What does a distribution assistant do?
Distribution assistants are employees under the leadership of a distribution supervisor. The tasks of the assistants depend on the industry they are working in like shipping or receiving, food, building, and general services industries. They take charge of the preparation of items for shipment or distribution. They process payments and ensure compliance with safety regulations and measures. The skills needed for this job include inventory management, organization, and writing.
Distribution assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real distribution assistant resumes:
- Manage and update company Facebook page with daily updates, finding/sharing relevant and interesting information, and encouraging fan engagement.
- Assist administration in daily manufacturing, processing, packaging and other functions of WMS.
- Organize multiple executive presentations involving PowerPoint
- Complete paperwork (BOL's) for shipments, complete billing process.
- Answer patient inquiries and relay pertinent information to the staff/physicians in compliance with HIPPA and the internal booking guidelines.
- Coordinate and track patient's demographic entries using an electronic medical records (EMR) application system.
- Use a variety of systems to page doctors, navigate electronic medical records (EMR) and looking up physicians schedules.
- Regulate company standards to maintain patient confidentiality and HIPPA regulations.
- Organize multiple executive presentations involving PowerPoint
Distribution assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Distribution Assistants are proficient in Data Entry, DOT, and Customer Orders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Organizational skills, Writing skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Distribution Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Entry, 12%
Develop Excel macros to automate some data entry and statistical analysis.
- DOT, 11%
Trained in DOT rules and specifications for safe delivery of medical and industrial oxygen tanks.
- Customer Orders, 11%
Processed and packaged customer orders daily.
- Computer System, 8%
Involved with customer service, pricing & computer systems.
- Delivery Truck, 8%
Assisted with unloading newspapers from delivery trucks, and verifying receipt of proper amounts of all newspapers.
- Office Equipment, 7%
Reduced office equipment expenses by 30% per month by analyzing actual equipment needs, and re-negotiating the current contract.
Most distribution assistants use their skills in "data entry," "dot," and "customer orders" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential distribution assistant responsibilities here:
Organizational skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a distribution assistant to have is organizational skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently." Distribution assistants often use organizational skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "developed an appreciation for basic organizational and customer service skills. "
Writing skills. Another essential skill to perform distribution assistant duties is writing skills. Distribution assistants responsibilities require that "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers." Distribution assistants also use writing skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "assisted in technical writing of process manuals for interdepartmental use of integrated design and work management systems. "
Interpersonal skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of distribution assistants is interpersonal skills. This skill is critical to many everyday distribution assistant duties, as "secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "display exceptional interpersonal skills with patients while treating them in a professional manner. "
The three companies that hire the most distribution assistants are:
- Amazon93 distribution assistants jobs
- Northwell Health15 distribution assistants jobs
- Paylocity10 distribution assistants jobs
Compare different distribution assistants
Distribution assistant vs. Administrative assistant/communications
An administrative assistant for communications is responsible for handling administrative duties to ensure that corporate communications and announcements are disseminated across the organization and media platforms appropriately. Administrative assistants for communications review documents and files to check for accuracy and conduct revisions as needed before publication. They also manage media relations, create promotional campaigns, and coordinate with clients for any important updates regarding business performance. An administrative assistant for communications must be highly reliable and organizational to work under minimal supervision and meet strict deadlines.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, distribution assistant responsibilities require skills like "dot," "customer orders," "computer system," and "delivery truck." Meanwhile a typical administrative assistant/communications has skills in areas such as "provides administrative support," "expense reports," "travel arrangements," and "word processing." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Administrative assistants/communications tend to make the most money working in the non profits industry, where they earn an average salary of $39,956. In contrast, distribution assistants make the biggest average salary, $34,403, in the manufacturing industry.On average, administrative assistants/communications reach similar levels of education than distribution assistants. Administrative assistants/communications are 3.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Distribution assistant vs. Team assistant
A team assistant is an employee who is responsible for performing administrative duties to help members of the office team focus on their assigned projects. Under the direct supervision of team leaders, team assistants are required to schedule appointments with clients, organize internal team meetings, and alert team members of upcoming deadlines. They keep track of project expenses and purchase receipts and input those numbers into an accounting software program or spreadsheet. Team assistants must also order supplies and products when inventories are low.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that distribution assistant responsibilities requires skills like "dot," "customer orders," "delivery truck," and "sales orders." But a team assistant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patients," "customer service," "patient care," and "cleanliness."
On average, team assistants earn a higher salary than distribution assistants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, team assistants earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $56,346. Whereas distribution assistants have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $34,403.team assistants earn similar levels of education than distribution assistants in general. They're 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Distribution assistant vs. Purchasing administrative assistant
Purchasing Administrative Assistants will require a high school diploma or GED, but an associate degree or higher is preferred, as well as three or more years in a purchasing role. This career will require skills in communication and negotiation, as well as a proven history of good supply management and the ability to create and administer task priority lists based on the needs of the respective company. Paying an average salary of $42K per year, but ranging between $37K and $49K, this career choice will demand the provision of support to the purchasing process and department staff, processing documents and materials and responding to inquiries, as well as maintaining information and inventories about vendors and sources.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a distribution assistant is likely to be skilled in "dot," "delivery truck," "payroll," and "fda," while a typical purchasing administrative assistant is skilled in "customer service," "provides administrative support," "travel arrangements," and "word processing."
Purchasing administrative assistants make a very good living in the construction industry with an average annual salary of $41,993. On the other hand, distribution assistants are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $34,403.Most purchasing administrative assistants achieve a similar degree level compared to distribution assistants. For example, they're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Distribution assistant vs. College assistant
A college assistant is responsible for administrative, clerical, and research work in educational institutions. Your day-to-day duties may vary but typically include answering telephone calls, maintaining records such as rosters and inventory control records, and ordering office supplies and equipment. In addition, you will be responsible for assisting in research activities by collecting and compiling data, performing data entry, and preparing reports. Other duties include providing assistance in instructional programs, processing expenses, and purchasing reports, and advertising various events through social media.
Types of distribution assistant
Updated January 8, 2025