How much do we know about the logistics industry?
Not very much, but enough to imagine fork lifts, sprawling warehouses, and employees heaving carton after carton onto trucks for dispatch.
While the reality now might not be far from this for certain companies, the logistics industry has actually transformed even more than any of us could have imagined – especially so with the advent of e-commerce.
With more people buying items online, it simply means that logistics companies need to become even faster in their fulfilment of orders.
In fact, with every improvement made to an online shopping process, a corresponding improvement to the logistics behind it needs to happen.
In light of logistics’ resurgence as a ‘future’ industry, a blueprint to transform the logistics industry was launched in mid-November, and plans included “tapping on technology and co-locating firms in state-of-the-art facilities” and adding on 2,000 new jobs for PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) by 2020.
Currently a contributor to 7.4% of Singapore’s GDP, and an employer of more than 230,000 workers, the “transformation of the logistics sector is expected to achieve a value-add of $8.3 billion for the economy by 2020”.
Noted Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran, who launched the blueprint, “The transformation of the Singapore logistics industry brings with it exciting opportunities for its workforce. Rank and file jobs will require more skills, while new professional roles will also emerge.”
With online retail giant Amazon making its impending arrival onto our shores next year, we can only predict that the sector will only see another surge in available positions as the local office gets started on fulfilling all our orders.
A “Future Job” With A Gentle Learning Curve
TODAY recently published two articles which provided thorough insights into the state of the logistics industry at the moment.
From stories of those who have found job satisfaction in the sector, to the nitty-gritty stats, one thing rang clear – the days of logistics being a dull, old-school industry is gone.
While the sector is also slated to be a popular choice for professional looking for a mid-career switch due to “the gentle learning curve and less complex skills required”, many have also taken on diplomas and certificates in the field so as to build a stronger foundation for their career choice.
1,276 were the official figures given for the number of job vacancies in the Jobs Bank in right now, and we decided to take a look at some of the options available across all job levels.
While we’re not entirely sure if the salary ranges provided are 100% accurate, there’s really no harm taking a shot and applying for the positions.
Fresh/Entry Level
Logistics Service Officer ($1,800 – 2,800)
- Order fulfilment and customer support in warehouse / transport
- Ensure warehouse transactions are recorded and updated
- Maintain good rapport with customers to understand their requirements, obtain feedback on service performance and response to enquiries and service issues
- Provide feedback to customer on operation issues and ensure performance measurements are met
- Provide systems support for cycle count and stock take activities
- Prepare billings to customers and KPI statistics
Shipping Executive / Assistant ($1,800 – 3,200)
- Manage both import and export shipping documentations
- Carry out LC negotiations
- Administer shipping bookings and schedules
- Perform day-to-day manual and administrative duties associated to shipping, receiving, storing and distribution of materials, parts and equipment
Logistics Executive ($2,200 – 2,500)
- To receive and checking the required incoming goods
- To pick and pack for local and export shipment
- Handling all incoming finishing goods and packing materials
- Receipts and placement in location
- Participated in warehousing role and principle stock take
- Complete logs and reports
Logistics Assistant ($1,800 – 3,400)
- Process orders received from customers in SAP
- Schedule booking with shipping lines base on customers’ delivery dates and arrange trucking arrangements with trucking companies accordingly
- Update customers on their delivery status and handle their enquiries
- Prepare all the necessary shipping documents
- Coordinate with customers, warehouse, trucking companies, shipping lines and internal parties to ensure on time deliveries at all time
- Process invoices
- Other ad-hoc tasks assigned including filing and data entry
Engineering Assistant, Electronics ($2,000 – 4,000)
- Set up conformal coating machine processes and procedure
- Manage PCB assembly processes and to assist production layout
- Work closely with customer / production on all production issues
Executive
Production Planner ($2,500 – 4,000)
- Handles raw to finished production planning
- Maintaining the Work Order release schedule, ensuring efficient coordination between manufacturing and the engineering department
- Inventory Control: Analyses usage data and stock levels to order parts to satisfy service levels; maintains inventory levels per plan and expedites shortages; assists in setting up new inventory systems or modifying existing systems, when necessary; assigns appropriate expediting duties to expediters
