How To Become A Director Of Distribution: What It Is and Career Path

What is a director of distribution and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A director of distribution oversees the movement of goods from production to delivery. They manage the logistics and supply chain operations of a company, ensuring that products get delivered on time and within budget. This involves coordinating with suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors to optimize inventory and minimize costs. Directors of distribution analyze data and develop strategies to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and increase profitability. They may also negotiate contracts with carriers and manage warehouse operations.

ScoreDirector Of DistributionUS Average

Salary

8.3

Avg. Salary $126,210

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.2

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.42%

Asian 6.09%

Black or African American 11.08%

Hispanic or Latino 18.39%

Unknown 4.30%

White 59.72%

Gender

female 14.78%

male 85.22%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a director of distribution?

Pros

Potential for high salary and bonuses
Chance to work with diverse range of products and industries
Opportunity to innovate and create new solutions
Continuous learning and professional development
Potential for long-term job security

Cons

Constant need to adapt to changes in market trends and consumer demand
Risk of making costly mistakes that impact the company's bottom line
Potential for conflict with other departments or team members
Heavy reliance on technology, which can be complex and require constant updates
Need to stay up-to-date with industry regulations and compliance

Key steps to become a director of distribution

Explore director of distribution education requirements

Most common director of distribution degrees

Bachelor's

74.8 %

Master's

12.1 %

Associate

8.5 %

Start to develop specific director of distribution skills

Skills	Percentages
Continuous Improvement	8.65%
Project Management	7.13%
Distribution Operations	5.51%
Distribution Centers	4.52%
Direct Reports	4.29%

Complete relevant director of distribution training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of distribution learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of distribution based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of distribution resumes.

Research director of distribution duties and responsibilities

Manage a staff of 80 in many healthcare locations.
Lead the development of operational and transportation KPIs to cover cost, quality and service.
Manage logistics operations issues that include branch logistics plan implementation, warehouse and delivery personnel management, inventory management and security/safety/housekeeping.
Enhance and publish procedures for FDA product recall requirements.

Get director of distribution experience

Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a director of distribution. The most common roles before becoming a director of distribution include operations manager, distribution manager team lead and general manager.

Prepare your director of distribution resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of distribution resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of distribution resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable director of distribution resume templates

Build a professional director of distribution resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your director of distribution resume.