Logistician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a logistician. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a logistician.
Who is a Logistician?
A logistician, sometimes known as a logistics analyst, is a practitioner of logistics, which relates to the transportation of commodities between sites. This movement is multidimensional, comprising every step of a product’s life cycle, including the procurement and allocation of raw materials, the distribution of the product, and the disposal of resources. A logistician has three areas of responsibility: managing the supply chain, organizing transportation and storage of commodities, and transportation management. A logistician is a trained professional who has undergone specialized training and a certification program that focuses on the transportation of commodities. There are several worldwide certification bodies, that are accountable for this professional credential. They include the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport and the International Society of Logistics.
Most logisticians work for either huge shipping enterprises or worldwide distribution organizations. They are responsible for arranging, scheduling, and overseeing the delivery of resources. This vocation had a tremendous surge in the mid-1980s when manufacturing organizations transitioned to just-in-time delivery. As a consequence of this development, it was required to organize and coordinate the transportation of massive quantities of commodities all across the globe, with delivery scheduled to fall into a very limited window. This vocation has continued to increase, with the advancement of computer technology that enables more organizations to make use of this cost-reduction technique.
Logisticians may analyze the speed with which intermodal containers may be transported within a transportation system.
People who can deal with details, love scheduling, and are natural problem solvers have the highest enjoyment as a logistician. In this job, you will meet with component suppliers, transportation businesses, and customers. The capacity to communicate with people while speaking clearly and effectively is highly crucial.
Logistician Job Description
Below are the logistician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a Logistician include the following
- Review shipping papers such as bills of lading to verify that they correctly represent cargo data.
- Develop solutions for enhancing warehouse efficiency and performance based on estimations of space needs and inventory turnover rates.
- Estimate prices of new buildings, equipment acquisitions, labor hours necessary for projects, and other company expenditures.
- Research the best ways to convey products or services over land or water, including creating new technology for transport techniques.
- Recommend changes in shipping processes to cut costs or boost efficiency.
- Conduct surveys to measure consumer satisfaction with goods or services supplied by a business, including interpreting survey data and suggesting areas for improvement.
- Review and approve invoices from suppliers to verify that costs are correct and reasonable for the services given by the provider.
- Assist in arranging and managing corporate events such as trade exhibitions or conferences.
- Evaluate the appropriateness of physical facilities such as warehouses, storage facilities, and ports to verify they fulfill legal requirements and industry standards.
- Protect and regulate proprietary materials.
- Review logistics performance with customers against objectives, benchmarks, and service agreements.
- Support the production of training materials and technical guides.
- Develop and execute technical project management tools such as plans, timetables, and responsibility and compliance matrices.
- Develop proposals that contain documentation for estimations.
- Direct and assist the compilation and analysis of technical source data essential for product development.
- Participate in the study and analysis of design alternatives and design change proposal implications.
- Perform system life-cycle cost analysis, and generate component studies.
- Plan, manage, and execute logistical support tasks such as maintenance planning, repair analysis, and test equipment recommendations.
- Provide project management services, including the supply and analysis of technical data.
- Redesign the circulation of commodities to increase value and decrease expenses.
- Report project plans, progress, and outcomes.
- Stay aware of logistics technology changes, and deploy relevant technologies to optimize logistical procedures.
Qualifications
- A business, systems engineering, or supply chain management bachelor’s degree.
- Previous job experience in logistics, supply chains, or business might be advantageous.
Essential Skills
- Organization: Organization is the capacity to keep track of many activities and resources. As a logistics specialist, you may need to handle numerous projects at once or arrange vast volumes of data. Strong organizing abilities may help you remain on top of your job and guarantee that the relevant information is accessible when needed.
The organization also involves time management abilities, which are vital for logistics workers since many components of logistics depend on accurate timing. For example, if you’re handling shipments, it’s crucial to know when each cargo will arrive so you can plan properly.