Associate Engineer / Engineering Assistant ($2,000 – 3,500)
- Post 1 :
- Setup production machinery
- Troubleshoot production issues related to machinery or materials
- Perform process check and audit on machinery
- Work closely with supervisors to achieve daily targeted output, yield and quality
- Provide daily downtime reports
- Perform periodic machinery preventive maintenance
- Post 2 :
- To provide timely and effective response and technical support to assigned projects;
- To be a part of the project and assembly team undertaking machine/equipment assembly work, troubleshooting and maintenance/repair
- To assist with onsite troubleshooting, maintenance & repair work, as well as installation and commissioning of machines and equipment
- Post 3 :
- Set up conformal coating machine processes and procedure
- Manage PCB assembly processes and to assist production layout
- Work closely with customer / production on all production issues
Technical Business Analyst ($3,500 – 7,500)
- Lead and manage Dynamics AX implementation cycles: user analysis, design & configuration, user acceptance testing and rollout, etc
- Provide functional consultancy on AX modules: SCM, Inventory Management, CRM, HR and especially Finance
- Provide technical systems design based on user requirements
- Design and deliver dynamic integrations and interfaces to external systems
- Facilitate end-user communication with and liaise with external vendors
- Manage escalations from end-users and work out solutions with development team
- Perform data extraction & migration from legacy systems
Buyer Planner ($2,500 – 3,500)
- To establish, execute and monitor production planning activities to meet delivery schedules of all sub-modules and complete system
- Update and maintain the records in material master and BOM creation
- To process Purchase Orders (PO) and schedule agreements
- Provide forecast to suppliers and expedite on changes and logistics issues
- To generate work orders and data via system (Eg. Glovia and SAP)
- Prepare monthly inventory reports, analyse and keep inventory to optimum level
Operations Executive/Manager
- To perform & handle procurement and inventory management
- To perform & coordinate supply and delivery operations
- To perform & handle technical/engineering requisites in the operations
- To perform & assist any other activities/tasks as assigned
Middle Management
General Manager, Operations ($10,000 – 20,000)
- Report to MD of the company and overall in charge of operations for the fleet
- Oversee the technical, operational, compliance, crewing, safety and development of the Fleet
- Manage the Fleet’s deployment, operating expenses and budgets
- Manage the performance of the Fleet, ensure vessels are adequately staffed by quality crew to meet operational needs
- Ensure Compliance with Class and Charter Party
- Overseeing New-built, Repairs and/or Engineering Projects undertaken by builders/contractors
Sales and Marketing Manager ($5,000 – 6,000)
- Responsible for the leadership of the Sales and Marketing Support group
- Responsible for inbound and/or outbound lead generation for sales to both new and existing customers; all contract pricing, bid, quote, and other activities
- Supervision of inside sales account managers; customers chain maintenance; and other sales support functions
- Oversee the daily sales and technical support of customer service and logistic department
- Help exceed company sales and operation goals
- Responsible for profit and lost
- Hire train and evaluate core teams in the business
- Set and maintain productivity and quality standards
- Distribute daily workloads to the team Managers
- Work with sales to determine Pricing
- Ensure Customer excellence and delivery of Quality products
- Holds regular meeting with staff
- Work with Purchasing, Accounts Payable and Finance
Head of Lead Logistics Partner, Business Development
- Drive LLP business development in cooperation with regions
- Lead the identification and development (pipeline) of LLP and SC engineering opportunities into successful new wins
- Drive, facilitate and support new LLP deals in terms of setting structure, solution and processes in close collaboration with sales and respective business units for a successful pursuit and close of process
- Lead and support customer negotiations on LLP
- Post mortem and competitor analysis
- Support big deals in terms of contract management, pain points and optimal solutions
- Develop the right BD setup and approach for the region
- Understand the competition and competitor landscape
- Understand and develop LLP value proposition continuously
Financial Accountant
- Financial impact from commercial contracts fully accounted for from PCF to accounting records
- Budget achievement impact review of final contracts vs budget
- Facilitation between Operations & Accounting team on day to day matters, ensuring correct accounting of business, e.g. Revenue recognition, accruals, prepayments, bad debt provisions etc.
- Assist manager in preparation, coordination and analysis of regular and ad-hoc financial and management reporting
- Assist in monthly review and analysis of balance sheet and P&L
- To provide timely, accurate, reliable, clear and concise historical and forward looking analysis on business performance.
