| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Supply Chain |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | General Manager Supply Chain |
| Direct reports | Distribution Executive, Warehouse Supervisor |
| Experience | 6 to 10 years in distribution or logistics, with team leadership |
Distribution Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Distribution Manager
Department: Supply Chain
Reports to: General Manager Supply Chain
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Distribution Manager runs the warehousing and transport that get products from plants to customers. They manage warehouses, dispatch, transporters and delivery, and own service, cost and safety across distribution. The role sits in supply chain operations and leads warehouse and logistics teams. A good one delivers orders on time and in full at controlled cost, keeps warehouses accurate and safe, manages transporters well, handles peaks and returns smoothly, and keeps the goods flowing to customers across the network without damage, delay or excess spend.
Key responsibilities
- Run warehousing, dispatch and transport operations across the distribution network.
- Own on-time and in-full delivery of orders to customers and depots.
- Manage transporters and logistics partners on service, cost and coverage.
- Control distribution and freight cost and drive efficiency across routes.
- Keep warehouse stock accurate, well-organised, safe and secure across locations.
- Plan capacity, manpower and vehicles for daily volumes and seasonal peaks.
- Manage returns, damages and reverse logistics efficiently across the network.
- Monitor distribution metrics and act on delivery, cost and damage issues.
- Ensure warehouse and transport safety and compliance with regulations.
- Lead and develop warehouse and distribution teams across locations.
Requirements
- Degree in logistics, supply chain, engineering or commerce
- Experience in warehousing and distribution
- An MBA or supply chain qualification is an advantage
- 6 to 10 years in distribution or logistics, with team leadership
KRAs and KPIs for a Distribution Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Delivery performance | On-time-in-full delivery meets the target across the network |
| Distribution cost | Distribution and freight cost per unit kept within budget |
| Inventory accuracy | Warehouse stock accuracy above the agreed level on cycle counts |
| Damage and loss | Transit damage and stock loss kept below target |
| Peak handling | Seasonal peaks handled without service failures |
| Safety | Zero major safety incidents across warehouses and transport |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Warehouse management system, Transport management system, ERP such as SAP, MS Excel, GPS and tracking tools.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: General Manager Supply Chain, Head of Logistics
Interview questions for a Distribution Manager
- How would you improve on-time-in-full delivery across your network?
- How do you reduce freight cost without hurting delivery service?
- How do you keep warehouse stock accurate?
- How do you plan distribution for a seasonal demand peak?
- How do you manage a transporter who keeps missing delivery windows?
- How do you keep a warehouse and its transport operations safe?
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What does a distribution manager do?
A distribution manager runs the warehousing and transport that get products from plants to customers. They manage warehouses, dispatch, transporters and delivery, and own service, cost and safety across distribution. They deliver orders on time and in full at controlled cost, keep warehouses accurate and safe, and manage transporters and returns across the network.
What is the difference between a distribution and a logistics manager?
The two overlap heavily. A distribution manager focuses on warehousing, dispatch and delivery of finished goods to customers. A logistics manager often covers a wider scope, including inbound freight, imports and overall transport. In many companies the titles are used interchangeably; the exact scope depends on how the business is organised.
What skills does a distribution manager need?
A distribution manager needs warehousing, transport and logistics partner management skills, plus cost control, inventory accuracy and capacity planning. Leadership matters, since warehouses and dispatch run in shifts across locations. Problem solving is key, because deliveries, transporters and peaks throw up daily issues that must be fixed without failing customers.