Storage and Distribution Managers

Description

Plan, direct, or coordinate the storage or distribution operations within an organization or the activities of organizations that are engaged in storing or distributing materials or products.

Tasks

  • Prepare and manage departmental budgets.
  • Supervise the activities of workers engaged in receiving, storing, testing, and shipping products or materials.
  • Interview, select, and train warehouse and supervisory personnel.
  • Plan, develop, or implement warehouse safety and security programs and activities.
  • Prepare or direct preparation of correspondence, reports, and operations, maintenance, and safety manuals.
  • Issue shipping instructions and provide routing information to ensure that delivery times and locations are coordinated.
  • Confer with department heads to coordinate warehouse activities, such as production, sales, records control, or purchasing.
  • Review invoices, work orders, consumption reports, or demand forecasts to estimate peak delivery periods and to issue work assignments.
  • Inspect physical conditions of warehouses, vehicle fleets, or equipment and order testing, maintenance, repairs, or replacements.
  • Schedule or monitor air or surface pickup, delivery, or distribution of products or materials.
  • Respond to customers' or shippers' questions and complaints regarding storage and distribution services.
  • Develop and document standard and emergency operating procedures for receiving, handling, storing, shipping, or salvaging products or materials.
  • Develop or implement plans for facility modification or expansion, such as equipment purchase or changes in space allocation or structural design.
  • Track and trace goods while they are en route to their destinations, expediting orders when necessary.
  • Negotiate with carriers, warehouse operators, or insurance company representatives for services and preferential rates.
  • Arrange for necessary shipping documentation and contact customs officials to effect release of shipments.
  • Evaluate freight or inventory costs associated with transit times to ensure that costs are appropriate.
  • Advise sales and billing departments of transportation charges for customers' accounts.
  • Examine invoices and shipping manifests for conformity to tariff and customs regulations.
  • Evaluate locations for new warehouses or distribution networks to determine their potential usefulness.
  • Participate in setting transportation and service rates.
  • Examine products or materials to estimate quantities or weight and type of container required for storage or transport.
  • Arrange for storage facilities when required.
  • Develop or implement plans for storage and distribution activities that emphasize technological solutions for sustainability, such as investment in smart or eco-friendly containers, dynamic distribution networks, warehouse renovations, or fuel efficient fleets.
  • Develop storage and distribution models that include factors such as warehouse locations, customer locations, or available transportation modes to maximize operational efficiency or sustainability.
  • Evaluate contractors or business partners for operational efficiency or safety or environmental performance records.
  • Evaluate the environmental implications of new warehouses or distribution networks.
  • Identify and implement carbon minimization activities to offset carbon emissions, such as by planting trees, purchasing carbon credits, or purchasing green technologies, such as air filtration or alternative energy vehicles or power.
  • Plan or implement environmental training programs and activities.
  • Select modes of transportation for the distribution of goods that minimize pollution, such as carbon output or other environmental impacts.

Knowledge

Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Skills

Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities

Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Work Activities

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Coaching and Developing Others
Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Monitoring and Controlling Resources
Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Scheduling Work and Activities
Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Work Context

Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

Interests

Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Artistic
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Work Style

Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Work Values

Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Lay Titles

Ammunition Storage Superintendent
Building Supervisor
Bulk Plant Manager
Cold Storage Supervisor
Compressor Stations Superintendent
Customer Service Manager
Dispatch Manager
Dispatcher
Distribution Center Manager
Distribution Coordinator
Distribution Manager
Distribution Operation Manager
Distribution Superintendent
Head of Import Coordination and Production
Head of Physical Distribution and Logistics
Import Coordinator
Import Export Manager
Import Manager
Import-Export Agent
Importer Exporter
International Trade Specialist
Load Out Supervisor
Locker Operator
Logistics Manager
Logistics Supervisor
Logistics Supply Officer
Marine Oil Terminal Superintendent
Measurement Superintendent
Operations Manager
Parking Garage Manager
Parking Lot Manager
Pipelines Superintendent
Print Traffic Manager
Receiving Manager
Sewer System Supervisor
Shipping Coordinator
Shipping Manager
Shipping Receiving Manager
Shipping Supervisor
Station Manager
Storage Manager
Stores Supervisor
Substation Manager
Supply Controller
Supply Officer
Supply Requirements Officer
Telegraph Office Manager
Warehouse Foreman
Warehouse Manager
Warehouse Operations Manager
Warehouse Supervisor
Warehouse/Distribution Manager
Warehouser
Water and Sewer Systems Superintendent
Waterworks Supervisor

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):
$39.34 hourly, $81,830 annual.
Employment (2008):
98,600 employees