- To support the FBP in annual budgeting process within the respective business units, in coordination with Group Finance
- Ensure accurate and timely reporting of the financial statement and statutory financial reports
- Assist any other ad-hoc duties which may be assigned from time to time
Program Management, Regional Operation ($6,000 – 9,000)
- Operation Program Mgmt. team is part of the Lazada Regional Operation Organization
- Responsible for business owner of all Transformation Programs for specific Domain (Customer Engagement Mgmt, Merchant Fulfillment Mgmt, Parcel Transport Mgmt), responsible for the full life cycle of program roadmap and strategic priority setting, program comprehensive solution design, program on-time implementation and full adoption
- Key interaction with Operation leaders at regional and local ventures, Product management, Tech engineering, Commercial, Finance, Marketing, and External business client & partners
- Design: work with Business Users (related Regional & Local Operation functions) to understand critical business requirement and bottleneck, conceptualise to-be vision, process & technology solution
- Develop: work with Product & Tech team in translating conceptual design into tech specification, and ensure Product & Tech team complete tech development and delivery timely and sign off if in line with design principles
- Implement: work with Business Functions & external business client & partner in in rollout new program across ventures, and implement complex process and technology changes throughout the organization structure (from C-Level, to warehouse packer & delivery driver) in across countries
Senior Management
Vice President, Contract Logistics ($15,000 – 22,000)
- Lead the development, implementation, maintenance and continuous improvement of all elements of the agreed Operations Excellence strategy across the region, including SCA, LEAN, ZDS, HSE and SMART
- Responsible for advising the sub-regions on how to meeting customer expectations in terms of operations and service, including but not limited to meeting Ops Index targets
- Responsible for relevant regional quality management, certifications/accreditations. Deliver upon productivity improvement targets in partnership with the Sub-regional leadership
- Take active leadership role and participate in Global Operations Councils
- Build operational capability and bench strength across the region
Head of Operations, South-East Asia ($7,000 – 15,000)
- Responsible for the efficient management of logistics function within SEA, including the establishing of strategies, initiatives and processes so as to achieve the company targets
- Expected to understand the business and be the active driver of continuous change and improvement process
- Lead a team regionally which calls for training, developing and motivating them, both individually and as a unit
Distribution and Operations Manager – Asia: Singapore ($10,000 – 12,500)
- Lead and direct the operational & strategic planning for DC, local market e-commerce customer service &, store maintenance to ensure delivery of superior service to customer network (both internal/external)
- Work to develop and provide management excellence that inspires, motivates and empowers the team to deliver a safe work place, a high performing culture, efficient warehousing & customer centric solutions.
- Improve performance standards in a constantly changing environment ensuring whist support sustainable profitable growth in the Market
- Strong focus on COG, people development, Collaboration, Growth in new & existing markets, and continuous improvement and your ability to provide long term success
Head of Operations ($20,000 – 22,000)
- He/she would report directly to the Head of Shipping
- He/she will be responsible for overall commercial operations, including execution and monitoring of the charter parties
- He/she will be responsible for bunkering plan and its execution, planning and buying bunkers including effective hedging
- He/she will coordinating quick turnaround of vessels and liaising with agents and cargo interest, cargo claims
- He/she need to interact with P and I clubs to protect the best interests of the company
- He/she is expected to closely co-ordinate with the chartering team to ensure maximum efficiency and avoid any loss of value during execution of the charters
- Ideally, the suitable candidate should be a master mariner, with substantial experience in commercial operations of dry bulk vessels and experience in heading a team of professionals
Director, Network Operations ($12,000 – 14,000)
- Building delivery network capabilities in each of the regional hubs, contributing to customer service with fast, efficient and professional delivery of goods
- Developing the network functional area regional organszations (hubs, routes, fleet and line haul) so that the firm will be reputed for high performance fast freight delivery
- Imposing an integrated oversight of the firm’s Operating Model by working closely with the 3PL partners within Asia
- Incorporating technology and innovation with the purpose of advancing operational effectiveness
What Are You Waiting For?
The latest labour report, released yesterday, predictably painted a bleak picture of the current condition of the job market.
Most significantly, the number of workers laid off (13,370) had hit a seven-year high in the first 9 months of 2016, which is the highest figure since the global financial crisis in 2009. Total employment also shrank by 2,700.
Jobs and industries are increasingly made redundant, but that also means that there will be a surge in new jobs and industries – and all that’s left is for Singaporeans to grab onto them.
Featured Image Credit: hellenicshippingnews.com