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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Logistic Intern

💰 $18 - $25 per hour

LogisticsSupply ChainInternshipOperations

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a highly motivated and detail-oriented Logistic Intern to join our fast-paced supply chain team. This is a unique opportunity to gain comprehensive, hands-on experience in the core functions of a modern logistics operation. As a Logistic Intern, you will be an integral part of the team, supporting daily operations, contributing to process improvement projects, and analyzing data to drive efficiency and cost savings. You will collaborate with various departments, from warehousing and transportation to procurement and customer service, providing you with a holistic view of the end-to-end supply chain. This role is designed for an aspiring supply chain professional who is eager to learn, contribute, and make a tangible impact.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Undergraduate Student (Junior or Senior Year) in a relevant field of study.
  • Recent Graduate with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, or Business.
  • Individual with entry-level experience in a warehouse or administrative role seeking to specialize in logistics.

Advancement To:

  • Logistics Coordinator
  • Supply Chain Analyst
  • Transportation Planner
  • Inventory Analyst

Lateral Moves:

  • Procurement Specialist / Buyer
  • Operations Analyst
  • Data Analyst (Supply Chain Focus)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assist in the daily monitoring and tracking of inbound and outbound shipments to ensure timely delivery and communicate status updates to relevant stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with warehouse and distribution center teams to support inventory accuracy, participating in cycle counts and inventory reconciliation processes.
  • Analyze transportation costs, carrier performance, and shipping lanes to identify potential cost-saving opportunities and efficiency improvements.
  • Support the procurement and planning teams by assisting in the creation, management, and tracking of purchase orders within our ERP system.
  • Gain hands-on experience with our Transportation Management System (TMS) and Warehouse Management System (WMS) to help route shipments and manage orders.
  • Conduct data analysis on key logistics performance indicators (KPIs), such as on-time delivery, order fulfillment accuracy, and freight cost per unit.
  • Participate actively in daily operational meetings, providing updates on assigned tasks and contributing to discussions on resolving logistical challenges.
  • Help develop, document, and refine standard operating procedures (SOPs) for various logistics and supply chain processes to ensure consistency and quality.
  • Engage with and support communication with our third-party logistics (3PL) partners and freight carriers to coordinate pickups, resolve issues, and ensure service level agreements are met.
  • Perform freight bill auditing and verification to ensure billing accuracy and compliance with contracted rates and terms.
  • Support the reverse logistics program, including the processing of customer returns, managing dispositions, and analyzing return data for root causes.
  • Assist in preparing and generating weekly and monthly logistics performance reports for management review, highlighting trends, successes, and areas for improvement.
    llaborate with customer service teams to investigate and resolve shipping-related inquiries, discrepancies, or delays, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction.
  • Contribute to cross-functional continuous improvement projects aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, reducing lead times, and optimizing the supply chain network.
  • Support the logistics team in managing customs documentation and ensuring compliance with domestic and international shipping regulations.
  • Evaluate and report on carrier performance, providing data-driven insights and recommendations for carrier selection and network optimization.
  • Assist with demand forecasting and supply planning activities to help maintain optimal inventory levels and prevent stockouts or overstock situations.
  • Troubleshoot and analyze exceptions within the supply chain, such as shipment delays, damages, or losses, and help implement corrective actions.
  • Support the logistics aspects of new product introductions or promotional events, ensuring product is available at the right place and time.
  • Monitor and report on safety and quality standards within the distribution network, contributing to a culture of operational excellence.
  • Utilize Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to process transactions, retrieve critical supply chain data, and support operational workflows.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer specific business questions from leadership.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy by helping to identify and validate new data sources for logistics analytics.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements for reports and dashboards.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if working within a dedicated supply chain analytics team.
  • Assist in creating presentations and visualizations to communicate findings and project updates to a broader audience.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Microsoft Excel Proficiency: Advanced skills are essential, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and creating charts for data visualization.
  • Data Analysis: Ability to analyze large datasets to identify trends, patterns, and insights that inform business decisions.
  • Supply Chain Principles: Foundational knowledge of logistics, inventory management, warehousing, and transportation concepts.
  • ERP/TMS/WMS Exposure: Familiarity or ability to quickly learn enterprise systems like SAP, Oracle, a Transportation Management System, or a Warehouse Management System.
  • Reporting & Visualization: Experience with or ability to learn tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Google Data Studio is a plus.
  • Process Mapping: Basic understanding of how to map business processes to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.

Soft Skills

  • Strong Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Capable of dissecting complex problems and using a data-driven approach to find effective solutions.
  • Excellent Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to clearly convey information to team members, managers, and external partners.
  • High Attention to Detail: Meticulous and thorough in handling data, documentation, and operational tasks to ensure accuracy.
  • Proactive and Self-Motivated: A "can-do" attitude with the ability to take initiative, manage time effectively, and work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Collaborative Team Player: Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, cross-functional environment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Currently enrolled and pursuing a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college.

Preferred Education:

  • Currently a Junior or Senior pursuing a Bachelor's degree, or a student pursuing a Master's degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Business Administration or Management
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Operations Management
  • Data Analytics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0-1 years. This is an entry-level internship role.

Preferred:

  • Previous internship experience in a supply chain, logistics, or operations role is highly advantageous.
  • Relevant project work or coursework demonstrating a strong interest and understanding of supply chain principles.
  • Experience in a customer-facing or data-heavy role is a plus.
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