations, and negotiate carrier rates or service-level improvements with transportation partners.
  • Coordinate special projects such as product launches, seasonal promotions, or facility relocations by developing timelines, resource plans, and contingency measures to ensure on-time execution and minimal disruption.
  • Support IT and automation initiatives by providing operational requirements for WMS upgrades, barcode/RFID deployment, sortation, and automation systems; act as the operational SME during testing and rollout phases.
  • Monitor and control inventory aging, obsolescence, and shrinkage by implementing FIFO/LIFO policies, quarantine zones, and disposition pathways to protect working capital and brand integrity.
  • Serve as the point of contact for customer escalations related to fulfillment, shipment damage, or delivery exceptions; coordinate corrective actions and root cause remediation while preserving customer relationships.
  • Prepare and maintain documentation including bills of lading, packing lists, shipping manifests, customs paperwork (where applicable), and SOPs to ensure traceability and audit readiness.
  • Manage budgetary responsibilities for warehouse operations such as labor forecasting, overtime control, packaging material spend, and equipment leasing; provide monthly variance reports and recommendations to leadership.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc reporting requests and exploratory operational analysis to identify capacity constraints, seasonality impacts, and staffing needs.
  • Assist cross-functional teams (procurement, sales, customer success) with inventory availability insights and order prioritization during high-demand periods.
  • Contribute to the organization’s continuous improvement roadmap by recommending technology, process, or layout changes based on operational observations and KPI trends.
  • Participate in vendor selection and onboarding for 3PLs, packaging suppliers, and equipment vendors; provide operational evaluation criteria and run pilot tests.
  • Provide training materials and lead onboarding sessions for new hires on WMS usage, safety protocols, and picking/packing standards.
  • Coordinate internal audits and regulatory inspections, compiling required documentation and implementing corrective actions when deficiencies are identified.
  • Maintain relationships with freight carriers, customs brokers (if applicable), and local authorities to expedite shipments and resolve logistical bottlenecks.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Warehouse Management System (WMS) administration and configuration experience (e.g., Manhattan, Blue Yonder, HighJump, SAP EWM, Oracle WMS).
  • Inventory management expertise including cycle counting, variance reconciliation, and KPI-driven inventory control.
  • Proficiency with barcode/RF scanning, mobile data terminals, and basic RFID concepts.
  • Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data analysis) and familiarity with reporting tools (Power BI, Tableau, or similar).
  • Knowledge of shipping platforms and carrier integrations (UPS, FedEx, DHL, LTL/FTL carriers) and EDI basics for order/shipment communication.
  • Experience with labor planning and workforce management tools, including productivity measurement and scheduling best practices.
  • Forklift and material handling equipment knowledge; OSHA forklift safety awareness and basic certification tracking.
  • Understanding of Lean, Kaizen, 5S practices and ability to lead process improvement initiatives.
  • Familiarity with hazardous materials handling, DOT and OSHA regulations where applicable.
  • Basic financial acumen for budgeting, cost analysis, freight cost optimization, and inventory carrying cost considerations.
  • Experience coordinating returns, RMA processing, and reverse logistics workflows.
  • Exposure to automated systems (conveyors, sorters, pick-to-light) and participation in automation implementation projects.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills for coordinating with internal teams, carriers, and customers.
  • Strong organizational and time-management abilities with a bias for prioritization and meeting tight deadlines.
  • Analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable operational improvements.
  • Problem-solving aptitude and calm decision-making under pressure, including escalation management.
  • Leadership and team development skills to coach frontline staff and drive high-performing teams.
  • Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in inventory, documentation, and compliance.
  • Adaptability to changing priorities, seasonal peaks, and rapid process changes.
  • Customer-focused mentality to balance internal operational goals with external service level expectations.
  • Negotiation skills for working with carriers, vendors, and 3PL partners.
  • Collaborative mindset to partner effectively across supply chain, procurement, sales, and finance functions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent required.

Preferred Education:

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

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Industrial/Operations Management
  • Information Systems (with WMS/ERP focus)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of progressive warehouse/logistics experience in a distribution, manufacturing, or retail environment.

Preferred: 3–5+ years coordinating warehouse operations, hands-on experience with WMS, supervising staff, and demonstrated success improving KPIs such as order accuracy, on-time shipments, and inventory accuracy.

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