| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Logistics and Warehousing |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Head of Logistics |
| Direct reports | Senior Logistics Executive, Logistics Executive, Logistics Coordinator |
| Experience | 5 to 9 years in logistics or supply chain coordination |
Logistics 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: Logistics Manager
Department: Logistics and Warehousing
Reports to: Head of Logistics
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Logistics Manager coordinates the movement of goods in and out of a company or site. They plan inbound from suppliers and outbound to customers, book and manage carriers, control freight and handling cost, and keep documentation and delivery timelines in order. They sit between purchase, production, warehouse and sales, unblocking whatever holds up a shipment. A good Logistics Manager keeps material and finished goods flowing at the right cost, meets delivery commitments, and gives the business clear visibility of where every shipment stands.
Key responsibilities
- Plan inbound and outbound shipments against production and sales schedules and confirm carrier capacity in advance.
- Book and manage transporters and couriers, track shipments in transit, and act on delays before they hit customers.
- Control freight, handling and packaging cost for the site against the monthly budget.
- Coordinate with purchase, production, warehouse and sales to sequence dispatches and clear bottlenecks.
- Keep shipment documentation complete: invoices, e-way bills, delivery challans and proof of delivery.
- Track on-time delivery and in-transit damage and drive both to target with carriers and warehouse.
- Manage returns and rejections so stock comes back, is recorded, and credits are settled.
- Maintain a shipment tracker that gives sales and customers a reliable delivery status.
- Review carrier performance and resolve billing, detention and claims disputes.
- Lead the logistics executives, set daily priorities, and build cover for critical desks.
Requirements
- Graduate in commerce, logistics or a related field
- Working knowledge of transport, e-way bills and dispatch documents
- A diploma or MBA in supply chain is an advantage
- 5 to 9 years in logistics or supply chain coordination
KRAs and KPIs for a Logistics 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 |
|---|---|
| On-time delivery | Outbound shipments delivered on time above 96 percent each month |
| Freight cost | Freight and handling cost per shipment within the site budget |
| In-transit damage | Damage in transit held below the agreed percent of shipments |
| Documentation | E-way bills and dispatch documents correct with zero detentions from paperwork errors |
| Shipment visibility | Live shipment status available for all open orders to sales and customers |
| Returns settlement | Returns recorded and credits settled within the agreed days |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Transport management system, ERP for dispatch and inventory, E-way bill portal, MS Excel, Shipment tracking tools.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Head of Logistics, Distribution Centre Manager, General Manager Logistics
Interview questions for a Logistics Manager
- How do you plan a week of inbound and outbound shipments against a changing production schedule?
- A customer's shipment is stuck in transit and they are calling. What do you do?
- How do you keep freight cost per shipment down without missing delivery dates?
- What documents must be right before a vehicle leaves, and why does it matter?
- How do you give sales a reliable view of where every order stands?
- Tell me about a bottleneck between production and dispatch that you fixed.
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What does a Logistics Manager do?
A Logistics Manager coordinates goods moving in and out of a company. They plan inbound and outbound shipments, book and manage carriers, control freight cost, keep dispatch documents correct, and hold on-time delivery. They sit between purchase, production, warehouse and sales, tracking shipments and clearing whatever blocks a delivery, while leading a team of logistics executives.
What is the difference between a Logistics Manager and a Supply Chain Manager?
A Logistics Manager focuses on the movement and delivery of goods: transport, warehousing coordination, freight cost and dispatch. A Supply Chain Manager takes a wider view that also covers demand planning, procurement and inventory strategy. Logistics is the execution arm of the supply chain, so the roles overlap but differ in scope.
What qualifications does a Logistics Manager need?
A graduate degree in commerce or logistics is common, and an MBA or diploma in supply chain is an advantage. Employers value working knowledge of transport, e-way bills and dispatch documentation, experience coordinating carriers and internal teams, and a track record of holding on-time delivery and freight cost. Several years of logistics experience are expected.