How to become a manager in logistics
Official title: Managers in logistics
Also called: Logistic manager, Logistics manager, Supply chain manager, Logistics support manager, Logistics planning manager, Logistics operations manager, Logistics and distribution manager
Managers in logistics plan, co-ordinate and organise the supply chain of goods and services between the point of production and consumption, including their efficient transportation, storage and retailing.
Main tasks
- Management and planning of supply chains from source to the point of consumption to ensure goods get from suppliers to distribution centres as efficiently as possible
- Co-ordinates the transportation and storage of goods
- Monitors the distribution of goods and stock levels to ensure the organisation's needs are met and reports on overall performance
- Advises purchasing department on type, quality and quantity of goods required and dates by which they must be available and negotiates contracts with suppliers
- Ensures that regulations regarding hours of work, the licensing of crews and transport equipment, the operational safety and efficiency of equipment, the insurance of vehicles and other statutory regulations are complied with
How to become one
Candidates are recruited with a variety of academic qualifications and/or with relevant experience. Entrants to management trainee schemes offered by larger companies will require GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades, a degree or other equivalent qualifications. Off and on-the-job training is provided. Professional qualifications are available and may be required for some roles. NVQs/SVQs in a number of relevant areas including supply chain and operations management are available at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Supply chain leadership professional (integrated degree) (level 6). England. Typically 48 months. Skills England standard ST0548.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £46,143 a year The middle half earn £36,461 to £61,139.
- About 50,200 people work in this job now, and about 58,000 are projected by 2035. (+15.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a manager in logistics?
Candidates are recruited with a variety of academic qualifications and/or with relevant experience. Entrants to management trainee schemes offered by larger companies will require GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades, a degree or other equivalent qualifications. Off and on-the-job training is provided. Professional qualifications are available and may be required for some roles. NVQs/SVQs in a number of relevant areas including supply chain and operations management are available at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5.
How much does a manager in logistics earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £46,143 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £36,461 to £61,139.
Is a manager in logistics a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 16% by 2035, from about 50,200 to about 58,000 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a manager in logistics?
Not always. 54% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Supply chain leadership professional (integrated degree) (level 6).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03