- Attention to Detail: Attention to detail is a talent that may help you accomplish your work. As a logistics specialist, you may need to keep track of various data concerning shipments and inventory management. Having attention to detail may help you recall crucial information and maintain the correctness of documents. It may also help you to spot any possible difficulties with shipments or storage spaces so you can fix them before they become major concerns.
- Packaging & Shipping: Packaging and shipping are two crucial parts of logistics that a logistician must be able to do. Packaging entails preparing products for transportation, which may include utilizing protective materials or boxes, adding labels, and ensuring the item is ready for delivery. Shipping includes delivering an object from one area to another. This might require organizing transportation, loading the vehicle, and obeying all relevant rules.
- Analytical Skills: Logisticians employ analytical abilities to examine data and make educated judgments regarding supply chain management. They also utilize these abilities when they prepare reports for customers or employers since they need to convey the information simply and succinctly. Logisticians commonly deal with spreadsheets and other forms of software that need them to assess data and draw logical inferences based on their observations.
- Customer Service: Customer service skills are vital for logistics professionals because they may help you acquire the capacity to deal with clients and customers in a manner that ensures their demands are addressed. Customer service entails giving information, answering questions, and resolving difficulties therefore your ability to give outstanding customer service may be a plus while working as a logistics expert.
- Warehouse Operations: A background in warehouse operations might be advantageous for a logistics professional. This skill set includes knowledge of how to handle machinery and equipment, as well as the ability to manage and monitor inventories. It also entails learning safety standards and procedures linked to working with large equipment and handling potentially dangerous materials.
- Data Analysis: Data analysis is the capacity to comprehend and understand data. This expertise may be valuable for logistics workers since it helps them to examine their company’s supply chain systems and make adjustments when appropriate. Data analysis also helps logistics experts calculate how much inventory they need to keep on hand, which may assist cut costs and enhance customer satisfaction.
- ERP Programs: ERP systems are software applications that streamline and automate business operations. By giving them a tool to track inventory, manage orders and shipments, and handle payments, they can aid logistics professionals. Knowing about ERP systems can help you troubleshoot any problems the system might have.
- Supply Chain Administration: The procedure by which businesses receive and store their inventory is known as supply chain management. To minimize travel time, track inventory levels, and place timely supply orders, logistics professionals must have a solid understanding of how supply chains operate. Understanding how to cut waste and boost productivity across an organization is part of supply chain management.
- Project Administration: You can manage several tasks at once and make sure they all get done by the deadline with the help of project management skills. As a logistics expert, you might have to coordinate with suppliers to ensure shipments arrive on time or manage several projects at once, such as moving goods from one place to another. Utilizing project management techniques will enable you to organize your workload and assign tasks to other team members.
- Inventory Control: Strong inventory management abilities are necessary for a logistician to keep track of the supplies and materials required for their projects. They also need to understand how to place these orders so that they will receive their purchases on schedule and at the proper location. This calls for meticulousness, as well as familiarity with various software and inventory system types.
- Solving issues: The capacity to recognize and address problems that might develop in a logistics operation is known as problem-solving. When developing supply chain solutions, logisticians frequently use problem-solving techniques because each solution has its special difficulties. For instance, if a shipment of goods is delayed in reaching its destination, a logistician may examine the circumstances to ascertain what caused the delay and how to avoid it in the future.
- Planning: The ability to plan allows logistics professionals to develop schedules and strategies that aid in the achievement of their organizations’ production objectives. In the long run, it can help them save time and money by assisting them in determining the resources they will need to complete projects. To reduce delays or disruptions, logisticians should take into account how each task is related to other tasks when planning.
- Communication: The capacity to convey information in a way that others can understand is known as communication. Because they frequently interact with individuals from various backgrounds and industries, logistics professionals need to be proficient in this skill. Strong communication abilities enable them to clearly explain their processes, ensuring that everyone on the team is aware of what needs to be done. Additionally, it enables them to work effectively with other supply chain participants.
