How to hire a distribution coordinator

How to hire a distribution coordinator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step distribution coordinator hiring guide:

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

What does a distribution coordinator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the distribution coordinator you need to hire. Certain distribution coordinator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a distribution coordinator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a distribution coordinator that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of distribution coordinator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Distribution Coordinator	Description	Hourly rate
   Distribution Coordinator		$13-22
   Logistics Internship	In a logistics internship, an intern's duties depend on the directives of a supervising staff or manager. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around processing documentation, producing progress reports, maintaining records, updating databases, answering calls and correspondence, disseminating information, and running errands... Show more	$13-23
   Shipping And Receiving Coordinator	A Shipping and Receiving Coordinator oversees the shipment and deliveries of products in a warehouse or organization. One must have an efficient organization, and communication skills as most of the duties include shipping and receiving merchandise and maintain accurate and proactive control of inventory... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Management System
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Purchase Orders
   • On-Time Delivery
   • Logistics
   • Data Entry
   • FDA
   • Warehouse Functions
   • Coordinators
   • Inventory Control
   • ISO
   • Customer Orders
   • RMA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage inventory in efficient ways to promote lean initiatives and boost warehouse picking/shipping KPI's.
   • Manage distribution tracking, logistics, and coordinating for terminal operations and deliveries locate in Washington and California.
   • Prepare PowerPoint presentations for meetings as needed.
   • Maintain confidentiality as per HIPPA and facility regulations.
   • Confirm the members' transportation request information utilizing the HIPPA confidentiality policy.
   • Provide customer support for Medicaid eligible requests for non-emergency discharges, transportation requests and dispatch estimate time of arrivals.

   More distribution coordinator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your distribution coordinator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A distribution coordinator salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a distribution coordinator in Oklahoma may be lower than in California, and an entry-level distribution coordinator usually earns less than a senior-level distribution coordinator. Additionally, a distribution coordinator with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average distribution coordinator salary

   $37,166yearly

   $17.87 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level distribution coordinator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average distribution coordinator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$45,309	$22
   2	Washington	$45,022	$22
   3	Colorado	$44,516	$21
   4	Nevada	$43,868	$21
   5	Texas	$43,005	$21
   6	Minnesota	$42,072	$20
   7	Iowa	$40,402	$19
   8	New Jersey	$39,477	$19
   9	New York	$39,211	$19
   10	Oregon	$38,780	$19
   11	Ohio	$37,589	$18
   12	North Carolina	$37,528	$18
   13	Massachusetts	$37,435	$18
   14	Maryland	$35,109	$17
   15	Illinois	$35,090	$17
   16	Wisconsin	$34,179	$16
   17	Florida	$33,725	$16
   18	Pennsylvania	$33,211	$16

   Average distribution coordinator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Fresenius Kabi	$44,351	$21.32
   2	Johnson Controls	$44,125	$21.21	9
   3	FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA	$43,845	$21.08	1
   4	Campbells	$43,643	$20.98	9
   5	Globus Medical	$43,395	$20.86
   6	Vista Outdoor	$42,814	$20.58
   7	NuVasive	$42,689	$20.52
   8	AbbVie	$41,522	$19.96	1
   9	Starz	$41,422	$19.91
   10	Tetra Pak	$40,925	$19.68	2
   11	ViacomCBS	$40,744	$19.59
   12	Franklin County Home Health Agency	$40,652	$19.54
   13	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$40,545	$19.49
   14	Baxter International	$40,453	$19.45
   15	Volvo Trucks	$40,315	$19.38
   16	PPG	$40,069	$19.26
   17	Atkore International	$39,797	$19.13
   18	Morgan Stanley	$39,748	$19.11
   19	TRC Companies	$39,546	$19.01	18
   20	Koch Industries	$39,453	$18.97

4. Writing a distribution coordinator job description

   A good distribution coordinator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a distribution coordinator job description:

   Distribution coordinator job description example

   Food for Seniors provides monthly nutritional food boxes to seniors who are 60 years old or older and meet Federal Income Guidelines. Catholic Charities Food for Seniors is the sole agency of Louisiana's Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) which works to improve the health of low-income elderly persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods.
   
   The program also educates clients about good nutrition by providing nutritional information that includes easy to make recipes using commodity foods, caloric intake, how to stretch food dollars and eat a healthy diet.
   
   Catholic Charities' Food for Seniors is an equal opportunity program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.
   
   The Site Distributions Coordinator is responsible for ensure the monthly distribution of food boxes for his/her assigned area. This includes organizing the monthly distribution sites, participant numbers, promoting the program to the community, enrolling qualifying seniors, and monitoring sites to ensure compliance with all USDA, State of Louisiana CSFP and CCANO policies and procedures.
   
   This position requires a high degree of interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff and program participants, local governments and community groups as needed. Daily travel is required.
   Essential Functions:
   Assist Site Distributions Manager and/or State-Wide Distributions Manager with monthly site distribution schedule. Ensure coverage for all distribution sites and serve as back-up to other Site Coordinators when needed. Conduct certification and recertification of participants Monitors food inventories at distribution sites Assist Site Distributions Manager and/or State-Wide Distributions Manager with oversight, development and maintenance of Volunteer Program and maintaining accurate- up-to-date records of volunteers. May assist with the following: preparation/update of handbook/manuals for volunteers and groups; providing support system for volunteers and acting as a conduit for information, concerns and resolution of problems; collaborating with contact agencies and assisting with planning for periodic recognition and appreciation for volunteers and their contributions to the program Provides prompt and accurate customer services by ensuring staff are on time to assigned locations, interacting respectfully and professionally with volunteer site members and program participants, and answering questions/concerns as best as possible. Maintain list and contact information of all distribution locations at assigned locations. Complete monthly reporting on participation and package distribution and assist Clerk(s) as need to meet state mandated reporting deadline. Maintain a culture of high-quality output and exceptional customer service. Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, quality, and customer satisfaction that is consistent with CCANO mission and values. Other duties as assigned.
   Technical/Computer Skills: Ability to use Microsoft Outlook. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word preferred. Ability to work in CSFP software for data entry. Licenses and Certificates: Valid Driver's License and own transportation to work required. Maintain safe driving record in driving company vehicles. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to think strategically "big picture" and handle details Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders internal and external to Program Must be highly organized and self-motivated, able to work independently Ability to establish work assignment priorities Willingness to work irregular hours as needed Ability to work in a team environment. Ability to adapt to new software, digital media, and on-line systems. Routine travel required. Minimum Required Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited University/College OR at least ten years of experience in a food distribution program Four years of supervisory experience. Prior experience in a non-profit setting. Prior experience working with federal grants and/or food delivery preferred.
   Schedule: Hours vary pending distribution location; Monday-Friday; occasional Saturdays
   Reports to: Site Distribution Manager or State-Wide Distributions Manager (pending location)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find distribution coordinators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any distribution coordinators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level distribution coordinators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit distribution coordinators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 distribution coordinator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the distribution coordinator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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.)

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How much does it cost to hire a distribution coordinator?