How to Excel in the Supply Chain and Logistics Career Path

Stepping into a supply chain management and logistics career path can lead to a flexible work life. After all, every industry requires some form of supply chain management. Logistics is needed everywhere, whether you’re transporting vaccines, handling e-commerce operations, or even working in the military.

Luckily, Singapore is the number one logistics and supply chain hub in Asia. Its strategic geography makes it an integral point of destination for international shipping lines and a hotspot for world trade. Pursuing a career in logistics in Singapore could even set you up for work abroad. Dreaming to make it big in logistics? Let’s break down your steps to success.

What does a professional in logistics do?

Fundamentally, logistics pertains to the coordination of complex operations in the company. This can refer to people, supplies, or sellable goods. Plenty of positions and job titles are available in this industry, but all will require you to be analytical, organised, and flexible.

Professionals in logistics include logisticians, logistics directors, operations managers, production planners, supply chain managers, supply chain specialists, and more. The title can change per company, but the responsibilities are generally similar:

• Coordinating the shipment and acquisition of goods from external parties
• Organising and managing the preparation, storage, and routing of supplies, orders, or transportable goods
• Keeping a well-documented record of forms, bills, invoices, and paperwork
• Ensuring quality control of supplies, orders, or contents for shipment
• Overseeing and ensuring operations in facilities comply with industry regulations
• Taking client inquiries and representing the business when in contact with potential clients
• Maintaining a strong communication network with the stakeholders in the supply chain

Salary Range

As the logistics industry is quite diversified, the educational requirements, skills requirements, and responsibilities are very broad. As such, salaries can vary greatly depending on your job.

Entry-level jobs earn on average about S$2,365 per month or S$28,380 per year. Meanwhile, junior executive positions experience a slight salary bump with an average of S$2,923 per month or S$35,076 per year.

More senior roles such as a senior executive position, can earn you an estimated S$4,048 per month or S$48,576 per year. Managers experience an even larger salary hike at S$5,960 per month or S$71,520 per year.

Naturally, senior managers take home the highest pay at an average of S$9,904 per month or S$118,848 per year. In total, the overall average salary of the 237,000 Singaporeans in logistics is approximately S$60,480, according to JobStreet Singapore’s 2020 Salary Report.

What is the career path of a logistics professional?

The great thing about the logistics industry in Singapore is that there is a future for everyone at all levels of educational attainment. Whether you have a certificate, a diploma, or a master’s degree in logistics and supply chain management, a path toward success is accessible to you.

According to the Singapore government’s ​​Skills Framework for Logistics, these are the six available career paths in the logistics and supply chain industry.

Warehouse Management and Operations

1. Material Handling Equipment (MHE) Operator/Forklift Operator/Warehouse Assistant/Inventory Assistant
2. Warehouse Storekeeper/Inventory Coordinator/Logistics Coordinator
3. Warehouse Supervisor/Inventory Control Supervisor/Quality Control Supervisor
4. Warehouse Officer/Inventory Controller/Quality Control Officer/Warehouse Facilities Management Officer
5. Health, Safety and Environmental Coordinator
6. Warehouse Operations Executive/Inventory Management Executive/Warehouse Assistant Manager
7. Health, Safety and Environmental Officer
8. Warehouse Operations Manager/Inventory Management Manager/Capacity Management Manager
9. Health, Safety and Environmental Manager
10. Chief Executive Officer/Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director/General Manager

Transportation Management and Operations

1. Rigger/Signalman
2. Dispatch Operator/Transport Operator/Last-Mile Delivery Driver/Container Driver
3. Lifting Supervisor
4. Traffic Coordinator/Dispatch Coordinator
5. Project Engineer
6. Project Supervisor
7. Depot Supervisor/Traffic Supervisor/Dispatch Supervisor/Hub Operations Supervisor
8. Traffic Controller/Transport Officer/Line Haul Operations Officer
9. Senior Project Engineer
10. Project Executive
11. Transport Assistant Manager/Transport Executive/Line Haul Operations Executive
12. Project Manager
13. Transportation Operations Manager
14. Chief Executive Officer/Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director/General Manager

Freight Forwarding and Operations

1. Incoming Quality Coordinator/Tally Assistant
2. Import Export Administrative Assistant/Shipping Assistant
3. Permit Coordinator/Shipping Coordinator/Custom Clearance Coordinator
4. Freight Inspector/Incoming Quality Inspector
5. Brokerage Supervisor/Freight Supervisor
6. Freight Officer
7. Shipping Specialist/Import Export Specialist/Freight Executive
8. Import Export Manager/Freight Allocation Manager/Freight Shipping Manager/Freight Documentation Manager/Freight Pricing Manager
9. Chief Executive Officer/Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director/General Manager

