Logistics Manager
The Logistics Manager is responsible for getting orders from the warehouse to the customer: choosing carriers, managing delivery times and costs, handling returns, and tracking SLAs in e-commerce and nutra.
What a Logistics Manager does
The Logistics Manager makes sure products reach the buyer on time, intact, and at the planned cost. In e-commerce and nutra, this directly affects conversion, repeat purchase rates, and return volumes, so the role matters for revenue, not just for the warehouse.
In high-risk verticals, logistics is often harder than usual: restrictions on shipping supplements and health products, document and labeling requirements, high refusal rates on cash-on-delivery orders, and frequent changes in sellers and landing pages that shift volumes from day to day. Companies hire a logistics manager to manage these risks and avoid losing money on delivery and returns.
This role usually reports to the head of operations or the COO. In larger teams, the manager oversees delivery specialists, warehouse managers, and carrier coordinators. The role works closely with procurement, finance, customer support, and marketing, who rely on logistics data about delivery times and refusals.
Responsibilities
- Select and onboard delivery services and carriers, and negotiate rates, cash-on-delivery terms, and coverage areas
- Manage carrier contracts and monitor SLA compliance for delivery times, tracking statuses, and damaged parcels
- Design and revise delivery schemes by region and product category, including restrictions on prohibited destinations
- Monitor buyouts, refusals, and returns: causes, processing times, refunds, and reverse logistics
- Plan volumes based on sales forecasts, promotions, and launches, and align warehouse capacity with procurement
- Calculate delivery cost per order and per unit, and identify where logistics costs erode margin
- Track logistics expenses by channel, offer, and region for financial analysis
- Coordinate customs, certificates, and documentation for products that require them
- Develop and enforce procedures and instructions for warehouses, operators, and carriers
- Prepare reports for management and highlight which logistics decisions affect profit
Skills
- Understanding order unit economics: delivery, buyouts, returns, cost of goods, and margin
- Carrier negotiations and the ability to read rate cards and contracts
- Working with SLAs and escalations: quickly identifying the cause of delays and assigning responsibility
- Volume planning and forecasting that accounts for seasonality and ad campaigns
- Data analysis in Excel or Google Sheets: pivot tables, formulas, and anomaly detection
- Knowledge of shipping and storage restrictions for health and cosmetic products
- Team management and task delegation to staff and contractors
- Communication with support and marketing: explaining timelines and restrictions in plain language
- Document handling: waybills, acts, claims, and claims management with carriers
- Prioritization amid frequent plan changes and urgent launches
Tools
- Warehouse management systems (WMS) and accounting systems (1C, ERP)
- Transportation management systems (TMS) or logistics modules in CRM and OMS
- Excel and Google Sheets for calculations and planning
- BI dashboards and CRM exports for analyzing statuses and refusals
- Email and messaging tools for working with carriers and warehouses
- Tracking systems and carrier personal accounts
- Ticketing systems (Jira, Helpdesk) for delay and damage requests
How performance is measured
- On-time delivery rate by carrier and region
- Refusal rate on delivery and return rate
- Delivery cost per order and its share of revenue
- Average time from order placement to receipt
- SLA compliance rate by carrier
- Number of damaged and lost shipments per 1,000 orders
By vertical
E-Commerce
In e-commerce, the logistics manager handles high order volumes, competes on delivery speed, and manages returns, which are typical in this vertical. The key task is keeping delivery costs and return rates under control as sales grow, and synchronizing the warehouse with promotions and marketplaces.
Nutra
In nutra, there is added regulatory and reputational pressure: some products have shipping restrictions and require careful documentation, and refusals on cash-on-delivery orders can be higher than usual. The logistics manager builds delivery schemes that account for regional restrictions and works closely with the risk team and support.
Levels
Management
At the management level, the logistics manager is responsible for the entire logistics scheme and its economics: selecting carriers, approving the delivery budget, and deciding on entering regions or dropping destinations. The role works with leadership on strategy, manages the team, and owns the final profit per order, not just on-time shipping.
How to get there
Most people move into e-commerce and nutra logistics from warehouse operations, delivery services, transport companies, procurement, or customer service, where they already worked with order statuses and carriers. Experience with Excel, accounting systems, and delivery cost calculations is valuable. For beginners, a delivery coordinator or carrier relations specialist position is a good entry point.
What to study: how last-mile delivery and main delivery types work, carrier contracts and SLAs, the mechanics of cash on delivery and buyouts, basic shipping rules for health products, and the fundamentals of order unit economics. It helps to understand how delivery cost is calculated and how returns affect margin.
Growth usually comes from expanding responsibility: from one carrier or region to the entire delivery scheme, then to managing warehouses and a team. To advance, it is important to show the economic impact of decisions with numbers and to explain them clearly to management and finance.
Next steps: Head of Logistics, Supply Chain Manager, Warehouse Operations Manager, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Carrier Manager
FAQ
How is a Logistics Manager different from a warehouse manager?
A warehouse manager is responsible for processes inside the warehouse: receiving, storage, order picking, and dispatch. A Logistics Manager looks at the bigger picture: choosing carriers, managing delivery costs and timelines, and owning the order's path to the customer. In many teams, these roles work together.
Do I need to know the legal restrictions for nutra?
Basic understanding is essential: which products have shipping restrictions, which documents are required, and when to consult a lawyer or the risk team. Specific requirements depend on the product, country, and regulator, so logistics managers usually rely on internal procedures and colleagues' expertise.
What determines a Logistics Manager's income?
Income depends on company size and shipping volume, the complexity of the delivery scheme, the level of the role, and how directly the logistics manager influences order economics. At the management level, the delivery budget and responsibility for profit are key factors.
Which metrics are most often used to evaluate a logistics manager?
The most common metrics are on-time delivery rate, refusal and return rates, delivery cost per order, and carrier SLA compliance. A strong logistics manager not only improves these numbers but also explains why they change and proposes solutions.
Can I move into logistics from another field?
Yes, especially from warehouse operations, the transport industry, procurement, or customer service roles that involve working with orders. It is important to learn how to work with carriers, calculate delivery costs, and analyze data in spreadsheets. Specifics of high-risk verticals are usually learned on the job.
Looking for a job in the industry?
Post an anonymous resume in our bot — recruiters from iGaming, payments and crypto search it every day.