How to hire a logistics lead

How to hire a logistics lead, step by step

Here's a step-by-step logistics lead hiring guide:

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

What does a logistics lead do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The logistics lead hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 logistics lead 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 logistics lead salaries for various positions.

   Type of Logistics Lead	Description	Hourly rate
   Logistics Lead		$15-41
   Terminal Manager	Terminal managers are professionals who are responsible for managing workers and direct dispatching activities of logistics vehicles. These managers are required to develop relationships with corporate and operational departments so that they can ensure the company logistics standards are met... Show more	$26-47
   Supply Chain Coordinator	A supply chain coordinator is a professional who is responsible for managing inventory and supply sources to support a company's manufacturing and anticipated demand. Supply chain coordinators must assist in the purchase of materials and services and follow-up with vendors to ensure that the purchase orders have the correct price, freight charge, and delivery date... Show more	$15-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Inventory Control
   • Inventory Management
   • Commodities
   • Safety Procedures
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Customer Issues
   • Process Improvement
   • ERP
   • Sigma
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Management System
   • Logistics Operations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage human resources operations including employee record maintenance, leave time reporting/verification, payroll and driver team supervision.
   • Implement and train WMS system with barcoding technologies.
   • Work closely with expeditors and freight forwarders in advance to meet client s expectations.
   • Maintain and monitor procedures for transfilling compress or liquid gas according to FDA guidelines.
   • Complete accurate and timely documentation to comply with FDA regulations.
   • Establish relationships with logistical management counterparts within major DoD component and external organizations to facilitate coordination of logistical support projects.

   More logistics lead duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your logistics lead job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A logistics lead 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 logistics lead in Georgia may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level logistics lead usually earns less than a senior-level logistics lead. Additionally, a logistics lead 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 logistics lead salary

   $53,263yearly

   $25.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level logistics lead salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 29, 2025

   Average logistics lead salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$74,465	$36
   2	District of Columbia	$71,593	$34
   3	New Jersey	$71,438	$34
   4	Illinois	$67,663	$33
   5	Wisconsin	$67,290	$32
   6	Louisiana	$66,476	$32
   7	Delaware	$65,630	$32
   8	Massachusetts	$65,604	$32
   9	New York	$64,930	$31
   10	Pennsylvania	$64,897	$31
   11	Virginia	$61,667	$30
   12	South Carolina	$60,961	$29
   13	North Dakota	$59,529	$29
   14	Texas	$58,385	$28
   15	Ohio	$57,218	$28
   16	Minnesota	$56,521	$27
   17	Oklahoma	$55,657	$27
   18	Florida	$54,265	$26
   19	North Carolina	$52,818	$25
   20	Georgia	$50,640	$24

   Average logistics lead salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$132,329	$63.62	36
   2	Google	$129,338	$62.18	4
   3	Novartis	$118,573	$57.01	4
   4	RH	$106,634	$51.27
   5	HP	$104,085	$50.04
   6	Gardner Denver	$103,022	$49.53	2
   7	Rivian	$100,956	$48.54
   8	General Electric	$99,751	$47.96	11
   9	Harley-Davidson	$99,561	$47.87	3
   10	Tesla	$95,896	$46.10	3
   11	BorgWarner	$95,502	$45.91	2
   12	Fluor Corporation	$90,199	$43.36	1
   13	Baker Hughes	$89,663	$43.11	1
   14	Noblis	$88,016	$42.32	104
   15	Apache	$86,721	$41.69
   16	Oshkosh	$86,712	$41.69	4
   17	Momentive	$86,562	$41.62
   18	IBM	$85,746	$41.22	1
   19	Bio-Rad Laboratories	$85,316	$41.02	1
   20	Novelis	$83,942	$40.36

4. Writing a logistics lead job description

   A job description for a logistics lead role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a logistics lead job description:

   Logistics lead job description example

   Area-I, Inc., an Anduril Company, Inc. is a metro-Atlanta-based company dedicated to proving the impossible possible with the development of state-of-the-art unmanned aircraft systems. We specialize in the development of unmanned aircraft systems that launch from host platforms or modular launch systems to enable on-demand mission capabilities otherwise not available. Our platforms are designed to meet the demanding and agile needs of our customers from design, build, test, and ultimate delivery of unique capabilities. Area-I's customers include the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, NOAA, NASA and other defense industry partners.
   
   We are looking for an Operations and Logistics Lead to join our rapidly growing team in Atlanta, GA. The role of the Operations and Logistics Lead is a critical part of ensuring our hardware gets into our customer's hands and we can successfully deploy our team to support our customer's missions.
   
   We are looking to build a white glove service that is responsible for developing and executing Area-I's strategy to deliver hardware and software to our customers where it is both mission critical and logistically challenging. This will require a breadth of understanding logistics, the ability to work across teams seamlessly, a deep appreciation for details, and the ability to learn new subject matters quickly.
   
   As you execute on service delivery for our customers and team members, you have the unique opportunity to improve and grow our logistics capabilities. You will be charged with helping Area-I teams solve exceptional challenges, unblocking issues, and establishing procedures, all with the intention of making sure our customers missions are being met
   
   WHAT YOU'LL DOCollaborate cross-functionally across Area-I and externally with customers and key vendors to successfully execute the logistics movements of all deployments Own and flawlessly execute the logistics lifecycle of all deployments. As the Lead, you will be asked to own and manage all logistics at Area-I - including shipment planning and execution, equipment and vehicle delivery, and reverse logistics Strengthen and develop partnerships with Area-I's logistics vendors. Identify gaps where new vendors are needed and continue to build more strategic relationships with current vendors to ensure deployment success.Be responsible for Dangerous Goods shipping at Area-I and partner with the Anduril Logistics team to ensure we have compliant shipping strategies around hazardous materials.Problem solve and remove obstacles for internal and external partners. Know how to think critically and engage the right teams to help.Communicate effectively to keep internal and external teams informed at all times. Use the necessary channels (Slack, email, meetings) to ensure stakeholders understand what needs to be accomplished and when.Be a team player where no task is too small. Be willing to roll up your sleeves and get the job done. Embrace the startup life.
   
   REQUIRED QUALIFICAITONSBA/BS preferred3-5 years of experience in a high energy, fast paced startup or logistics environment Experience collaborating cross functionally and working towards a common goal Demonstrate ability to manage multiple projects, prioritization, and planning Strong independent worker who can drive outcomes with minimal oversight Strong problem solving skills and practical creativity. You will both identify strategic and scrappy solutions to problems and ruthlessly follow through Strong attention to detail and an attitude of 100% compliance with all company and regulatory requirements Quick learner, willing to dive into new topics, both technical and non-technical Strong customer service mentality and willingness to work with stakeholders across an organizationU.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export controlled data.
   
   Area-I is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. If you are someone passionate to work on problems that matter, we'd love to hear from you!
   #LI-AT1

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right logistics lead 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 logistics lead job on Zippia to find and recruit logistics lead candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with logistics lead candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 logistics lead

   Once you've selected the best logistics lead candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new logistics lead. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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 logistics lead?