How to hire a director of distribution

How to hire a director of distribution, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director of distribution hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a director of distribution job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of distribution
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a director of distribution do?

Post a director of distribution job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a director of distribution, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect director of distribution also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents director of distribution salaries for various positions.

   Type of Director Of Distribution	Description	Hourly rate
   Director Of Distribution		$42-86
   Shipping Manager	A shipping manager is responsible for monitoring the shipment procedures of a distribution center, ensuring the quality and quantity of the merchandise before release to avoid delays and client conflicts. Shipping managers evaluate staff performance on their productivity in meeting timely deliveries and operational efficiency... Show more	$17-35
   Shipping Receiving Manager	A shipping receiving manager is responsible for overseeing the logistics of goods and supplies in a warehouse or retail setting. Most of the time, they must verify and handle all outgoing and incoming packages, monitor the inventory, evaluate staff progress, and keep track of the flow of operations, ensuring its accuracy and timeliness... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Continuous Improvement
   • Project Management
   • Distribution Operations
   • Distribution Centers
   • Direct Reports
   • Process Improvement
   • Customer Service
   • Excellent Interpersonal
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Inventory Control
   • KPIs
   • Strategic Sourcing
   • Business Development
   • OSHA

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Improve communications with foreign vendors to reduce and improve upon FDA holds.
   • Orchestrate selection, acquisition and implementation of agile ERP and WMS technologies.

   More director of distribution duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your director of distribution job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A director of distribution can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, directors of distribution' average salary in hawaii is 38% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level directors of distribution 51% less than senior-level directors of distribution.
   • Certifications. A director of distribution with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a director of distribution's salary.

   Average director of distribution salary

   $126,210yearly

   $60.68 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level director of distribution salary

   $88,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average director of distribution salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$149,569	$72
   2	Nevada	$149,321	$72
   3	New York	$143,786	$69
   4	Georgia	$136,383	$66
   5	Massachusetts	$136,019	$65
   6	Louisiana	$134,558	$65
   7	Pennsylvania	$134,115	$64
   8	Connecticut	$133,128	$64
   9	Iowa	$130,989	$63
   10	North Carolina	$130,894	$63
   11	New Hampshire	$130,411	$63
   12	Oregon	$129,007	$62
   13	Rhode Island	$127,915	$62
   14	Arizona	$123,641	$59
   15	Alabama	$123,363	$59
   16	District of Columbia	$123,180	$59
   17	New Mexico	$122,662	$59
   18	Colorado	$122,550	$59
   19	Alaska	$121,729	$59
   20	Michigan	$121,713	$59

   Average director of distribution salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$167,636	$80.59	67
   2	Apple	$164,964	$79.31	8
   3	BJ's Wholesale Club	$160,252	$77.04	1
   4	Burlington	$156,367	$75.18	11
   5	JCPenney	$155,045	$74.54	3
   6	Bimbo Bakeries	$153,671	$73.88
   7	The Travelers Companies	$147,649	$70.99
   8	Alexion Pharmaceuticals	$145,801	$70.10
   9	VF	$143,668	$69.07
   10	Spectrum Brands	$142,963	$68.73
   11	AIG	$141,275	$67.92
   12	Rheem Manufacturing	$140,506	$67.55	12
   13	AmerisourceBergen	$139,204	$66.92
   14	Gates	$136,688	$65.72
   15	L'Oréal	$133,891	$64.37	2
   16	Post Holdings	$133,029	$63.96
   17	Dollar General	$132,228	$63.57
   18	Eversource Energy	$131,483	$63.21	11
   19	Pacifi	$131,250	$63.10	3
   20	Teva Pharmaceuticals	$129,879	$62.44

4. Writing a director of distribution job description

   A director of distribution job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a director of distribution job description:

   Director of distribution job description example

   Job Purpose
   
   The Director, Compliance, Distribution works with the Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, Distribution to develop and coordinate the strategic direction and continuous improvement of the Jackson Distribution compliance program. The Director, Compliance, Distribution ensures regulatory compliance related to Jackson Distribution activities, including the design of processes and controls to ensure compliance with the respective state and federal mandates, as well as corporate policies and procedures. This role is responsible for ensuring proper execution of day-to-day compliance tasks assigned to the team and leads/participates in special projects at the direction of the Deputy Chief Compliance Officer or VP, Chief Compliance Officer.
   