Sales and Customer Service

1. Order Fulfilment Assistant/Sales Operations Management Assistant/Customer Service Assistant
2. Order Fulfilment Coordinator/Sales Operations Management Coordinator/Customer Service Coordinator
3. Field Sales Executive/Key Account Executive/Sales Operations Management Specialist
4. Order Management Executive/Quote Desk Executive/Order Fulfilment Officer/Inside Sales Officer
5. Customer Service Officer/Service Quality Analyst
6. Senior Customer Service Officer/Customer Service Specialist
7. Business Development Manager/Sales and Marketing Manager/Vertical Sales Account Manager/Key Account Manager/Project Cargo Sales Manager/Route Development Manager/Trade Lane Manager
8. Customer Service Manager
9. Business Development Director/Country Route Development Director/Trade Lane Director/Freight Trade Director
10. Chief Executive Officer/Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director/General Manager

Logistics Solutions and Programme Management

1. Logistics Solutions Analyst
2. Logistics Contract Analyst/Logistics Operations Analyst
3. Logistics Solutions Specialist/Logistics Solutions Engineer
4. Logistics Contracts Executive/Logistics Operations Executive/ Logistics Operations Specialist
5. Vertical Specialist
6. Logistics Solutions Manager
7. Logistics Contracts Manager/Logistics Programme Manager
8. Vertical Product Manager
9. Logistics Solutions and Implementation Director/Tailored Supply Chain Director/Channel Operations Director
10. Chief Executive Officer/Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director/General Manager

Logistics Process Improvement and Information System

1. Logistics Data Management Coordinator/Logistics Data Entry Coordinator
2. Logistics Data Specialist/Master Data Analyst/Master Data Executive
3. Business Process Excellence Engineer/Operations Specialist/Industrial Operations Engineer
4. Logistics IT Executive/Digital Services Executive/Logistics System Analyst
5. Operations Integration Specialist/System Integration Engineer/Infrastructure Specialist
6. IT Business Solutions Project Specialist/Digital Services Project Specialist
7. Logistics Innovation and Process Improvement Manager/Customer and Logistics Systems Manager
8. IT Business Solutions Manager/Digital Services Manager
9. Chief Executive Officer/Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director/General Manager

What requirements do you need to become a professional in logistics?

Technical skills

The logistics industry is a very professionalised industry with a diverse set of job positions. As such, the technical skills will differ depending on the subsector and level of your job. However, most jobs will generally require the same technical skills and competencies:

• Supply chain management
• Inventory control and audit
• Facility management
• Equipment handling
• Quality control
• Process improvement and optimisation
• Risk management

Other skills

Soft skills are necessary for professionals to competently carry out their responsibilities. This is why the logistics industry places a lot of importance on the following soft skills that all companies desire in jobseekers:

Problem-Solving

Working in logistics can feel like solving a large puzzle every day. If you love puzzles, then this is certainly the career for you. A lot of supply chain management work will require you to think on your feet, come up with creative solutions, and be resourceful enough to get the job done.

Communication

Communication is needed in every job, but perhaps not quite as much as in logistics. In this industry, you’ll be dealing with hundreds of people monthly. These internal and external contacts might be point persons during dispatch procedures, clients awaiting delivery of goods, or potential business partners. As such, professionalism and interpersonal skills are a must.

Teamwork

Aside from having a healthy communication network, a logistics professional must also be skilled in teamwork. At the end of the day, it will be your teammates that will help you fulfil your roles and responsibilities and vice versa. Logistics is a large, interconnected, and complicated team sport, so teamwork is absolutely essential.

Decision-making

Hand-in-hand with problem-solving is decision-making. Crises or delays are inevitable in logistics, so you must be able to work under pressure, solve any speed bumps, and make firm and competent decisions when necessary, especially since this industry runs on schedules.

Forward-thinking

The logistics industry is always evolving, and never more so than in the last few years. The rise of e-commerce and the digitalisation of companies have steadily pushed logistics into a new stage of evolution, spurred on by innovations like crowd-sourced delivery, e-commerce logistics, 4PL services, 3D printing, vendor-managed inventory, and reverse logistics. Learning never stops no matter what industry or position you’re in, so you must keep up with the times to serve your company better.

Educational background

Most universities in Singapore offer diplomas designed for career paths in logistics. For example, Republic Polytechnic offers diplomas in supply chain management and industrial and operations management. Meanwhile, SIM University offers a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management. A bachelor of science or a bachelor in business administration will certainly help you land a higher-level job, however, it’s not necessary if you want to enter the logistics industry.

A diploma or a certificate in a logistics-related course is usually the minimum requirement for jobs in this industry. The Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) offers two diplomas to ready jobseekers for the supply chain industry: Warehouse Services and Freight & Transport Services.

Opportunities for Continuous Education

The logistics industry offers much room for its talent to grow. Through Skills Future, the Singaporean government offers a detailed list of classes you can attend in local universities to broaden your knowledge on a specific topic. If you’re in the transportation career path, you can attend the Logistics Academy’s course on Shipping Documents, Dos and Don’ts. If you’re in the business management track, you can get a Certificate in the Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management from the Singapore Management University. Indeed, an unlimited number of logistics courses are available on SkillsFuture to enrich your career path.

How to write a logistics resume?

Logistics career paths are among the most popular in Singapore. As the main hub of logistics and supply chain management in Asia, Singapore boasts many logistics jobseekers each year. This is why you must grab a hirer’s attention within the first three sentences.

Download this Logistics resume HERE.

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