What does a receiving supervisor do?

A receiving supervisor manages and directs the activities of teams receiving and handling deliveries and items. Receiving supervisors coordinate and support the operations in their department. They decide on the unloading, intake, storage, and distribution of the items. It is part of their job to train their staff in handling, sorting, and maintaining stock and associated problems. They assess reports and provide a response to quality-related issues. Also, they identify work procedures, expedite workflow, and prepare their work schedule.
Receiving supervisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real receiving supervisor resumes:
- Create policies and procedures responsible for achieving ISO certification within 1st year of employment.
- Manage inventory utilizing WMS systems.
- Manage productivity reports for all employees and ensure accurate inventory levels through WMS computer warehousing systems and maintain all receiving billing.
- Provide and maintain HAZMAT training for all employees and keep records for the store.
- Volunteer to become HazMat certify in order to ensure warehouse safety.
- Manage productivity reports for all employees and ensure accurate inventory levels through WMS computer warehousing systems and maintain all receiving billing.
- Develop new processes and procedures relate to the MRP system to improve receiving and inventory tractability reducing delays in manufacturing.
Receiving supervisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 30% of Receiving Supervisors are proficient in Shipping Receiving, Purchase Orders, and Sales Floor. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Receiving Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Shipping Receiving, 30%
Promoted through a series of progressively responsible positions from order processor to senior order processor and to shipping receiving supervisor.
- Purchase Orders, 17%
Processed purchase orders and maintained accurate, current inventories using customized computer database, as well as manual inventory processes.
- Sales Floor, 17%
Trained/scheduled/supervised warehouse staff; unloaded trucks and readied for sales floor
- Excellent Interpersonal, 8%
Utilized excellent interpersonal, communicative, and management abilities to promote a cohesive working environment.
- Customer Service, 5%
Directed a staff of twenty five customer service representatives with responsibilities in Fund Transfer Investigations.
- Safety Procedures, 4%
Maintained awareness of shop safety procedures and identifies any observed unsafe practices or procedures.
Common skills that a receiving supervisor uses to do their job include "shipping receiving," "purchase orders," and "sales floor." You can find details on the most important receiving supervisor responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a receiving supervisor to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what receiving supervisors do because "material recording clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, or managers and need to convey their company’s needs effectively." Additionally, a receiving supervisor resume shows how receiving supervisors use communication skills: "close communication with logistics, as well as with our sister plants and external suppliers. "
Customer-service skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling receiving supervisor duties is customer-service skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "material recording clerks may interact with customers in order to respond to problems or complaints." According to a receiving supervisor resume, here's how receiving supervisors can utilize customer-service skills in their job responsibilities: "review car complaints (corrective action responses) and implement solution that will address the concern of the customer. "
Detail oriented. receiving supervisors are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to receiving supervisor responsibilities, because "material and product inspecting clerks must pay attention to detail when checking items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." A receiving supervisor resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "coordinate all functions for the shipping receiving department, maintained detailed administrative and procedural processes to improve accuracy and efficiency. "
Math skills. receiving supervisor responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "material recording clerks may need to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." This resume example shows what receiving supervisors do with math skills on a typical day: "utilize math skills to determine pricing on products"
The three companies that hire the most receiving supervisors are:
- Floor & Decor57 receiving supervisors jobs
- Jetro Cash & Carry Enterprises Inc.44 receiving supervisors jobs
- Avantor19 receiving supervisors jobs
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Receiving supervisor vs. Material handler lead
A material handler lead, also known as a package handler, warehouse associate, or hand laborer, manually moves products, merchandise, stock, and other materials. This role tends to be found within supply chains, manufacturing, production, shipping, storage, or customer receiving. This role entails maintaining inventory, taking note of the location of stock, verifying production orders, loading delivery trucks, and filling client orders. They also need to ensure safety in the working area and maintain accurate documentation of the materials that are being shipped.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between receiving supervisors and material handler lead. For instance, receiving supervisor responsibilities require skills such as "sales floor," "excellent interpersonal," "customer service," and "osha." Whereas a material handler lead is skilled in "pallets," "materials handling," "erp," and "hazardous waste." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Material handler leads really shine in the health care industry with an average salary of $40,024. Comparatively, receiving supervisors tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $39,325.The education levels that material handler leads earn slightly differ from receiving supervisors. In particular, material handler leads are 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a receiving supervisor. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Receiving supervisor vs. Transportation coordinator
A transportation coordinator is responsible for monitoring the timely deliveries of goods and services based on the shipment agreement. Transportation coordinators track the delivery logistics, assigning fast routes to drivers to avoid possible delays, and adhere to the deadline. They assist in loading and unloading merchandise from the distribution trucks, inspecting the items for defects and inconsistencies, and move the products in safe storage areas. A transportation coordinator may also operate warehouse tools and equipment, as well as perform data processing to update stock information on the software system and investigate delivery issues.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real receiving supervisor resumes. While receiving supervisor responsibilities can utilize skills like "shipping receiving," "purchase orders," "sales floor," and "excellent interpersonal," transportation coordinators use skills like "patients," "data entry," "cdl," and "safety rules."
Transportation coordinators earn a lower average salary than receiving supervisors. But transportation coordinators earn the highest pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $46,415. Additionally, receiving supervisors earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $39,325 annually.transportation coordinators earn similar levels of education than receiving supervisors in general. They're 2.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Receiving supervisor vs. Warehouse lead
Warehouse leads are responsible for supply chain management in distribution centers. Their duties and responsibilities include supervising employees and evaluating their performance, meeting safety regulations, and monitoring deliveries and shipments. They are the ones who interact with customers and clients to resolve any delivery issues that may arise. They also help with some administrative tasks such as order and invoice processing and maintenance. This role applies to those with excellent communication skills, leadership capabilities, and strong attention to detail.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from receiving supervisor resumes include skills like "excellent interpersonal," "store merchandise," "management system," and "hazardous materials," whereas a warehouse lead is more likely to list skills in "ladders," "pallets," "basic math," and "math. "
Warehouse leads earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $41,833. Comparatively, receiving supervisors have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $39,325.Most warehouse leads achieve a similar degree level compared to receiving supervisors. For example, they're 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Receiving supervisor vs. Warehouse manager
Warehouse managers oversee the overall operations of a company's warehouse. They manage the inventory by ensuring that the inventory records are updated and accurate. They tend to deliveries and check all items. They ensure that items in the warehouse are appropriately stored and secured. They also supervise the shipping of items from the warehouse and ensure that the correct products are delivered. Warehouse managers continuously find ways to improve the efficiency of warehouse operations. Warehouse managers manage warehouse personnel as well, ensuring that they are trained well and motivated to work.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between receiving supervisors and warehouse managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a receiving supervisor might have more use for skills like "excellent interpersonal," "osha," "electric pallet jack," and "warehouse operations." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of warehouse managers require skills like "pallet jack," "warehouse equipment," "distribution operations," and "warehouse functions. "
In general, warehouse managers earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $64,453. The highest-paying industry for a receiving supervisor is the technology industry.warehouse managers reach similar levels of education compared to receiving supervisors, in general. The difference is that they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of receiving supervisor
Updated January 8, 2025