   Essential Responsibilities
   
   Supports management in the implementation of the Compliance Program; independently recommends and implements continuous improvement of the program in response to industry and regulatory developments.Assists Jackson Compliance leadership in the overall supervision and training of the firm's Compliance Department and its personnel (both registered and non-registered associates).Works with multiple areas of the organization to provide compliance guidance on strategic initiatives.Oversees compliance-related activities performed within the licensing and registration, employee activities, surveillance, and suitability review areas of the department.Manages a team of Compliance associates responsible for performance management and development of direct reports, including upskilling to address technological improvements.Identifies and compiles compliance best practices and trends and disseminates findings for implementation and action.Develops and executes policies, procedures and controls to oversee the firm's product sales across all business channels.Prepares and submits regulatory filings as needed.Conducts on-going reviews and risk assessments.Conducts periodic branch inspections of OSJ (Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction) and non-branch locations.Monitors regulatory environment and recommends appropriate changes when a new rule or guidance is issued.Oversees creation and dissemination of compliance presentations.Directs staff in drafting compliance alerts and bulletins.Participates with counterparts at affiliate firms in setting consistent supervisory procedures across the network.Performs cross-functional monitoring/training as required.Assists with reporting, as required, to department, senior management, and board/committees.
   
   Other Duties
   
   Directs and performs ad hoc compliance research and reporting as needed.Attends stakeholder meetings and other regular touchpoints with Jackson departments as a representative of Compliance. May act as decision maker for delegated areas and/or serve on committees, Agile project teams, and other working groups.Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.
   
   Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
   
   Comprehensive knowledge of FINRA rules, SEC regulations, and state insurance regulations.Demonstrated broker-dealer compliance knowledge, including specific experience in conducting inspections, outside business activity review, licensing and registration, suitability/best interest and sales supervision.Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.Solid customer service and relationship building skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors and colleagues, including external contacts.Demonstrated flexibility, willingness to embrace change, and the ability to adapt to a continually evolving environment.Ability to effectively analyze and resolve problems independently, and exhibit good judgment in escalating to management as needed.Strong research, investigative, interpretation and decision-making skills.Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including ability to effectively communicate complex information with both internal and external parties at a variety of organizational levels.Excellent organization and project management skills.Strong computer and technical skills. Ability to use software and information technology to collect, organize, retrieve, maintain, and disseminate information, demonstrating utilization of technology in new or complex ways to perform team functions.Ability to demonstrate superior characteristics in terms of quality work product, dependability, attitude, and overall willingness to contribute to team goals.Ability to travel for field work, as required.
   
   Qualifications
   Bachelor's Degree required.8+ years of relevant professional experience, preferably in compliance, risk management, audit, or similar functions required.Management experienced preferred.FINRA Series 7 & 24 Registrations required.FINRA Series 63 Registration, State insurance license(s) preferred.
   
   #LI-KL1
   
   We don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community. Jackson is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. The Company subscribes to and endorses federal and state laws and regulations relating to equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, legally-recognized disability, marital status, legally-protected medical condition, citizenship, ancestry, height, weight, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other factor not related to the needs of the job. The Company is committed to a policy of equal opportunity. Company facilities and campuses are tobacco-free environments.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right director of distribution for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your director of distribution job on Zippia to find and recruit director of distribution candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit directors of distribution, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of distribution

   Once you've found the director of distribution candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new director of distribution. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a director of distribution?