Logisticians

What the job really is

Analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources.

At a glance

• Sector: Business & Financial
• O*NET-SOC code: 13-1081
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Support the development of training materials and technical manuals.
• Maintain and develop positive business relationships with a customer's key personnel involved in, or directly relevant to, a logistics activity.
• Develop an understanding of customers' needs and take actions to ensure that such needs are met.
• Manage subcontractor activities, reviewing proposals, developing performance specifications, and serving as liaisons between subcontractors and organizations.
• Develop proposals that include documentation for estimates.
• Review logistics performance with customers against targets, benchmarks, and service agreements.
• Direct availability and allocation of materials, supplies, and finished products.
• Redesign the movement of goods to maximize value and minimize costs.
• Explain proposed solutions to customers, management, or other interested parties through written proposals and oral presentations.
• Direct team activities, establishing task priorities, scheduling and tracking work assignments, providing guidance, and ensuring the availability of resources.
• Perform managerial duties such as hiring and training employees and overseeing facility needs or requirements.
• Collaborate with other departments as necessary to meet customer requirements, to take advantage of sales opportunities or, in the case of shortages, to minimize negative impacts on a business.

Tools and technology

Autodesk AutoCAD, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Word

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Logistics Analysts
• Supply Chain Managers
• Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
• Logistics Engineers
• Project Management Specialists
• Purchasing Managers
• Management Analysts
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Logisticians — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.