- Office 2007: For logistics professionals, proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite of applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, is a prerequisite. These applications are utilized in many facets of the profession, from preparing contracts with suppliers or customers to producing reports on your company’s success. It’s crucial to have great computer abilities since you may need to make presentations for conferences or meetings.
- Planning for Transportation: The capacity to plan and carry out transportation strategies for commodities is known as transportation planning. Understanding the most effective means of transportation, the best places to store supplies, and the kinds of vehicles you need to convey your goods are all part of this. Planning for transportation also includes being aware of the rules and regulations governing the delivery and shipment of commodities by land, air, and sea.
How to Become a Logistician
- Achieve a bachelor’s degree: It’s a good idea to enroll in a bachelor’s program in a similar subject, like management, after determining if you want to be a logistician. You may study the ideas behind managing a company’s supply chain throughout your schooling, as well as how to put these theories into practice.
Such bachelor’s programs are offered by several British colleges. The University of Portsmouth, for instance, confers a BSc (Hons) in Business and Supply Chain Management. You may study a variety of required and elective courses on important business logistics topics, such as purchasing, ethics, and critical leadership, over your three-year program. You may also do a paid work placement module, strengthening your abilities over 12 months in the field.
- Select your selected sector: You may find it helpful to consider your preferred industry as you near the end of your undergraduate studies. The supply chain of a company might differ significantly from that of its rivals depending on its goods and clientele. Your supply chain, for instance, might comprise online retailers, postal services, and distribution facilities if you worked for an e-commerce business that operates a digital marketplace. On the other hand, if you work as a logistician for a vehicle manufacturer, you can be in charge of a supply chain that involves couriers, assembly lines, and component manufacturers.
Before making a final choice, it is essential to determine which industry best matches your interests and professional qualifications. You could choose something along the lines of the second example if your goal is to increase demand for your services by carving out a professional specialty. In contrast, you may choose something like the earlier example if you want to develop a more generalist and adaptable set of talents.
- Obtain an entry-level position: The next step after graduating from college is to apply for entry-level positions in your preferred field. You could find it less difficult to make the transition from student to professional life if you attempt to get graduate-level work as soon as feasible. By working in logistics full-time, you may start to accumulate essential expertise that would pave the way for your future professional success.
- Acquire professional credentials: You can think about attempting to advance your profession to a more senior level after accumulating many years’ worth of paid experience. In this case, obtaining a professional certification might help you learn more about a particular area of logistics management. For instance, you may pursue the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Operations Management. You may study several more complex logistics planning topics throughout your studies, including dealing with stakeholders and organizing supply lines across international boundaries.
You might demonstrate to prospective employers that you have the necessary expertise to manage more responsibility by obtaining such certification. This would increase your ability to compete for senior jobs in the job market and raise your earning potential.
Where to work as a Logistician
Depending on the company, logisticians may spend time in warehouses, facilities, or other sites in addition to their usual office setting. They could work in the logistics division of a manufacturing or retail business or for firms that provide logistical services like shipping or storage. A bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or supply chain management is common among logisticians. Some individuals have a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) with a logistics emphasis. Most logisticians are full-time employees, however, some may put in more than 40 hours a week to satisfy demands.
Logistician Salary Scale
In the USA, the average logistical income is $20.48 per hour or $39,936 annually. Most experienced professionals earn up to $79,838 per year, while entry-level occupations start at $31,201.
In the UK, the average income for a logistician professional is £27,501 per year or £14.10 per hour. Most experienced professionals earn up to £45,000 per year, while entry-level roles start at £23,500.
The average logistician pay in Canada is $46,558 per year or $23.88 per hour. Entry-level occupations start at $38,504 per year, while most experienced professionals earn up to $64,468 each year
The average logistician income in Australia is $78,103 per year or $40.05 per hour. Entry-level occupations start at $63,375 per year, while most experienced professionals earn up to $119,900 per year.