Logistics & Supply Chain Manager

What does a Logistics & Supply Chain Manager do?

Logistics and Supply Chain Managers plan and operate the flow of goods from supplier to customer across UK distribution networks. Day to day work depends on specialism: Warehouse / Distribution Centre Managers run high throughput sites with hundreds of staff; Transport / Fleet Managers optimise vehicle routes and driver utilisation; Procurement / Buying Managers source goods from UK and international suppliers; Supply Chain Strategy Managers design network resilience and demand forecasting. UK logistics has grown enormously post Brexit and through e commerce expansion.

• Plan and optimise UK supply chains across procurement, warehousing and transport
• Run distribution centre operations, route optimisation and inventory management
• Specialise into procurement, warehouse operations, transport, or supply chain strategy
• Work for Tesco, Amazon UK, Sainsbury's, DHL, Royal Mail, Ocado and major retailers

UK salary ranges

UK Logistics & Supply Chain Manager pay scales vary with seniority and sector. Graduate logistics trainees at major UK retailers start at £30,000-£38,000. Operations Managers and Supply Chain Managers earn £45,000-£70,000. Senior Operations Directors and Supply Chain Directors at FTSE 100 retailers reach £100,000-£180,000+.

Typical entry routes

• Business / Operations degree + graduate scheme at a major UK retailer or 3PL
• Supply Chain Apprenticeship (Level 4 7) - 2 5 years, fully employer funded
• MSc Logistics / Supply Chain - 1 year postgraduate programme

Key skills

• Operational leadership of large diverse teams
• Stakeholder management across customers, suppliers, hauliers
• Negotiation across commercial contracts
• Cultural competence in a highly diverse workforce
• Pragmatic problem solving under operational pressure

Major employers

• Amazon UK, Tesco, Sainsbury's
• 3PL providers: DHL Supply Chain, Wincanton, XPO, GXO, Kuehne+Nagel UK, DSV UK
• E commerce & online retailers: Ocado, ASOS, Boohoo, JD Sports, Currys
• Royal Mail & Parcelforce
• Defence & critical sectors: MoD Defence Logistics, NHS Supply Chain, Network Rail